in association with Your invitation to join the Cambridge BID buying group and

reduce business costs.

Cost Saving Initiatives

Our Business Support work-stream is a key area of delivery for the BID.

Cost saving initiatives and specifically the opportunity to exploit the

collective purchasing power of BID businesses and organisations will help to

reduce your overall operating costs.

Through specialist procurement and economies of scale, in partnership with

Meercat (who work with many BIDs across the UK), we will provide added

value and tangible economic benefit to help your business meet economic,

corporate social responsibility and environmental ambitions. If you produce

food waste, there is also an opportunity for you to make savings with a

new food waste collection service (see page 7). The process is simple;

contact Meercat Associates (back page) to arrange a visit from a Business

Improvement Consultant, who will then review your business costs against

the areas contained within this booklet (utilities, telecoms, testing and pest

control).

The opportunities outlined in this booklet represent the first stage in this

work programme. Thoughts and suggestions are welcome to help inform

our on-going work.

Edward QuigleyCambridge BID Manager

June 2014

Harnessing the collective purchasing power of businesses and organisations within the Cambridge BID.

forEworD

Through specialist procurement and economies of scale, in partnership with Meercat, we are seeking to

provide added value and tangible economic benefit

““

Page 2 | Foreword

UTIlIT

IES

Energy Markets are volatile, understanding them, knowing when to buy and getting the right deal can be

time consuming and confusing.

The Meercat energy team will take care of everything

for you; we will secure cheaper prices for your gas

and electricity and fix these prices to protect you from

changes in the energy market. We will then monitor and

manage the contract to ensure you are always on the

best market rates.

You don't need to wait until your current contract expires

as we work proactively to plan and secure the most

favourable terms for the renewal of your contract.

Our end-to-end service covers all aspects of the

energy procurement process. We audit your current

consumption and use market intelligence and risk

analysis to forecast energy prices. We work with national

suppliers on the wholesale market and utilising the buying

power of our all our UK business community members

we are able to procure the best contract on your behalf at

the right price and help you reduce risk.

We can help your business reduce its carbon footprint

and save money at the same time. Our robust systems

are able to track your contract and terminate it at the right

time which will prevent it from rolling to a higher rate. We

provide an efficient and hassle free service - you provide

us with copies of your utilities bills and we manage the

entire process including termination of your current

contract, obtaining quotes, renegotiating with suppliers

and drawing up new contracts. One of our energy

consultants will be made available to your business and

will advise you at every stage.

We are committed to helping you save money and will

provide our service at no cost during the partnership

between Cambridge BID and Meercat Associates.

You can join the tens of thousands of businesses currently in business improvement communities across the UK. The power of the group will reduce the cost of your power!

Page 4 | Telecoms

TElECoMSwith technology changing daily and market deals changing just as fast, how can you ensure that you are getting the right deal?

No matter what sector your business is in, we can help you

find the right solution, using our purchasing power to secure

you the best market rates. We will take away the confusion;

we will save you, your staff and your business time and effort

and reduce your existing costs.

During the BID/Meercat partnership, your contracts will be

monitored, managed and cost controlled so that you can be

safe in the knowledge that you are keeping on top of market

deals.

With a copy of your most recent telecoms bill/s, we can then

undertake a free, no obligation audit to determine how much

you can save. You are then best placed to make decisions

that are best for your business and we will be there at every

step to support you.

our telecoms experts will provide you

with a clear and concise solution. our UK

wide group procurement deals will make

you great savings.By law, every business and organisation has to ensure that their building and equipment is safe and tested/assessed regularly to ensure compliance.Searching for and identifying the right supplier can

be difficult enough, and getting the right price can

be even harder if you are procuring on your own. By

working with us and the BID buying community, we

can ensure that your costs for these services are

the lowest in the market place and the service you

receive is second to none.

we will take care of your:¥ Fire Risk Assessments

¥ Health & Safety Risk Assessments

¥ Fire Warden Training

¥ DSE Assessments

¥ Legionella Water Testing

¥ Periodic Inspection Reporting - Fixed Wire Testing

¥ Fire Alarm Testing

¥ Fire Extinguisher Servicing

¥ Thermal Imaging

¥ Emergency Lighting Testing

¥ PAT Testing

¥ Electrical Maintenance; Planned & Reactive

TESTIng

We have done all the work in finding

you the solution you need. our group

deal keeps prices low and service

levels high.

Page 6 | Pest Control

PEST ConTrolIf you believe you have a problem with pest control, act now. Pest problems

that get out of control can have a devastating effect on your business.

Pests can carry disease and cause food poisoning;

they also bring problems with odours, damage and

excrement. The sooner you act, the sooner we can

help you solve your pest-control problem at the right

price.

After an extensive procurement exercise, we have

negotiated an exclusive package for the BID buying

community which ensures you will be offered affordably

priced pest control with a friendly and professional

service.

At every stage, you'll feel the reassurance of dealing

with an established, professional and trusted business.

Our advisors can arrange an inspection so they can

make a more detailed recommendation based on your

individual circumstances and recommend an approach

that will work for your business. Our service covers all

infestations across food and non-food premises.

working together across your community we can drive out the pests and drive down the cost of maintaining a healthy and clean working environment.

whether it’s rodent, bird or insect control

we have an affordable solution for your

business.

Our pest control advisors are available to guide you on

the best course of action and can put together a tailored

pest control strategy for your business.

Separate food waste collection to save youmoney and improve sustainability

fooD wASTE rECYClIngIn the 1980's we heard about butter mountains, lakes

of wine and aircraft hangers full of grain or dried milk,

supposedly saved for future use. Today we read of food

poverty made worse by the tonnes of food the waste

industry has had to learn to deal with. The numbers are

shocking, across the UK over 40% of food is wasted,

literally just thrown away.

• That's 15 million tonnes per annum!• Or the same CO2 as produced by every other car on the road!• The UK Hospitality sector alone could save £2.5bn pa

by tackling food waste!

The BID (supported by LRS Consultancy) has been

working closely with the City Council and is proud to

offer an environmentally friendly solution for food waste

producing businesses and organisations. By having your

food waste collected separately and treated locally, you will

save money and minimise impact on the local environment

making Cambridge an even more sustainable city.

By joining the new food waste collection service (as well

as recycling your cardboard, glass, plastic and metals)

you may not produce any, or much, general rubbish at all,

equalling both smaller costs and less work!

• Improving the cleanliness of your food prep area • Giving you savings in waste disposal (it’s cheaper

than your existing refuse bins!) • Impressing your customers by being environmentally

aware and friendly!• Leading to better food ordering management/

awareness by staff, more savings!

Arrange a visit from one of the Trade Waste Department

expert officers today to discuss how we can help further

reduce your costs. Quote 'BID food waste collection' when

you call 01223 458282.

wasted food = wasted fuel (tractors, ships, delivery lorries & your car!)

wasted food = wasted labour (farmers, packers, shopkeepers, your salary!)

wasted food = wasted water (irrigation, washing, pushing your bills up!)

wasted food = wasted money (ultimately rubbish = higher bills for all!)

The benefits of collaborative procurement have beenseen across many BIDs in the UK, with businessesfrom various sectors saving on average £1000.

TESTIMonIAlS froM oTHEr BUSInESSES

Page 8 | Testimonials

“If you’d like to make savings on your running costs then I’d certainly recommend getting Meercat Associates, your BID Savings Team, in. we did and so made savings that we wouldn’t have been able to secure as we don’t have the knowledge or time. Meercat have both. It takes little effort on your part and you’ll benefit from big savings.”Andy Hook, Blackfrairs restaurant, newcastle

“Saving money for any business is essential. And that’s what Meercat Associates enabled us to do. By carefully assessing our needs, usage and options, and through their unique understanding of the way in which a Business Improvement District works, Meercat determined the best tariff for the Utopian leisure business which brought with it substantial savings that we were not in a position to achieve ourselves. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.”Bob Senior, Chief Executive, Utopian leisure group

“Any business can save money with Meercat with their easy to use procurement service. we did and are delighted with the little time it took to make big savings.”Christine redford, redfords, newcastle

“we’d recommend Meercat Associates, who enabled us to save considerable amounts on our electricity bills. It takes little time, they are experienced in their field and the team are efficient and helpful.” robert Taylor, organiser, Camden Federation of Private Tenants (CFPT)

“Meercat associates took the effort away from finding a new electricity supplier for our current and new office. Meercat’s communication was excellent, they completed the whole process from start to finish quickly and efficiently, time I simply didn’t have. Our electricity costs have been dramatically reduced. I can always count on Meercat if I ever need any savings on my bills.”Anna Tait, Office Manager, Hunter Boot

MorE InforMATIon ABoUT THE nATIonAl

BID BUYIng groUPAt Meercat Associates we are proud of the work we have achieved across the UK establishing The national BID Buying group, while bringing fantastic benefits to individual businesses.No matter how good you are at procuring on your own,

working together with your community and joining forces

with all the other UK BID communities, will give you

bottom line benefits and make your business life a little

easier.

The National BID Buying Group reaches over 30 BID

communities across the country with a membership

of over 15,000 businesses (including you!). Our fee

free approach has enabled us to save over £2m for

independent and corporate businesses nationally.

Whether you are an independent sole trader or a multi-

national corporation our BID Buying Group can bring

significant benefit to your business whilst ensuring your

profits are maximised and your administration minimised.

We'll use the buying power of the whole UK group to

get you the very best market prices, we'll manage all

your contracts and sort out any issues you ever have

and we'll put all your contracts on our radar so we'll see

when they are up for renewal and sort them out months

in advance. Our savings team is made up of energy,

telecoms and service specialists and they will do all the

work for you back office, so you can be left alone to run

your business.

Your dedicated local Business Improvement Consultant

will be visiting your business over the coming months

and looking to work with you to reduce your costs and

maximise your profit. We are committed to making

savings for your business and offer our time to ensure

your suppliers are providing you and your business

with the right price. Whether you wish to benchmark or

renegotiate with your existing suppliers, you can use our

impartial whole of market service to your benefit.

You are under no obligation to accept anything we offer

you and there is no charge to you for our service.

Page 10 | Other Bid Business Support Activity

oTHE

r BID

BUSIn

ESS

SUPP

orT A

CTIVI

TY These cost saving initiatives are one element of our Business Support activity - how else can the BID support your business or organisation?

Businesses and organisations within the BID Area are encouraged to become members of

Cambridge BID, to make the most out of their BID

MEMBErSHIP of CAMBrIDgE BID

Membership of Cambridge BID ensures that businesses

and organisations get the most out of their BID; from the

projects we deliver to key information about the city and

opportunities for businesses, the BID is here to serve all

businesses and organisations in the BID Area and we can

do that most effectively when businesses and organisations

become members of Cambridge BID Limited.

If you would like to become a member, please contact

the BID Team who can provide you with a copy of the

membership form, which takes no more than a couple

of minutes to complete. Alternatively, one of our City

Ambassadors can provide you with a form.

Cambridge BID is an independent organisation delivering

projects voted for by BID Levy payers, which allows

stakeholders to invest collectively in local improvements to

enhance Cambridge trading environment

Cambridge BID delivers projects in 4 areas: Pride & Promotion

Welcoming & Vibrant, Clean & Safe and Business Support

None of the BID projects duplicate what is already provided by

the City or Country Councilís

BID membership is free

Developments underway for exclusive BID members area on

our website, due to go live in summer 2014

Some of our other Business Support activity includes:

Mystery shop visits

Each year, the BID facilitates a series of mystery-shop visits to businesses who wish

to obtain impartial feedback as to how their business and staff are performing in the

eyes of customers. In our first year (2013), we saw over 60 businesses participate in

the project, which culminated in an awards ceremony for businesses involved in the

project, comprehensive feedback being provided along with the provision of training

in areas where businesses could strengthen. Get in touch with the BID Team if you

would like to find out more and participate in this year's mystery-shop project.

Skills training

The 2013 mystery-shop project identified three key areas for businesses and

organisations to strenghten; initial contact, sales (and upselling) and social media.

Aside for the continued provision of training in response to results from future

mystery-shop projects, we will also be working with a variety of training providers

to facilitate free/reduced cost training provision across different areas, for BID

businesses and organisations.

Workshops/talks

The BID is developing a suite of workshops/talks throughout the year, featuring

expert speakers that will provide BID businesses with the opportunity to benefit from

best practice in a number of areas.

Online resources for businesses/B2B facilitation

A consumer facing website will provide a comprehensive and easy to use directory

of businesses and organisations (from all sectors) in the BID Area. We will continue

to provide you and other businesses with key information, news and opportunities,

which will include a mechanism that allows businesses and organisations within the

BID greater opportunity to work together.

Performance monitoring

The BID is producing a monthly report that contains information relating to footfall,

car park and park and ride usage, vacancy rates and other key data gathered from

our City Ambassadors, merging to form a comprehensive report as to how the city is

performing in different areas. We are keen to hear from businesses as to what other

information we could gather that would be of value. Get in touch and let the BID

Team know.

Edward QuigleyCambridge BID Manager

edward.quigley@cambridgebid.co.uk

Becky BurrellMarketing & Commercial Manager

becky.burrell@cambridgebid.co.uk

rachel rissbrookMarketing & Commercial Manager

rachel.rissbrook@cambridgebid.co.uk

Jessica HomewoodProject Officer

jessica.homewood@cambridgebid.co.uk

City Ambassadorsambassadors@cambridgebid.co.uk

rishi SoodBusiness Improvement Consultant

01223 803 272 | savings@meercatassociates.com

BID TEAM ConTACTInforMATIon

MEErCAT ConTACTInforMATIon

www.cambridgebid.co.uk

info@cambridgebid.co.uk