BID Savings, Support and Success

Meercat Associates helps BIDs succeed. Dedicated BID Savings, Support and Success

Meercats has worked exclusively with BIDs since 2007. The world of BIDs is a relatively new market and the learning curve is steep for those who enter it. But key to the success of any BID is knowing and engaging with its members.

Meercats can help in two ways: we call members offering them the opportunity to save money on a number of essential services which we then manage for them and through this contact, we keep the BID team’s database of members live and up to date.

The member saves money, saves time as the Meercat consultant manages the services and they reduce their environmental impact as each of our services are environmentally assessed.

The BID has a ‘Savings team’ working for them, who keep their contact database up to date and accurate whilst engaging with each and every member. When the BID needs to reach out to the members, the data is correct and the members are appreciative of the BID for all the money that has been saved for them.

Success for the member, success for the BID.

BID Buying GroupThe BID Buying Group is the name we give to the combined buying power we created by bringing together the 10,000s members within the UK’s 200 formal BIDs. Through the Group’s immense buying power, enormous savings on key services can be realised: this includes up to 50% on utilities and waste management. In the last couple of years over £2,000,000 savings have been identified for UK BID members.

BID World BID World was created in 2011 and is a discussion forum on LinkedIn. It offers BID managers and members an opportunity to come together, share ideas and innovations, ask questions and improve the efficiency of their BIDs. Meercat Associates founded and administrate the group, but the content of the group is 100% impartial and free for BID members to shape as they see fit. BID World is available to the 200+ BIDs in the UK, which includes 3000+ individuals and over 75,000 businesses.

The Meercat advantage provides:

Long term success for the BID team through our engagement with all members.

Contact database is created from scratch where necessary and then updated regularly and accurately.

Access to our exclusive BID Buying Group, offering national buying power from 10,000’s businesses across c200 UK BID’s.

Up to 50% savings across a range of critical business commodities with more in development.

Individual service – no call centres, sales talk or pressure, just unparalled ongoing support and market intelligence.

An expert and experienced team with specialist understanding of the needs of both BID managers and their members.

The UKs only independent BID waste & recycling consultancy.

Free help desk. This can be white labelled and managed as a part of your BID team.

Reduced environmental impact – all our suppliers are environmentally assessed.

Our consultants manage all supplier relationships saving time, energy and avoiding costly mistakes. The best tariffs are achieved and renewals never missed.

Full Meercat integration within the BID team and materials branded accordingly.

No charges to the BID member. Meercats are funded by the BID, giving complete financial control to the BID managers.

Savings identified is typically 2 to 5 times the money invested by the BID.

Dedicated marketing team to ensure successes are continually promoted across the BID.

Fully active on all social media platforms.

Network with your peers via BID WORLD on LinkedIn - an open platform for your queries and discussions.

“Working with procurement specialist Meercat Associates, NE1 has delivered over £1/4 million of savings for a number of Newcastle businesses through a joint procurement programme. In these tough economic times it is essential to reduce overheads and that’s where Meercat and NE1 can help. NE1’s members, from the largest to the smallest, can benefit from this bid buying network at no cost to themselves and the savings can be very significant.”

Why meerkats? Meerkat families are a tight

unit, working together to thrive, protect and support one another.

www.meercatassociates.com 3

Adrian Waddell Director of Operations, NE1 Business Improvement District

Benefit from the Meercat advantage

2 Call us on: 01444 416 529

Savings, Support and Success

“In year 1 Meercats created over £200,000 worth of savings for our BID members and won two awards for our innovative waste and recycling scheme.”South East BID

“Meercats saved us 51% on our portable appliance testing (PAT).”Media Company, Tottenham Court Road

Our Business Critical Commodities Commoditiesin development

TESTING - SAVE UP TO 45%Reduced rates for qualified testers and risk assessors means you can protect your business and adhere to H&S regulations. We cover 12 different tests including fire alarm, health and safety risk assessments and electrical maintenance.

PEST CONTROL – SAVE UP TO 31%Meercats will provide discreet, yet effective pest controllers for public health and nuisance problems at pre-negotiated, reduced rates.

PRINT – SAVE UP TO 15%Print jobs large and small are pooled together ensuring the print machines are used at maximum efficiency and your work is delivered on time and under budget!

PRIVATE HIRE – SAVE UP TO 25%Sit back in a Mercedes Benz E-class and relax in the knowledge that you are saving up to 25% on standard fares and helping to save the planet!

ELECTRICITY / GAS - SAVE UP TO 50%Energy procurement is complex and confusing. Meercat Associates will review your existing usage, tariff and carbon footprint and improve all where possible. As a part of this service we will also review your gas boiler for efficiency and emissions.

INSURANCE - SAVE ON AVERAGE 10%Meercat’s National BID Buying Group enables us to offer specially negotiated premiums to ensure that you have the right cover to protect your business.

TELECOMS - SAVE UP TO 30%Working with all the main suppliers, Meercat offers cost and tariff improvements on business landlines, business mobiles, VoIP and call centre solutions.

WASTE & RECYCLING – SAVE UP TO 50%, WE AIM FOR ZERO TO LANDFILLWe provide advice and low cost solutions with a focus on creating a zero-2-landfill solution. “Meercats secured a fixed rate

energy deal for us for 3 years and saved £11,151.”Media company in Whitfield Street

“The Savings team helped us save £1,680 a year on our pest control contract.”Design company on Fitzroy Square

HANDYMAN/MAINTENANCE – SAVE ON AVERAGE 21%We have a database of qualified, trusted maintenance suppliers with pre-agreed rates and all signed up to our environmental charter. We cover many areas including building repairs, decorating, joinery and plumbing.

COURIERS – SAVE UP TO 22%Meercats pre-negotiate rates for motorcycle, van and cycling courier services across each town and city in the UK taking care of large, small, local or international deliveries.

STATIONERY – SAVE UP TO 27%Meercats have brought together all your stationery requirements into a single managed deal. We have an online booking portal and free next day delivery.

“We used Meercats for our marketing material and saved 23% on print costs.”Tottenham Court Road Retailer

TRAININGAfter listening to many BID businesses, Meercat have designed training programs to address six common needs including health and safety, first aid and fire warden training.

MERCHANT FEESThe Meercat’s team will advise you of the best and most up to date products to suit your specific needs; whether that is accepting payments online, in-store or over the phone

RECRUITMENTMeercats have access to a network of experts should you have a position to fill. We currently cover procurement and security.

WATER RATES AUDITMeercat billing specialists analyse your water and waste bills and share with you opportunities for potential savings.

BUSINESS RATESOur dedicated business rates audit team ensures that you are only paying what you should from a full review of your historical and existing costs.

SECURITYCovering all equipment and labour, a Meercats’ security expert will work with you to ensure the security needs of your business are fully addressed and appropriate.

www.meercatassociates.com 54 Call us on: 01444 416 529

They will:

Assess the company’s current usage of utilities and suppliers.

Evaluate against all existing tariffs on the market, including Meercat exclusive tariffs, available through the National BID Buying Group.

Present recommendations clearly and impartially.

Monitoring BID savingsMeercats work in partnership with BID managers, monitoring all savings activities across the BID and providing detailed reports, data and regular activity updates, these are tailored to each BID’s requirements. BID managers can have access to our system so they can monitor all BID activity themselves in real time, if desired.

BID savings targetsMost BIDs we work with set BID group savings targets over a specified time period. We have currently saved £200,000 in our first year for one BID with a target saving of £1,000,000 over 5 years. As more BID members sign up, so the savings grow and the Meercat advantage becomes more apparent. Typically we identify savings 2 to 5 times the amount invested by the BID with us.

Manage the transfer between suppliers.

Manage the relationship between client and supplier throughout the agreement, re-evaluate if new and better tariffs become available and monitor renewal dates.

Create clear, intelligent savings reports to share internally and with the BID manager.

Reducing costsThe National BID Buying Group offers the buying power of 10,000’s businesses enabling us to reduce supplier rates and create new tariffs.

Improving service levels Jointly we can demand common high levels of service.

Reducing traffic flows Reducing suppliers we reduce journeys into each district.

Improving air quality By reducing the impact of our supply chains, traffic and equipment we can significantly improve local air quality.

Consolidating orders Together we can monitor and manage our supply chains better.

Controlling waste Working as a district we can create a zero to landfill environment.

In 2014 Meercat Associates were awarded the Green Apple Built Environment award, Bronze award in the Zero Waste Awards and Green World Ambassador status for helping others to help the environment. These awards were for designing zero-2-landfill communities across multiple BIDs. Meercats consolidated waste, reduced traffic flow and improved air quality. In addition they reduced waste costs for BID members by 40-50%.

“Having worked with Meercat Associates for the last 18 months at inSwindon BID Company I can safely say this has been one of our most successful projects to date.”BID Manager, inSwindon BID Company

“As a result of providing the Meercats team with our existing data, we saved 48% on our landline bill.”Restaurant on Charlotte Street

“The savings team is clearly experts in the field of Procurement.”Darren Gittins, Group Supplies and Logistic Manager, The Doctors Laboratory

We are BID procurement experts, we know what we are doing and we will advise you wisely and with your best interests at heart.

We will treat each BID and BID member individually. We will always look at your individual needs and provide a tailored service for you.

We will always provide excellent customer service and will always go the extra mile to give you exactly what your members and BID needs.

Our promises to you

Individual approachEvery BID member has their own Meercat consultant. They will assess their needs and manage the supplier relationships from beginning to end.

Group Savings

The Meercat advantage happens when all BID members benefit from the cost savings on offer. On top of this the collective environmental impact is significantly reduced.

www.meercatassociates.com 76 Call us on: 01444 416 529

Contact Meercats and let your BID

benefit from the Meercat advantageCall 01444 416529info@meercatassociates.com

Meercat Associates Ltd45 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 3BN

www.meercatassociates.com

We look forward to hearing from youMeercat Associate’s sister company, Heroes (www.heroes.uk.net), are also experts in cost management and procurement. Heroes focus on individual businesses across the following sectors: corporate, retail, hospitality and gaming. Meercats and Heroes combine forces to maximise their buying power across 10,000’s UK companies, enabling each of them to offer unbeatable savings and environmental improvements to their clients.

This publication is the sole property of Meercat Associates Limited; it cannot be reproduced, copied, or distributed in any format without the express permission in writing from Meercat Associates Limited. © Copyright August 2014.