MyMiltonKeynes is delighted to announce the appointment of Jill Farnsworth as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Milton Keynes Business Improvement District (BID).
Jill, who joins MyMiltonKeynes today (Friday 8th September) takes over the role from Melanie J Beck MBE, who announced her intention to retire as MyMiltonKeynes CEO at the start of the year.
Jill joins MyMiltonKeynes from Watford BID, where she held the position of Head of Operations & Development since it was established in April 2016.
Prior to this, Jill was Town Centre Partnership Officer for Watford Town Centre Partnership and, within this role, was instrumental in the development of the Watford BID business plan and engagement with local businesses to secure the YES vote in the 2015 BID ballot.
During her time with Watford BID, which included leading a second successful ballot in 2021, Jill spearheaded the Business Crime Reduction Partnership: Watford Business Against Crime, launched the BID’s Service Excellence Awards and ran all the initiatives aimed at improving the look and feel of the town centre. Jill has extensive experience working in the public sector, with seven years at Watford Borough Council, preceded by eight years in the private sector, in the communications industry.
Paul Davis, Chair of MyMiltonKeynes, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jill Farnsworth to MyMiltonKeynes. Not only does she bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role, but her commitment and tenacity to deliver the Watford BID business plan has come through clearly. We are looking forward to seeing the impact she will make on Central Milton Keynes, from maintaining the high standards that we have all come to expect within the BID area to working on new and emerging initiatives.”
Jill, who also holds a Diploma in BID Leadership and a Certificate in BID Management, will take on the responsibility of delivering the MyMiltonKeynes 2022-27 Business Plan from Melanie.
Her primary focus will be to build lasting relationships with the BID levy payers, as well as local partners and agencies, ensuring the BID continues to deliver the projects and services that matter most to them and reflect their ever-evolving needs.
On her appointment, Jill said: “I am really excited to be joining MyMiltonKeynes as Chief Executive. It is a unique city, with a strong business economy and I am keen to work collaboratively with local partners to ensure it grows from strength to strength.
“Ensuring Central Milton Keynes remains clean safe and well-presented will be a top priority. Melanie has left a lasting legacy and a strong foundation. I’m looking forward to building on this and supporting the team in continuing to deliver the excellent results they have achieved over the past six years.
“I am extremely passionate about BIDs and the value they can bring to an area. My primary focus will be on understanding the dynamics of Milton Keynes, the role the BID plays and how we can continue to meet the needs of our levy paying businesses and support the successful development of the city centre.”
MyMiltonKeynes’ principal objectives have been to support improvements and activity in the City environment for the benefit of BID payers and their employees, as well as to increase visits, dwell time and spend within the city centre from shoppers, visitors and residents. Generating an inward investment of £10 million pounds since 2017, the BID’s ongoing vision is to continue to cultivate an outdoor environment that is clean, safe and stimulating, with a programme of events for all to enjoy.
More information on MyMiltonKeynes can be found here.
