Businesses were given a window in to the future of Paddington on Wednesday 21 November. Kay Buxton, Chief Executive of The Paddington Partnership gave a whistle stop tour of current and future developments in the area. She was joined by Andrew Scrivener, Managing Director of European Land who updated attendees on the next phases to Merchant Square. Read more.
On Wednesday 17 October, the BID invited small and medium sized business managers to meet the Citizens Advice Bureau Westminster for a briefing session at Lite Bite Cafe Bar on London Street. Managers were made aware of the free, independent and impartial advice that is on offer in regards to managing staff through a range of personal problems such as debt, illness, housing issues, immigration and many more. Read more.
Paddington received nationwide recognition for its efforts to put ‘more flowers everywhere’ after a consultation with BID members in 2017. Britain in Bloom, a Royal Horticultural Society led endeavor, rewarded the BID with a Silver Gilt Award for its representation of London BID’s at the October 19 awards ceremony Belfast. Read more.
Paddington won a Gold Award at the London in Bloom Awards ceremony at Pembroke Lodge in Richmond on Thursday 20 September. As one of nine entries in the Business Improvement District category, Paddington was awarded Gold along with London Bridge. Seven other BIDs competed winning a Bronze, five Silvers and a Silver Gilt. Read more.
Air quality in Paddington is set for improvement thanks to the launch of a new project by PaddingtonNow BID and Considerate Hoteliers in September. The project will show Paddington businesses large and small how to make a tangible return on investment by reducing their CO2 emissions. Read more.
Record temperatures brought in record numbers this year to Paddington Covers in Norfolk Square Gardens. With everyone looking for some outdoor fun, the atmosphere was electric at our lovely little free tribute bands festival under the trees in Paddington. Read more.
The 2018 AGM was also held on Monday 9 July at the Hilton London Paddington. Vaughan Smith, Frontline Club was re-elected as BID Chairman and Will Clayton, Pride of Paddington was elected as Vice Chairman to replace Angela Kretchmer. The board welcomed three new members, Paul Fitzgerald will replace Koolesh Shah as representative for London Town Hotels, Emma Baker will represent Landsec, replacing Harry Foster, Andrew Scrivener, Paddington Partnership and Simon Froome, Knowall IT will join the team. Read More.
Also on Monday 9 July, the BID organised a networking event called Businesses Building Communities. The Keynote Speaker was Gerard North, Head of Public Sector, JC Decaux. Read more.
The BID commissioned Community Clean to undertake street cleansing on Praed Street for the first time. They focused on ‘grot spots’ around bins and graffiti removal. Based on the success of their work, in 2019 the BID will task them with the cleansing of larger pavement areas. Click here for photos.
On Wednesday 20 June, the BID organised a networking evening to introduce BID members and Paddington Businesses to the new Community Safety Team. The local Metropolitan Police team and Westminster City Council were also in attendance and answered questions from attendees.
Tuesday 5 June saw the beginning of our free summer yoga sessions in Norfolk Square Gardens in collaboration with Live Karma Yoga. The sessions attract all ages and abilities from tourists staying in hotels close by to NHS workers from St. Mary’s and local workers and residents. The sessions run throughout June, July and August.
In June, the BID renewed their partnership with Recycling company First Mile for a further two years until 2020. The scheme offers collection of commercial dry mixed recycling, cardboard and food, all free of charge. The new partnership has a focus on food recycling where food waste will be turned into clean energy and fertiliser via anaerobic digestion.
On Tuesday 22 May, we welcomed the BID’s new Community Safety Team. The team of four are dedicated to patrolling the PaddingtonNow BID area 5 days a week, from Tuesday to Saturday, from 12 noon to 10pm. They have extensive security experience and 7 languages between them (English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Ukranian, Romanian and Russian). Read more.
On Thursday 17 May, Paddington Businesses gathered on the roof terrace of 20 Eastbourne Terrace to listen to Miles Watson Smyth, Managing Director of Window Flowers, a London in Bloom judge and leader in the horticultural field. Mr Watson Smyth offered advice on how ‘greening’ a business can improve business. He offered tips on how to ‘green’ a business cheaply and with effect, also the benefits to health, well-being and the improvement to air quality inside and outside a business. Read more.
The Spring/Summer edition of Explore Paddington Magazine was released at the beginning of May, with 10,000 more copies printed and destined for Heathrow Express trains. For the first time, new visitors will have the ultimate guide to what to see and do in Paddington over the summer as soon as they arrive at the station. Read more.
On Wednesday 25 April, PaddingtonNow BID organised a networking event to introduce Paddington BID Hoteliers, concierge, guest relations and customer facing staff, to GoBoat London in partnership with The Paddington Partnership, and the Draft House Paddington. 38 people from 17 hotels in the BID area came to experience a GoBoat ride down the Grand Union Canal and sample the pizza’s, beers and excellent customer service on offer at the Draft House, a BID member and fantastic dining option in Merchant Square. Read more.
On February 5 we were delighted to announce that PaddingtonNow became a finalist in Britain’s nationwide gardening competition, Britain in Bloom. 76 community gardening groups around the country will battle it out in this Royal Horticultural Society competition. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Belfast on 19 October. For more information about the competition click here.
