BUSINESSES are celebrating after winning an award for banding together to drive forward ambitious improvement plans for Southend town centre.

Southend’s Business Improvement District was recognised as one of the most successful across the whole of the UK.

It was awarded British Bids accreditation at the organisation’s annual conference.

Southend Bid has introduced a number of measures to make shopping in the town a better experience, including brightening up Southend High Street with colourful planters and bringing in street wardens.

Bid chairman Dawn Jeakings said: “This is excellent news and a huge well done to everybody involved with Southend Bid. It’s amazing what you can do when all parties come together with one aim, passion and commitment to help improve the town we all work in.”

Southend now joins a select fewBids to have been awarded accreditation, including London’s West End.

Dawn, also manager of the Royals shopping centre, said: “At present, only 13 other accreditations have been awarded to other towns and cities – seven of them are for very well-funded areas of London. We’re joining far wealthier and more established Bids in a select group and that’s a massive endorsement for the work that we do and our plans for the future.

“I think it’s good for residents and visitors to know that we have an excellent environment in which to come and shop, relax, do business and socialise in.”

Southend Bid’s next event is the traditional start to the Christmas festivities, the Big Switch On.

It gets under way at 2.30pm on Saturday and promises a series of fun events throughout the afternoon, culminating in the High Street’s Christmas lights being turned on by Cliffs Pavilion panto star David Hasselhoff.

For more information about the Big Switch On and other events, visit onsouthend.com or follow the Bid’s