About Your Horsham
Who we are and why we exist
Your Horsham is the Business Improvement District for Horsham town centre. We bring businesses together to take a coordinated approach to improving the town centre, supporting day-to-day trading and strengthening Horsham as a place to work, visit and invest over the next five years. Everything we do is shaped by collaboration. The BID is funded by local businesses, and our work is entirely focused on activity that supports the town centre and the businesses within it.
Our role is to listen, coordinate and deliver initiatives that respond to real needs on the ground. This can range from being the primary fund for the town’s Christmas lights to support seasonal activity, to offering subsidised training or developing campaigns and acting as a regular point of contact for businesses.
By working collectively, we aim to support increased footfall, encourage local spend and help maintain the sense of community that makes Horsham such a wonderful place.
How was Your Horsham created?
During summer 2023, businesses within a defined Horsham town centre area were consulted to understand their priorities, challenges and ideas for improvement. This feedback directly shaped a clear five-year business plan, focused on practical business support, town centre promotion and long-term sustainability.
Following this consultation, the proposal was put to a formal ballot through a regulated process known as a Business Improvement District. In December 2023, the Horsham BID was successfully approved by local businesses.
In spring 2024, Rachel Noel continued to lead the work to establish a regulated Board of voluntary directors, made up of local business representatives. This laid the foundations for delivery, governance and accountability. Later that year, Your Horsham delivered its first Christmas season and continued to strengthen relationships with BID businesses across the town centre.
Your Horsham’s business plan and day-to-day activity are built on what local businesses told us they need most.
What we do
During our first term, the team expanded to support delivery on the ground and improve communication with businesses. This included the introduction of a core team of Welcome Ambassadors, who act as a direct link between businesses and the operational team, alongside the appointment of a BID Assistant to support town-wide events and initiatives as delivery develops across the five-year term.
Operational support is also provided from the Your Horsham offices, where we:
- Host meetings with local authorities, stakeholders and committees aligned to the five pillars of the business plan
- Develop trails that highlight Horsham’s diverse retail and hospitality offerings
- Deliver subsidised training courses and business initiatives
- Provide administrative support, governance and day-to-day coordination
This space plays an important role in bringing partners together and turning ideas into practical action.
Looking ahead
As Your Horsham moves into our third year, the BID will be appointing a new BID Manager to build on the strong foundations already in place and lead delivery through years three to five of the first term. This role will focus on strengthening impact, deepening business engagement and continuing to deliver against the priorities set out by the BID Business Plan.
What does BID stand for?
BID stands for Business Improvement District.
Operating as Horsham BID Ltd, Your Horsham is the organisation responsible for delivering projects and services that improve the town centre and support businesses. This includes activity to:
- Increase footfall and awareness of Horsham
- Encourage local spend
- Enhance the town centre experience
- Support a diverse and resilient business community
All activity is delivered in line with the five-year business plan approved at ballot.
How is the BID funded and where do we operate?
The BID is funded through a levy paid by eligible businesses within the BID area. The levy is 1.5% of a business’s rateable value, calculated by the government. Only businesses within the agreed BID boundary and with a rateable value of £12,000 or above are liable to pay the BID Levy.
Businesses below this threshold, or outside the BID area, can join as voluntary members by paying an equivalent levy we currently have ten businesses who utilise our services in a voluntary membership capacity.
This approach ensures funding is fair, transparent and directly reinvested into projects that benefit Horsham town centre.
The BID operates within a defined town centre boundary, shown on the map below. Within this area, we focus on making Horsham a vibrant, welcoming and commercially successful place throughout the year.
If your business is located within the boundary and meets the rateable value threshold set out in Horsham BID policies, you are part of the BID and can benefit from its activity. Businesses below the threshold or on the boundary line are also welcome to get involved through voluntary membership if within the boundary remit.
Get involved
Your Horsham works best when businesses are actively engaged. Whether you want to understand upcoming projects, share ideas or explore how the BID can support your business, we encourage you to connect with us.
Coming May 2026, we will be launching monthly Focus Groups open to all BID business staff. These will be informal, relaxed sessions — a regular opportunity to network with other businesses, hear updates on our plans, and share your feedback and insights on your business needs.
If you’re not already signed up to receive invitations, please let us know which email address you’d like us to add here.
If you’d like to be a member of Horsham BID LTD. Please request our application form via email.