🔵 BID4Oban EGM
📅 22 September 2026
🕕 6pm
📍 The Rockfield Centre
Levy payers are warmly invited to attend our EGM. Where our accounts will be presented and future plans discussed.
If you are unable to attend but would like to speak to one of our Directors please contact the office on info@bid4oban.co.uk or call 01631 569915.
The office is manned Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm.
🟡 Tea and coffee will be provided.
BID4Oban News
The BID4Oban Board is fully aware of expressed concerns by levy payers regarding the finances of the BID4Oban following recent structural changes. Difficult decisions have been taken in recent months to reduce costs and deliver the agreed business pan within the resources we have available. Our focus in recent weeks has been the delivery of the Clipper Race and the Festival of the Sea event. With the Race now completed our accounts have been returned by the auditors for further consideration by the Board. At its meeting on the 11th of August the BID4Oban Board approved the 2025/26 accounts and returned them to our auditors for final sign-off. The auditors have now returned the accounts and they are now published on the BID website 28 days ahead of EGM, which will be held at Rockfield in Oban.
The accounts reflect the actions taken by the Board to secure a sound financial future for the BID. All levy payers will be invited to attend the EGM, where they will have the opportunity to discuss the accounts and ask questions.
The EGM will also provide details of the sponsorship raised for the Clipper Race and the Oban-branded boat that advertised Oban around the globe. An independent economic impact assessment will also be available on the Clipper Race completed by specialist consultants together with reports by AITC and the Clipper Team. This impact assessment has been informed by surveys conducted during, and after, the event.
It should be noted that the Clipper Race visiting Oban was done in partnership with Argyll and Bute Council and 41 individual private and Government sponsors. BID4Oban would like to thank them all for their financial support and enthusiastic backing.
The Clipper Race was a great success, benefiting from 10 days of unbroken sunshine and generating positive feedback from all participants. The Clipper Race team has expressed its thanks to the people of Oban particularly for the warm welcome received throughout the visit, helping to create lasting positive memories of the town that will be taken around the world. The BID4Oban Board would like to thank all the volunteers, local businesses, and charities for making the Clipper Race such a special occasion this year. Your help is greatly appreciated, and we could not do it without you.
That all said, the BID4Oban Board are keen to point out that no decision has been taken to host the Clipper Race again in 2028.
BID4Oban is also pleased to confirm its continued support for several key events this year, including Motorfest, the Reindeer Parade, the November Fireworks Display, and the Hogmanay Fireworks Display. These events are extremely popular for both visitors and residents helping to make Oban a great place to visit and live in.
The BID4Oban Board is considering further initiatives that could be delivered before the EGM. Any decisions of the Board taken in the best interests of the wider business community will be communicated to levy payers at that meeting.
BID4Oban would also like to take this opportunity to thank Argyll and Bute Council Amenity staff for their improvements to McCaig’s Tower that has been recently completed. Repairs to the stairs and the tidying up of the grounds has made a big difference.
The Board also intends to launch a survey at the EGM to gather feedback from levy payers and better understand their priorities for the year ahead given a new financial year will commence at the start of 2027.
The BID4Oban welcomes further enquiries from Levy Payers, and we would also welcome new Board members. Please contact Kay.
Email: info@bid4oban.co.uk
Making the best first impression
Let’s shout about what's happening in Oban
Extend the season
Making Oban the place to stay, explore and spend
Working together for a more prosperous future
Making our town easier to visit
Since the inception of BID4Oban in 2012 and following successful re-ballots in 2017 and 2022 we have worked to improve the business and commercial opportunities for Oban.
The BID is funded by a small levy that is charged to every business in Oban that has a rateable value of £3000 or above. The smallest levy paid is £150 up to £5000 for the largest businesses. This generates an annual income of £145,000. The levy is used to supplement and fund services and grants for which there would be no funding available if the BID was not in place.
The BID was originally set up by a group of businesses in Oban. Every five years the business community vote for the continuation of the BID or not. We work to a fluid business plan that can adapt to the economic climate throughout the duration of the BID. We are ideally placed to receive additional funding for key projects from various partners including Argyll and Bute Council.
BID4Oban has supported not just the business community but other groups and organisations within the town with event funding grants, funding of community projects and offered commercial support for community organisations.
