New chair for company battling to attract shoppers back to Sheffield city centre after lockdown

Amanda Phillips is the new head of Sheffield Business Improvement District which spends £800,000 on safety, cleanliness and promotion each year.

Her day is job is centre manager for The Moor, on behalf of Aberdeen Standard Investments, which has spent more than £125m regenerating the shopping zone.

She described Sheffield as facing a ‘once in a lifetime challenge’ from Covid and said the BID would continue to support the city centre community.

Since 2015, the organisation has collected an annual levy from more than 500 businesses inside the inner ring road.

She said: “Against this background, I am thrilled to be taking on this responsibility. We have a vital role to play in supporting our city’s rejuvenation from the pandemic.

“My experience of leading The Moor’s growth brings a variety of lessons that I hope to share across the wider city centre.”

Diane Jarvis, Sheffield BID manager, said: “I am delighted to have Amanda as our chair. We have a big agenda over the coming months where her enthusiasm, skill and experience will be a huge asset.

“Our work in the city centre over the last five years has focused on the priorities our levy payers give us and we are delighted that their feedback continues to be strong and supportive. Whether keeping the street scene clean and safe, bringing new activities to the city, or enhancing existing world-class events.

“Over the coming months, our work to support the community through the Covid-19 pandemic will continue.

“In the coming weeks we will start to lead the conversation with the city centre community around the future of the BID as we come to the end of our tenure next March.

“The city and its stakeholders will need to take a hard look at our record and our exciting future plans. I know Amanda will be a great chair for us through this period and will help us to deliver a thriving and successful city centre and a destination of which we are all truly proud.”

Ms Phillips succeeds Suzy Brain England who served since 2016.

Sheffield BID is a private, not-for-profit company.

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