DURHAM Business Improvement District (Durham BID) has today announced the appointment of a new manager as non-essential retail begins to reopen.

Paul Howard has joined the organisation responsible for marketing Durham to visitors, helping to improve patronage and boost the local economy, as many businesses emerge from months of lockdowns and trading restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With over 20 years’ experience in town centre and BID management, Mr Howard will initially spend some time getting to know the businesses and city, before formulating his plans to drive the direction of the BID and city centre with input and support from partners.

Mr Howard said: “Remote working has enabled Place Managers to connect at a greater level than ever before, so I have taken part in many virtual meetings with a range of BID Managers from across the country, and my predecessor, Adam Deathe, has always talked very highly of Durham – both living and working here.

“It really was quite a simple choice to apply for the position and I was lucky enough to be offered the post.”

He added: “Clearly, coronavirus has been a huge upheaval for everyone and nobody really knows yet what the long-term impacts are going to be or how long the virus will be with us.

“Starting a new position during this time is going to be a real challenge but it’s an opportunity I’m looking forward to embracing.

“It seems fitting that I’m joining the organisation as restrictions begin to be lifted after a long hard year of lockdowns – it’s a fresh start in many different ways.

“Durham is totally unique. There’s a strong retail offer of independents and high street names alongside the heritage and character of the place, a varied and interesting events calendar adding vibrancy and a particularly strong visitor appeal.

“Got me, it’s the opportunity to live and work in a part of the UK that is well known and well regarded. While there’s been some dark days this past year, the future is looking bright for Durham City.”

Prior to joining Durham BID, Mr Howard was BID Manager for Keighley in West Yorkshire.

He began his career two decades ago with Burnley (Lancashire) town centre management, moving to Burton upon Trent (Staffordshire) in 2007 to take the role of town centre manager, until he was offered a position as the general manager of the Torbay Town Centres Company in 2013, an organisation managing three BIDs for Torquay, Paignton and Babbacombe. Family circumstances dictated he move back to the North in 2015, where he continued to work remotely for the Torbay Town Centres Company, and once a week would commute to Devon until offered the position in Keighley.

He said: “I have been very fortunate that I have been able to do my job in some very different places. My first experience of town centre and BID management came when I was working in financial services and taking the exams to be a financial adviser. The chairman of the financial services organisation was also the chair of the town centre management group, which was a fairly new concept at the time for the area.

“The work they were doing piqued my interest so I asked if I could become involved on a voluntary basis. from there i made the move to work for burnley Town Centre Management with my first task to organise a Christmas Lights Switch On followed by assisting with the organisation of a Hot Air Balloon Festival. At the time, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing having never organised anything like a public event before, but the adrenaline rush as the fireworks were set off and the event started to close down had me hooked.

“The events calendar in Durham is most certainly one of the things that attracted me to the position with Durham BID. There is nothing better than seeing ideas come to life and watching visitors enjoy what has been created for them. Events are huge drivers of footfall so it will always be a priority to ensure that commercial opportunities are a key outcome of BID events, when it is deemed safe to do so and restrictions are lifted further.”

Over the coming days and weeks as the city follows central government’s roadmap to ease lockdown restrictions, Durham BID will be delivering plans designed to bring visitors safely back to the high street with the message that ‘Durham is open’.

With a retail bounce anticipated as businesses are allowed to open their doors again, the BID will be working with key partners and stakeholders to secure the future of the high street for years to come. This will include the future planning of family-favourite events such as Fire&Ice InDurham and the Christmas Lights Switch On, as well as speaking to businesses to find out what other events would work for them post-pandemic, working collaboratively to deliver new initiatives of benefit to the City.

Alan Day, chair of the board at Durham BID, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Paul to the team. A stand-out candidate during the interviews, he brings with him to the role a wealth of experience that is sure to help the businesses of Durham City come back stronger following the devastating impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic.

“My thanks must go to Adam Deathe for his many years of service at Durham BID and some of the brilliant achievements he’s brought about for the City. He’s leaving behind a strong legacy for Paul to pick up on in his new role.”