InExeter’s month of progress: March recap

As March draws to a close, it’s a time of transition and reflection for InExeter. This month has been especially significant as we wrap up the current five-year term of the Business Improvement District (BID) and look forward to the new term starting on 1st April. CEO Nicola Wheeler recaps a month of city-centre progress as InExeter enters a new BID termIt’s an exciting moment for us as we continue our commitment to making Exeter a thriving and vibrant city for businesses, residents and visitors.

One major change this month has been our office move. We are delighted to now be based at Venaspace on Paris Street – a fantastic, serviced office right in the heart of the city, offering excellent meeting rooms and social facilities. The new space has already proven to be a great hub for collaboration and creativity, and we’re thrilled to be part of such a dynamic environment.

In the first part of 2025, we’ve taken the opportunity to reflect on the year just gone and have set out our Delivery Plan for the year ahead. This was shared with our levy-paying businesses in March and is available to view on our website. It outlines our strategic priorities and how we intend to continue delivering value for our members and the city.

March might seem an odd time to discuss Christmas, but it’s been a hot topic at InExeter!

Earlier this year, we issued a Request for Proposals to secure a new Christmas Lights contract for the city. It’s worth noting that the city’s Christmas lights display is funded by the local business community, and this year marks the 10th anniversary of the lights being delivered by the BID with levy contributions from city businesses.

We’re grateful to colleagues from Princesshay and Guildhall Shopping, who helped evaluate the submissions, and we’re excited
to work with our chosen provider to bring an exciting new lighting scheme to Exeter this Christmas.

This month has also seen us focus on enhancing Exeter’s nightlife. We are spearheading efforts to secure a Purple Flag accreditation for the city – a hallmark of a safe and vibrant night out, akin to a green flag for parks or a blue flag for beaches.

Achieving this accolade would be a fantastic recognition of Exeter’s dynamic and welcoming night-time economy. We’ve built a
strong partnership with representatives from the University, College, Marines, City Council, Police, and Stagecoach, and we’re working hard to deliver an action plan to make it happen.

We’ve also welcomed a University of Exeter Business School student on a 140-hour placement, who has been invaluable in pulling together the necessary documentation.

Another highlight of March was participating in International Women’s Day celebrations at Exeter College, where we were invited to give a talk. Leading a team of passionate women working in the heart of the city is something I am immensely proud of, and it was inspiring to speak to 75 students about the positive impact of our work.

In addition, we ran a mini campaign on our social media to highlight some of the amazing women-owned businesses in the city
centre - make sure to follow us to stay in the loop!

As always, we are immensely grateful to the Exeter business community for their continued support and collaboration. We look forward to another vibrant and successful year ahead!

Nicola Wheeler also sat down with Exeter Tomorrow to talk about InExeter’s renewal, plans for Castle Street, a city-wide push for net zero, and how creative campaigns and collaboration will shape the next five years. Click here to read the full interview, as well as other insights from Exeter's business community.