LeedsBID’s big year unveiled

LeedsBID showcase unveils new ESGo and BCRP initiatives, alongside Trivial Pursuit, LIFI26 and the Summer Roadshow

LeedsBID used its annual showcase last week to unveil two significant new initiatives for the city’s business community — ESGo!, a sustainability programme inviting businesses to contribute more meaningfully to the environment and communities around them, and a renewed Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP), strengthening the city’s collective response to retail crime and anti-social behaviour.

Held at the Howard Assembly Room and hosted by broadcaster Andrew Edwards, the showcase also revealed an ambitious programme of public-facing activity for Leeds’ 400th anniversary year — including the Trivial Pursuit Leeds takeover (complete with a video endorsement from Robbie Williams), the first speakers for LIFI26, and the return of the Summer Roadshow.

LeedsBID Chief Executive Andrew Cooper, Director of Brand and Innovation Martin Dickson, and Director of Place, Engagement and Safety Karen Butler walked the room through the year ahead.

ESGo! turning ESG ambition into city-centre impact

In a double headliner of new announcements for the business community, ESGo! is a new LeedsBID initiative designed to help organisations harness and direct their ESG activity in ways that deliver real, visible benefit to the community around their operations. Built around three pillars of activity, ESGo! offers advice, support and a dedicated online portal — making it easier for businesses to choose how they implement their ESG objectives and ensuring the impact lands locally.

The “money” pillar is where ESGo! gets particularly practical, and works in two ways. Businesses can choose to support or donate to a worthy local cause — backing a green or outdoor project run by an organisation linked to their operations, helping a garden project at a local school, or funding a community event aligned to their ESG objectives.

The second route is a direct partnership with LeedsBID through a model of catalytic funding. As an example, if a new outdoor lighting scheme in Park Square came in at around £10,000, LeedsBID would commit £5,000 as catalytic investment, with ESGo! Businesses based in or near the square are invited to collectively contribute the remaining £5,000 — bringing the scheme to life through shared investment.

It’s a model that turns ESG budgets into tangible, place-based outcomes — and gives Leeds businesses a collaborative, practical platform for hitting ESG targets while making a meaningful difference to the streets and spaces around them.

BCRP: a stronger crime partnership for the city

The next headline announcement was the building on the recent integration of Business Against Crime in Leeds (BACIL), LeedsBID is moving forward with a renewed Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) — a strategic alliance bringing businesses together with West Yorkshire Police, British Transport Police and Leeds City Council to tackle retail crime and anti-social behaviour across the city centre. The attendees heard from Leeds District Superintendent Matthew Scott of West Yorkshire Police on this new initiative, alongside project lead Karen Butler. Lots to come on this with full news expected soon. 

Trivial Pursuit Leeds — with a celebrity nod

Among the public-facing reveals, further news on  Trivial Pursuit Leeds came to light, the city-wide takeover running from 25 July to 30 August 2026. Following the runaway success of the Monopoly Leeds Takeover in 2024, LeedsBID is partnering with Hasbro again to transform the city centre into a giant interactive board game, with key locations representing the six classic Trivial Pursuit categories — Entertainment, Geography, Sports & Leisure, Science and Nature, History, and Art & Literature.

Adding star power to the announcement, Robbie Williams appeared via video message to endorse the takeover. a fitting cameo for a campaign celebrating Leeds’ cultural reach.

The takeover marks 400 years since Leeds was granted its royal charter, and will spotlight the people, places and surprising stories that have shaped the city — from the origins of Marks & Spencer to famous names including Peter O’Toole, Melanie Brown and Beryl Burton.

LIFI26: first speakers confirmed

The Leeds International Festival of Ideas (LIFI) returns in 2026 with its first three speakers confirmed: multi-award-winning composer and comedian Tim Minchin, Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author Ashley James, and pioneering environmentalist and race activist Dr Mya-Rose Craig.

The showcase also revealed that the 1990s will feature as a key theme in this year’s programme — promising a strand of conversations exploring the decade’s lasting cultural and social impact.

Summer Roadshow returns

LeedsBID’s annual Summer Roadshow returns in June and July, with three weeks of free pop-up activity for the city’s office sector. This year’s programme is built around three themes — music, make (arts and craft activity) and move (physical activities) — with deckchairs, lawn games, live performances and free ice cream rolling out across city centre locations at lunchtime.

A milestone year for Leeds

Speaking after the showcase, Andrew Cooper said: “It is always a pleasure to be able to reveal some brand-new initiatives for the coming year to the businesses and stakeholders who continue to support our vital work in improving Leeds. In what is the 400th year of the city, it is great to be celebrating with Trivial Pursuit Leeds coming this summer, and the excitement is already building for LIFI26 with the first three speaker names announced.”

With ESGo! and BCPR strengthening the foundations and Trivial Pursuit, LIFI26 and the Summer Roadshow bringing the city to life, 2026 is shaping up to be a defining chapter in Leeds’ 400th year.