A year of achievements, conversations about our town and shaping Dorking’s future.
On Thursday 22nd October BID Manager Jo McGowan welcomed local businesses to Pippbrook House for our Annual Meeting, bringing together BID members and community partners to reflect on the work taking place across Dorking, discuss the issues affecting our town centre and look ahead to an important year.
With the BID renewal ballot taking place in 2027, this year’s meeting wasn’t just about looking back at what we’ve achieved, it was also an opportunity to hear directly from businesses about their priorities and ambitions for Dorking’s future.
A year of making things happen
From town-centre events and improvements to business support, marketing and advocacy, Hello Dorking continues to work on behalf of more than 370 levy-paying businesses.
And there’s plenty to report!
A few highlights from the past year:
Our events continue to be a major part of our work, from the Festival of Light and Vintage Day to our Christmas Festival and the new Good Living Festival, which involved more than 50 local businesses.
Alongside these events, we’ve continued working on improvements across the town, including South Street Gardens, planters and hanging baskets, bins, banners and signage.
We have implemented the disc crime reporting system, working with other Surrey BIDs, so businesses can now create reports that will be directly shared with police. There has already been an increase in reporting, and this gives local police data to request additional funding.
The BID Team attended the National BID Awards where we won in both our categories. We have recently submitted two more entries to next year’s awards so watch this space!
We’ve also supported businesses through networking, training and promotion, working with other organisations to raise issues and push for improvements.
It’s a broad programme of activity, all with the aim of supporting Dorking’s businesses and making our town a place people want to visit, work and spend time.
Answering your frequently asked questions
An important part of the meeting was the opportunity to address questions raised by businesses about the BID’s work and some of the challenges facing Dorking.
What’s happening in my part of town?
While our major events often take place in the town centre, Hello Dorking’s work extends across the BID area.
From improvements to South Street Gardens and activities in West Street to events, banners and business support in other parts of town, the BID works to deliver benefits across Dorking.
There are also town-wide initiatives, including social media promotion, seasonal guides, training and networking, that are available to businesses throughout the BID area.
We’re always keen to hear from businesses about opportunities and ideas for their particular part of town.
How can my business make more of the BID?
There are lots of ways to get involved, and one of the simplest is to keep us informed!
Whether you’re launching something new, holding an event, celebrating a milestone or have news to share, let the Hello Dorking team know so we can support you.
Businesses can also take advantage of networking and training opportunities, get involved in town events and keep up to date through our BID communications, including our weekly business email.
And if something is affecting your business or your part of town, please tell us. We may not be able to resolve every issue directly, but we can help raise concerns with the relevant organisations and advocate on behalf of our businesses.
What’s happening with vacant units?
We know that empty premises are a concern for businesses and can affect how our town centre looks and feels.
Bringing vacant units back into use isn’t always straightforward. Landlord decisions, planning requirements, permissions and finding the right tenant can all affect how quickly a property becomes occupied.
Hello Dorking continues to engage with landlords, commercial agents and other organisations, exploring opportunities to improve the appearance of vacant premises and encourage new businesses into the town.
The Banking Hub will be opening and is currently going through a planning application to create an accessible side entrance.
And look out for new shop window vinyls going up at Pump Corner to help with the appearance of this important area.
What about other town-centre issues?
From bins and maintenance to the condition of public spaces, we regularly hear about issues that affect the town’s appearance and the experience of businesses and visitors.
The BID works with the relevant organisations to report problems, follow up on concerns, advocate for improvements and secure funding.
This is an important part of our role, even when the work isn’t always immediately visible.
Looking ahead: The BID renewal in 2027
Next year marks an important milestone for Hello Dorking and we were joined at the meeting by Chris Gregory from Heartflood, who will be supporting us as we prepare for our BID renewal ballot. Chris has worked with BIDs for over 20 years and in 120 UK locations.
Every five years, levy-paying businesses have the opportunity to vote on whether the BID should continue for another term.
Ahead of the ballot, we’ll be developing a new five-year business plan, setting out our proposed priorities and the work we want to deliver for Dorking.
And this is where your input really matters.
The business plan needs to reflect the businesses it represents, which is why we’re asking all BID members to complete our business survey.
We want to understand what’s working well, what could be improved and what you’d like Hello Dorking to focus on over the next five years.
The provisional timetable is:
· May 2027: Business plan finalised.
· June 2027: Ballot opens.
· July 2027: Ballot closes.
Your feedback will help shape the next chapter for Hello Dorking, so please take the opportunity to have your say.
We finished the meeting by asking businesses to look a little further into the future.
The exercise sparked plenty of discussion, with attendees sharing ideas about the kind of town they’d like to see in six years’ time.
There were suggestions for more independent shops, fewer vacant premises, improved parking and transport, more markets and events, greener public spaces and better facilities for local businesses and the wider community.
Some of the main themes included:
A thriving High Street: A strong mix of independent businesses, more opportunities for small traders and fewer empty units.
An accessible town: Better parking, transport connections and easier access to the town centre for businesses, residents and visitors.
More reasons to visit: Markets, live music, cultural activities, larger events and more opportunities for young people.
A greener, more attractive Dorking: More trees, wildlife, flowers and well-maintained public spaces.
A connected community: Improved services, banking facilities, community spaces and opportunities for learning and development.
Celebrating Dorking’s identity: Making more of our heritage, antiques, arts, culture and independent character.
The discussion highlighted just how much people value Dorking’s distinctive character, alongside a real appetite for events, improvements and new opportunities.
Of course, not every suggestion falls within the BID’s direct control. Some would require the involvement of the council, landlords, transport providers and other organisations, but we always aim to facilitate further discussion wherever we can.
But the ideas provide valuable insight into what matters to our businesses and will help inform future conversations about the town and the priorities for the next BID term.
St Martin’s Walk Update
The relocation of Marks and Spencers from St Martin’s Walk to Vincent Lane was discussed. From meeting with their representatives, they are committed to staying in Dorking while fulfilling their own business direction of more out of town food halls. However, they have now signed a new 10-year lease at St Martin’s Walk.
The owners of St Martin’s Walk are also in discussion with businesses and leisure providers to fill the space when Marks and Spencers do move.
There is also a new café going into St Martin’s Walk where Fothergills used to be. Charlie and Ginger will be opening in early 2027, and will be a welcome addition to the area.
Help shape what’s next
Our Annual Meeting was a chance to celebrate the work already taking place, discuss the challenges facing our town and hear ideas about where Dorking could go next.
As we approach BID renewal in 2027, we want as many businesses as possible to be part of that conversation.
Whether you attended the meeting or couldn’t make it, we’d love to hear your views.
Complete our BID business survey and tell us what matters most to you. This is your chance to tell us what you’d like to see improved and what you think our priorities should be for the next five years.
The survey closes on 13th November so you have still have time to complete it so your views are heard.
And lastly, thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed their ideas. We look forward to continuing the conversation and working together for Dorking’s future.
