TOWN centre businesses are being encouraged to attend a free workshop on Farnham’s burgeoning Business Improvement District (BID).

The ’Make Farnham Thrive’ event will be run by Mosaic Partnership in the Union Street offices of BakerLaw on Friday, January 25, from 10am to 11.30am. It is being supported by Waverley Borough Council and Farnham Chamber of Commerce.

The session will give attendees the opportunity to find out what a BID is, help prioritise what improvements such a district could deliver to Farnham, and what investment businesses are prepared to make to fund these proposals.

A BID is a business-led initiative supported by government legislation that gives local businesses the power to raise and spend funds locally with the aim of improving their own business environment.

It is an investment scheme where local businesses agree how their money should be invested to benefit themselves, their employees, customers, clients and their area.

There are already more than 290 BIDs successfully operating across the country.

Announcing the BID in early 2018, a spokesperson for the Waverley joint chambers of commerce, representing Cranleigh, Farnham, Godalming and Haslemere, said: “We have watched the success of the many BIDs in the UK which have improved their business environments, our closest being in Guildford which has just entered its second five year term.

“It is early days and this process could take 18 months to two years but we feel that there are opportunities for our high streets and business communities to benefit from a BID which addresses local needs on a town by town basis.

“We would very much like to hear from large and small businesses who would like to be part of the early discussions and feasibility study.

“Businesses do not need to be members of the chambers to take part.”