The ‘hidden’ businesses that call Stortford’s high street their home

Have you ever wandered along Bishop’s Stortford’s high street and really thought about what’s there? writes Bishop’s Stortford BID joint manager Karen Burton

Not just the shops and cafés, but the spaces above, the hidden doorways and the tucked-away businesses you might never have noticed.

As part of my role, I do exactly that: exploring the commercial units within the BID area, tracking what businesses are operating and how the town’s economy is evolving.

Every April 1, around 320 BID levy bills are sent out to business premises with a rateable value of £10,000 or more. My job is to check the status of each one.

Has there been a change in occupancy? Is the unit empty? Or is everything the same as last year? It’s a meticulous process, but it provides a fascinating snapshot of the town’s economic health.

One of the most striking insights this process reveals is the sheer diversity of businesses in our town centre. It’s like an annual health check, highlighting what’s growing, what’s declining and what’s brand new. And then there are the businesses that quietly thrive without most of the local population even knowing they exist.

Many assume the town centre is all about retail, hospitality and leisure. While these sectors are vital, there’s a whole hidden layer of businesses choosing to operate here.

Think science and tech firms, a branded goods manufacturer, an umbrella company, a Portuguese wine merchant, a beauty training school, a clinical psychologist, physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, charity organisations, nursing services, solicitors, accountants, various professional services, even the local newspaper office. The list is longer than you might expect!

People are often surprised when I tell them who we support through the BID. Among our 320 levy payers are car parks, the police, a doctors’ premises, dentists, a public toilet, even the library and the car wash in Jackson Square. If a business property falls above the £10,000 rateable value threshold, it contributes to the BID’s funding.

So, what do we do with these funds? Our mantra is 'Additionality!' – what can we provide that individual businesses couldn’t achieve on their own?

That includes marketing the town as a whole, creating a shared platform for promotion and organising events that showcase local businesses.

We provide free workplace training, including first aid, food hygiene and compliance courses, grants for business frontage improvements and funding for security measures to protect staff and deter crime.

Beyond that, we bring together key stakeholders on larger projects, such as public realm improvements, pedestrian priority areas and Purple Flag accreditation for a safe night out, all benefiting the community at large.

Alongside this, our lobbying efforts extend beyond Bishop’s Stortford. As part of a wider network, we contribute to the collective power of the Association of Town & City Management (ATCM) and British BIDs.

Both organisations work closely with Government ministers on issues like rates reform, championing the needs of retail, hospitality and leisure sectors in town centres across the country.

Our local insights and grassroots approach play a key role in shaping these national discussions, ensuring that towns like ours have a voice at the highest level.

Our work is varied and challenging, but that’s what makes it so rewarding. The businesses that make up the Bishop’s Stortford BID area are incredibly diverse, and ensuring they have the support they need to thrive is what drives us.

Next time you walk through town, take a closer look – you might be surprised by what’s behind those doors.