The new manager at Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Improvement District (BID) says building on the town centre’s “wonderful sense of community” will be her main focus as businesses emerge from lockdown.
Alex Taylor is highly experienced in business and employer engagement and has been brought in to help the BID deliver even more engaging projects, events and activities as part of its continued five-year business plan.
She believes there is growing potential, resilience and optimism among Newcastle-under-Lyme’s town centre businesses, and that harnessing the power of collaboration will attract more workers, visitors and shoppers into the area.
“I am a true local and a real people person which is why I feel so passionate about bringing the community together, especially as the town centre starts to recover from the pandemic and with all the inward investment happening in Newcastle too,” explains Alex, whose experience includes running successful employer engagement events and initiatives at Stoke on Trent College, and working at Abbey Hill SEND College in developing a new Supported Internship programme.
“I have been supporting businesses through training, development and networking my entire working career, and I know that listening to issues and responding is the key to building meaningful relationships and making a real difference. I want people to get to know me and feel they can come to me with their concerns and ideas – both businesses and members of the public. We have a wonderful sense of community and a fabulous history in our town centre, and I want everyone to feel they can input into our BID events and projects.”
Alex started her new BID role on 7th June and has already begun setting up steering groups, meetings and Q&As for businesses. She will also be working with key partners on existing projects, including The Homecoming, Astley Fest, Future High Street Fund and the Town Deal, as well as continuing to lobby for a speedy resolution to the ongoing Walleys Quarry issues.
Newcastle-Under-Lyme BID Chair, Eddie Leligdowicz said: “Our BID board share excitement in welcoming Alex to the team – we’re confident she will bring lots of passion and enthusiasm to the role so that we can make the most of all the upcoming opportunities in our town centre.”
In March 2021 businesses voted in favour of renewing Newcastle-under-Lyme BID for a second term until 2026. This means town centre businesses pay an annual levy towards the delivery of BID events, initiatives and projects.
