Fort William Business Improvement District

09/06/2026

Great news - work has begun this week on cleaning up Airds Crossing and the Underpass entrances, including railings, fencing, power‑washing and graffiti removal!

Huge thanks to James Stewart - JS Home and Property Maintenance for leading the works. This will make a noticeable improvement for the businesses and visitors who use this route every day.

If you have an area within the BID boundary that you feel would benefit from attention, please get in touch. We are actively progressing multiple projects across the BID area. Stay tuned!

04/06/2026

We are delighted that Fort William High Street has been shortlisted by The Urbanism Awards as one of three finalists for the Great Street and Spaces Award!

This recognition reflects the hard work and resilience of our local businesses, who remain at the heart of our town centre. The judging panel will be visiting in August.

A half day in-person visit to Fort William High Street attended by a panel of Academy of Urbanism members will take place on August 14.

03/06/2026

We’re pleased to share that the hanging baskets have now been installed throughout the High Street and the Parade. This annual investment plays an important role in improving the look and feel of the High Street, encouraging visitors to spend more time - and money - with our local businesses.

Our sincere thanks to Colin Whitehead and the dedicated volunteers who supported the installation. Your contribution directly strengthens the return on investment for levy payers and helps us maintain a welcoming, attractive town centre.

26/05/2026

We’re pleased to be partnering with West Highland Chamber of Commerce and DYW West Highland to bring a brand‑new business event to Fort William this November: Connect & Elevate 2026.

For our levy payers, this full‑day programme is designed to deliver tangible value - practical insights, high‑quality networking, and expert guidance to support business growth across the West Highlands. With speakers covering economic trends, financial planning, digital strategy, and legal considerations, the event offers a strong return on time invested.

As your Business Improvement District, we’re committed to creating opportunities that strengthen the local economy and help businesses connect, collaborate, and plan with confidence. This event is an important step in that work, and we’re proud to support its delivery.

Bookings are now open, and we encourage local businesses to secure their place early.

Explore the speaker lineup or learn how the event supports business growth.

🏔️💼 BIG NEWS FOR WEST HIGHLAND BUSINESSES!

Save the Date for 19th November 2026! 💼🏔️

We are absolutely thrilled to launch a brand-new, full-day business gathering designed to connect, inspire, and elevate enterprises across the West Highlands and beyond: Connect & Elevate 2026!

📅 Date: Thursday, 19th November 2026
📍 Venue: The Nevis Centre, Fort William

Delivered in partnership with DYW West Highland and Fort William Business Improvement District, this event is going to be an absolute game-changer.

If you've never been to a business EXPO before, think of it as a powerhouse for your business. It condenses months of networking, marketing, and learning into one single, high-energy day. Whether you are a sole trader, a growing startup, or an established local employer, this is your space to find new clients, collaborate, and support our local economy.

We have an incredible lineup of expert speakers confirmed to help your business thrive:

📊 Alastair Nicolson (Area Manager, HIE): Sharing key insights on the Regional Economic Profile (REP) Report—vital data to help you plan your business future.
💰 Olga Robertson(Independent Financial Adviser): Expert financial guidance for business growth.
💻 Rene Looper (Tuminds): Unlocking smart social media and SEO strategies to boost your online visibility.
⚖️ RA Clements & MacPhees: Trusted professional guidance to protect and power your venture.

What’s on the agenda? Expect a jam-packed programme with structured networking rounds, expert-led sessions, and endless opportunities to make connections that truly matter.

🎟️ Bookings will open now! For now, pencil it into your diary, tag a fellow business owner who needs to be there, and keep your eyes on our page for full details.

Let’s work together to connect, inspire, and elevate the West Highlands! 🙌

12/05/2026

We’re thrilled to share some fantastic news for Fort William!

Fort William High Street has been shortlisted for the 2026 Urbanism Awards (Great Streets + Spaces category) – a major recognition of the work happening across our town centre!

The Academy of Urbanism highlighted the transformation of the High Street into a thriving, people‑focused destination, demonstrating the power of placemaking and partnership.

This achievement reflects the collective effort of local businesses, partners, and the community working together to make Fort William a vibrant place to live, work and visit.

👉 Read more: https://www.theaou.org/articles/2026-urbanism-awards-finalists-announced

30/04/2026

Event Grant Success Story: 3 Wise Monkeys Climbing

We’re celebrating a huge win for our climbing community, who received an Event Grant to help with their Winter Series Competition!

With this grant, they supercharged our marketing for the competition and the results were incredible for both our business and everyone who joined them.

Here’s what was achieved:

- 468 climbers took part - that’s a 23% increase over last year!
- 78% of Under 15s returned for multiple rounds, making youth participation stronger than ever.
- Café sales soared by 40% on event days, showing the buzz and excitement in our venue.
- They introduced fresh routes, new climbing holds, and created unforgettable moments for all.

This success wouldn’t have been possible without BID Fort William’s belief in our vision and their commitment to supporting local businesses and community events.

👉 Read the full impact story: bidfortwilliam.co.uk/winter-competition-series-impact-report-event-grant/
👉 Explore Event Grant opportunities: bidfortwilliam.co.uk/business-grants

Thank you to everyone who climbed, cheered, and supported them!

27/04/2026

A note on comments:

We welcome constructive discussion and differing views on BID projects. To keep this space respectful, comments that are disrespectful, hurtful or abusive - including foul language, or remarks directed at individuals or partners - will be removed.

Thoughtful, productive feedback is always welcome.

27/04/2026

Mural Update - 129 High Street

We are absolutely thrilled with how this project is coming together and cannot wait for Fort William to see the finished result. Local artist Mark Faulkner will be returning in early and mid-May to complete the mural - and thanks to some recent good weather, progress has been brilliant.

This project followed an open and transparent process, shared via social media, the levy payer newsletter and coverage in the Lochaber Times, including:
- Open call for artists
- Local business and stakeholder input
- Community engagement at the Nevis Centre at the Partnering in Progress event
- Public consultation and a levy payer confirmation vote

The response speaks for itself:
- 68% support from the wider public consultation with nearly 500 respondents and 88% support from the levy payer confirmation vote.

An image showing how the mural will look once completed is included with this post.

We believe this mural will be something Fort William can be genuinely proud of. We remain committed to working together to make Fort William a better place to work and live.

We welcome constructive discussion on BID projects. However, disrespectful, hurtful or abusive comments - including foul language - will be removed, particularly where directed at partners or individuals involved in delivering projects.

We are so excited about this. Watch this space.

23/04/2026

Fantastic progress on the High Street mural!

A big well done to Mark Faulkner, who’s making incredible progress already. The colours and detail are really starting to shine - and the great weather is definitely helping things along.
More updates coming soon as the mural continues to take shape.

20/04/2026

We’re delighted to share that artist Mark Faulkner has begun painting the new High Street mural! This project is all about celebrating our town, our people, and our shared pride in this place.

We’ll keep you posted as the mural takes shape. Stay tuned for updates and progress shots.

A huge thank you to Chalmers, the levy payers, local stakeholders and the community for all of their support!