Diploma in BID Leadership

What is the course?

Leadership is different from management. Leadership is about doing the right things right. It’s about setting directions, building visions, and making something new. It's about taking a group of people on a journey and mapping out what an organisation needs to do to succeed. At its best it is creative, inspiring, motivating and exciting.

At the same time, while leaders set the direction, they must also use management skills to guide their people to the right destination, in a smooth and efficient way. They need to be confident in the key managerial areas of people, money, law, governance and communications. This programme looks at each of these areas in turn.

Good leadership requires self-reflection, along with an understanding of where a business might be going. The Diploma in BID Leadership will allow that. Working in a small learning set, the group will self-reflect, share, learn and discuss. It's designed for experienced BID industry figures and is ideal for graduates of the Certificate in BID Management.

Each session runs for 2.5 hours, from 10:30am until 1:00pm.

If you are interested in completing our Diploma in BID Leadership course, click the link below to enquire

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Course Overview

Session 1: Leaders as Learners

The best leaders are lifelong learners; they take measures to create organisations that foster and inspire learning throughout. The most effective leaders are those who realise it’s what you learn after you know it all that counts most.

Tutor – Chris Turner

Session 2: The Psychology of Leadership

This session gets leaders focused on the psychological aspects of leadership that drive up emotional intelligence, improve results and create solid relationships.

In advance of this session, you will complete an online questionnaire which generates an insightful psychometric report. During the session, the report will be used to help you understand:

Your leadership style and preferences while at work
How you can leverage your strengths to achieve success in your role
The blind spots and possible weaknesses that create your leadership shadow and how you can address and develop these areas

You will be introduced to a framework that will allow you to better read what your people need from you as a leader, and how best to influence and connect with your team and your key BID stakeholders. Finally, we will provide a valuable lens for you to assess your team’s resilience and performance levels, enabling you to make the necessary adjustments that will increase your team’s chances of success.

Tutor – Adam Brown

Session 3: Setting out the future – Strategy, objectives and tactics

This session enables leaders to think through their role in setting out the future for their BID, ensuring they achieve excellent direction, alignment and commitment within the team, to achieve long term success. We will look at a number of tools and techniques that support students in this area.

By the end of the session students will feel confident and able to:

Better understand their leadership role
Formulate objectives for the team, and team members, that align with BID strategy
Achieve alignment through prioritising the efforts of the team
Overcome challenges and ensure team commitment through purpose, mastery and autonomy

Tutor - Adam Brown

Session 4: Using Media Effectively

This will be a practical session focusing on effective press and social media campaigning. At the end of the session, you will be able to take away tips and information and put them into practice immediately. The session will cover how to plan a community campaign using the highly effective ‘OASIS’ model - making sure everything you do is intelligent, impactful and fits in with your objectives. You will look at how to secure quality coverage in the press - including what makes a ‘newsworthy' story that will cut through the noise. The session will look at how to create content for your social media channels that is interesting, relevant and engaging. You will learn effective ways to approach tv and radio interviews and tips on public speaking.

Tutor - Ray Sadri

Session 5: Avoiding and resolving difficult employment law and personnel issues

This session will look at the importance of understanding employment law and associated issues. Including;

Disciplinary issues and dismissals - What steps do I need to take to avoid an unfair dismissal?
Managing poor performance - How do I deal with individual performance issues in my team?
Hiring and firing employees - How do I protect the BID and protect myself?
Protected conversations and settlement agreements - How do I negotiate a clean break exit?

Tutor - Richard Stace

Session 6: Corporate Matters & Reflective Presentation Prep

This session will look at the basic elements of English company law and the rights and liabilities of the people involved in running a limited company.

Later in this session you will have the opportunity for preparation ahead of the final reflective session.

Tutor - Chris Turner

Session 7: Reflective presentation

This final session will bring together the various elements of the programme by way of a self reflective presentation from each participant on their learning during the course, allowing them to think critically about their own development and practical progress. Reflective reports of this sort develop a capacity for critical reflection on professional performance. This is key to developing ethical practice in a wide range of fields, from business, to medicine to teaching. People who have experience with reflective reports are better able to reflect on their day to day practice, and they also have the ability to summarise and contextualise their performance for colleagues and governing authorities. This session will consolidate your understanding of the sessions, following which the Diploma award decision will be made. Delegates must have attended all of the sessions to complete the Diploma.

Tutor - Chris Turner

Course Pricing

2025 Class Dates

Eligibility

What Do Our Graduates Have To Say About The Course

Kavita Chauhan, Coventry BID
"What stood out most about the Diploma in BID Leadership was how directly relevant it was to the challenges we face on the ground every day. The course didn't just cover the theory—it gave me practical tools I could immediately apply in our BID, from improving governance structures to refining how we communicate with stakeholders. One of the biggest takeaways for me was how much insight I gained into my own leadership approach. The sessions around team dynamics, behaviour, and communication helped me better understand how I lead—and how I can do it more effectively.

Equally valuable was the chance to learn from and alongside other BID professionals. Having open, honest conversations with peers facing similar challenges gave me fresh perspectives and a strong network I know I’ll turn to again.

This course is a must for anyone serious about elevating their leadership within the BID sector. It’s relevant, challenging, and ultimately, empowering."

Jacqui Rock, Poole BID
"Completing the British BIDs Diploma in BID Leadership was a genuinely valuable experience. The course provided me with in-depth knowledge, practical tools, and a deeper understanding of what it takes to lead and deliver real impact in a BID environment. It struck the perfect balance between strategic thinking and operational insight, and I came away feeling more confident, connected, and equipped. I’d highly recommend it to anyone working in the BID sector who wants to grow their leadership skills and strengthen their organisation."

Aaron Finn, Hatton Garden BID
"The DiBL is an extremely valuable process to undertake, as it allows for you to engage with your peers to discuss items which you otherwise may not be able to with your colleagues. I would highly recommend this course for those of all levels of experience in leadership roles as it allows for people of all different experiences to come together and discuss different ways of thinking, and different approaches & styles for dealing with a wide variety of circumstances."

Wendy Bell, (formerly) Crawley Town Centre BID
"The Diploma in BID Leadership was beneficial in so many ways from helping me to understand my own leadership style and its’ impact on other people, to improving our press and PR coverage and understanding governance. It provided much-needed reflection time. I would recommend this course to anyone who is involved with running or thinking about running a BID."

Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID
"For me, the Diploma in BID Leadership supported every single part of managing the uniqueness of a Business Improvement District. From day to day operations to dealing with crisis to learning from peers also on the course. I would highly recommend. The ‘psychology of a leader’ session was my favourite part as this taught me so much about myself and how I can continue to progress in my BID career."

Nicola Grant, Positively Putney
"The highlight of the Diploma is the peers on the course that you meet. They will become friends, but also useful sounding boards when you need support and guidance. The content of the diploma is interesting and the sessions move fast. I would recommend it for those who want to know more, or those who want to appreciate the theory behind what they already know through experience."

Gail McGibbon, Sligo BID
"I was delighted to be able to undertake the Diploma in BID Leadership last year (2022). Taking time out to be able to hear the back story of fellow colleagues, discuss and explore the issues, concerns and challenges in a very fluid and changing area of work was truly just what the doctor ordered post pandemic! The expertise and open platform facilitated by the experienced lecturers all led to a very productive and engaged experience."

Matthew John, My Milton Keynes
"The Diploma in BID Leadership really is a valuable progression from the CiBM course as it challenges notions that you have and invites you to realise the potential you have for leadership. The course provides a lot of valuable insight and is a fascinating look at, not just BIDs, but also a persons own psychology and how behaviour patterns impact everyday life. The psychology part was a particularly powerful but also humbling experience as it presented a persons strengths and weaknesses in a manner that will invite growth and acceptance of one's own self. It delves far more deeply than other courses and allows for reflection on issues holding us back and how to grow and move on to be better leaders and better people."

Sally Gillborn, North Notts BID
"Having already completed the Certificate in BID Management I found the Diploma in BID Leadership the perfect next step. The BID industry is quite unique, with no two days ever the same, so it was great get to share experiences with other like-minded CEOs/Managers whilst gaining knowledge and understanding of leadership within the BID world."

Vicky Lee, Bristol City Centre BID
"As always when undertaking a course with British BIDs you get to share that experience with industry colleagues, which is always so insightful. The DiBL was fantastic for those working in the industry newly in position as a BID manager or equivalent. It was an opportunity to reflect on your leadership style, governance, financial management and communications. I’d highly recommend this course."

Paul Spencer, Winchester BID
"I would recommend this Diploma to anyone in a BID leadership role, and I found it to be a very useful follow up from the Certificate in BID Management. This is a leadership course tailored to the needs of BID professionals and delivered by a team of knowledgeable and engaging tutors. It provides opportunities not only for learning and reflection on key topics such as corporate and financial matters, HR and people management, media campaigns and our own leadership styles, but also valuable opportunities to meet, network and share experiences with other people working in the industry."

Natasha Patel, Your Acton BID
"By doing the Diploma in BID Leadership Diploma, I was able to reflect and learn how to become a better leader to my peers and BID members. I learnt the essentials of running the BID behind the scenes! The course allowed me to understand the roles of BID directors and the formality of BID law. I would recommend this course if you are new to a management role in BIDs."

Steve Bluff, Broadmead BID
"The Diploma in BID Leadership is a perfect accompaniment to the CiBM for leaders in the BID community as it moves beyond teaching the technical know-how and deep dives into valuable and interesting topics that will support you in driving great performance.

The 7 sessions are really comprehensive and very practical because they are all delivered by experts in their field who have the experience and knowledge to help you develop new strategies and ways of thinking and the fact that it is done alongside likeminded BID leaders makes the learning even more immersive and fun."

Mike Truelove, Hereford BID
"The Diploma in BID Leadership was a powerful yet compact course that recognised participants are busy leaders. The sessions were full of key lessons and industry practice that complemented our own knowledge, and importantly, allowed us to share experiences with each other which brought the subject material to life. I cannot recommend this course enough."

Melanie Beck, My Milton Keynes
"The course outline covered all the principal topics for any person leading a BID. I found each session to be informative and challenging. Each week I found a number of important takeaways which encouraged me to review my BID processes. The session on my own leadership style and how it might affect others was of particular interest and has certainly made me reflect and make changes in my style and how I respond to my colleagues. I suspect this will be ‘work in progress’ for some time to come.

Also of note was the session on “Communicating with the Media”. I could have arrogantly said I had nothing to learn from this session. How wrong was I. It gave me more tools and more insight into what my strategy and follow up should contain. A thoroughly worthwhile eight weeks which has broadened my knowledge and me as a BID leader."

Craig Hurring, Love Wimbledon BID
"BID leaders are increasingly expected to have knowledge in so many areas of business - people management, governance, finance, employment law, marketing - and are expected to apply those in the context of unprecedented and complex place-shaping challenges. The Diploma in BID Leadership is an excellent programme to build your Swiss Army Knife of BID leadership skills, and provides you with an invaluable network of fellow BID professionals to work with, as BID leaders collectively consider the essential role we increasingly play in the recovery plans of our towns and cities."