Business leaders, city partners and community figures gathered at Voco Hotels this week for the launch of GO! Southampton’s new Five-Year Plan, setting out the Business Improvement District’s vision for the city from 2027 to 2032.
Leepeckmedia was proud to attend the event and see our valued client unveil its five-year plan, marking a significant moment for the organisation as it builds on ten years of progress delivering services and improvements across Southampton’s city centre.
The new plan, shaped through rigorous consultation with businesses, partners and community organisations across the city, is built around four core themes. ‘Attracting’ will see GO! Southampton raise Southampton’s profile nationally and internationally, growing the visitor economy through Visit Southampton and new campaigns and trails. ‘Welcoming’ focuses on a safer, cleaner and more connected city centre for everyone, with particular attention on improving the cruise passenger experience and helping local businesses capture more of that spend. ‘Supporting’ will deliver practical, everyday help for businesses, from cutting costs and upskilling teams to building online presence and improving connectivity across the BID area. And ‘Aspiring’ will see GO! Southampton champion local business interests, forge city partnerships and work to attract the large-scale investment the city deserves.
Speaking at the launch, Chair Tim Keeping explained that the plan was shaped directly by what businesses had told the organisation they wanted: a city centre that feels vibrant, welcoming and full of opportunity. Executive Director Stephen Manion FRSA also highlighted the scale of opportunity already on Southampton’s doorstep, pointing to the more than 3.5 million cruise passengers now visiting or passing through the city each year.
Beyond the plan itself, the launch offered a valuable opportunity for networking, with attendees including Sarah Bogle, Leader of Southampton City Council, and Donna Jones, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner, among those catching up with colleagues and friends from across the region.
The plan will now go to ballot, with levy-paying businesses voting between 30 October and 26 November on whether GO! Southampton continues its work for a further five-year term.
A huge well done to the GO! Southampton team for producing a plan that is ambitious, inclusive and genuinely shaped by the people who work, visit and relax in Southampton. It’s a story the agency is proud to be telling, and one that marks an important moment for the city’s future.
