We are thrilled to announce that Ilkley BID has been shortlisted as a Finalist in the prestigious National BID Awards 2026! These awards recognise excellence and best practice among Business Improvement Districts across the UK, highlighting the vital role BIDs play in creating thriving high streets and bringing communities together.
Celebrating Our Yorkshire Day Weekend
Our team has been shortlisted in the Community Project category for our 2025 Yorkshire Day Weekend. This event was the result of over 12 months of planning and collaboration, and we are incredibly proud to see that hard work recognised on a national stage. We are now competing against five other BIDs from across the country for the top spot.
A True Town-Wide Collaboration
The Yorkshire Day Weekend was a celebration of what Ilkley can achieve when we work together. While Ilkley BID led the project team, the success of the weekend was down to our fantastic partners, including:
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Ilkley Town Council
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Bradford District Metropolitan Council
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Real Markets, Ilkley Carnival, and Ilkley Live
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Local community groups and residents
From securing reduced-price rail tickets with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to ensuring our local care home residents had accessible seating for the live music, our goal was to make Ilkley inclusive, vibrant, and welcoming for everyone.
Benefits for Our Members
Supporting our local businesses is at the heart of everything we do. Throughout the planning process, we consulted extensively with our BID members to ensure they could maximise the benefits of the increased footfall. We were delighted to see so many businesses get involved through sponsorship, outdoor pop-ups, and showcasing Yorkshire-made products.
The event also put Ilkley in the national spotlight, with live broadcasts from ITV’s This Morning and GB News, alongside coverage from BBC Radio Leeds and Your Ilkley Radio.
A Message from our Manager
“Our small Ilkley BID team is skilled at working collaboratively and delivering high-impact projects in creative and cost-effective ways. We have a reputation for punching above our weight, and we’re proud of how successfully we promote our fantastic town far and wide.
We’re really excited to be shortlisted for a National BID Award. We’re up against some tough competition, but we’re looking forward to celebrating with BIDs from across the country and hoping to bring the trophy back to Ilkley.” — Sarah Brookfield-Almond, Ilkley BID Manager
The National BID Awards ceremony will take place on 9 February 2026 at the Leonardo Royal London City Hotel.
Thank you to all our members and partners who helped make the Yorkshire Day Weekend such a resounding success. We look forward to representing our town in London!
