One year into its second term, Coleraine BID is still struggling to show what it’s actually doing for the businesses that fund it.

The renewal pitch was all about momentum—fresh ideas, digital innovation, more support for local traders. Fast-forward twelve months, and we’re left wondering: where’s the delivery? Because from the outside, not much has changed. The town hasn’t been revitalised. The communication is worse. The energy is gone.

On page 5 of the BID’s own business plan, it proudly states:

Sounds solid—until you realise nothing has happened. No working group. No updates. No progress. Just another good-sounding promise with zero follow-through.

The Business Support Services on page 10 are no better. Remember these?

Aside from a bit of half-hearted photography and video work (which, let’s be honest, hasn’t exactly raised the bar), none of it has materialised. The engagement is nonexistent. The communication strategy—if there ever was one—has vanished.

And yet, here’s the kicker: I delivered some of those services for them—properly, professionally, with results.
When I worked with the BID, we built strong video content, meaningful digital campaigns, and communication that actually connected with local businesses. That work delivered visibility, engagement, and pride in Coleraine.

Now, a year into the new term, businesses are paying more—but getting far less. The website’s gone. The newsletter’s gone. The video storytelling has stopped. What’s left is a Facebook page on life support and two uninspired issues of a magazine that barely mention the local business community. Most of it reads like it was churned out by AI, not someone who knows the town.

An interim communications person has been hired, but it’s hard to see what impact they’ve had. The content feels generic, recycled, and disconnected. The BID seems to be communicating at businesses, not with them.

Then there are the events—scheduled on Saturdays, when most traders are too busy to benefit. The Halloween event was particularly painful: low-effort, poorly executed, and rightly criticised by the public.

It’s a pattern: plenty of talking, no real delivery.

And businesses are the ones footing the bill.

At some point, someone has to ask the obvious question: why are we paying for services that aren’t being delivered?

The BID’s job is to add value, not create noise. Right now, it’s doing neither. The commitments made to members were specific, measurable, and clear—and after a full year, most remain unchecked boxes on a forgotten plan.

If the BID wants to regain trust, it needs to start showing work, not just writing plans. Be transparent. Own what’s been missed. Deliver something real.

Otherwise, the story of Coleraine BID will stay the same: plenty of promises, paid for by the very businesses still waiting for results.