Formed in 2013, Southend BID is the Business Improvement District (BID) Company for Southend. A BID is a defined geographical area and within it, businesses opt (via a vote) to pay an additional amount to provide services in that area that they, as a group of businesses want to have. A BID company has a maximum of five years before it has to ask businesses if they want the BID to continue. Southend BID was formed in 2013 out of a very successful town centre partnership organisation – Southend Town Centre Partnership (STCP). Businesses voted with a firm yes for the Southend BID to to act on their behalf. Businesses expressed a strong desire to work together to ensure that the town centre and seafront can make the most of their combined potential and remain ahead of the competition.