Marble Arch BID appoints Anchor to run Street Team

Marble Arch London BID has appointed Anchor Group Services to run its Street Team service across the business improvement district in central London.

The appointment puts Anchor in charge of a frontline service that has supported businesses and the wider community for more than a decade. The Street Team operates across a district stretching from Park Lane and Oxford Street in the south to Paddington Green in the north.

Marble Arch London BID represents about 200 businesses and organisations in the district, including pubs, hotels, shops, late-night venues, restaurants, office occupiers and schools.

The Street Team has become a regular point of contact for members across the area. Its work includes helping visitors find their way around the district and supporting responses to incidents of anti-social behaviour.

Street presence

The service is one of the most visible parts of the BID's community safety work. The organisation supports the team through joint patrols with partner agencies, along with information sharing and intelligence gathering to improve its response on the ground.

The Marble Arch district sits in a busy part of London with heavy footfall and a mix of retail, hospitality and office activity. For businesses that depend on visitor confidence and safe public spaces, street-level support and reassurance are a prominent concern.

Anchor is a privately owned facilities management company founded in 1987 by former Merseyside Police officer Andrew Harper. It employs more than 1,400 people across the UK and provides services including security, cleaning, car park management, technical services and specialist security consultancy.

Its experience in town and city centres was a factor in the appointment. Anchor has provided security services in Liverpool, Manchester, Bolton, Milton Keynes and London, giving it experience of high-footfall, public-facing environments.

Local support

Marble Arch London BID was formed in 2016 to provide a collective voice for businesses in the area and to deliver place management and safety services. The district covers a broad area of central London, including Edgware Road, Connaught Village and parts of Marylebone.

The BID offers tailored advice and services designed to build resilience among members and protect staff, guests and customers. The Street Team is part of that wider effort, providing an everyday presence on the streets rather than operating as a back-office function.

Kay Buxton said: "The Marble Arch Street Team, who have been with us from the outset, remains one of the most visible, accessible and trusted services provided by the BID. From helping visitors navigate the area to supporting responses to incidents of anti-social behaviour, the team helps create a welcoming environment and instils confidence across the community, including businesses, staff, customers and guests.

"Anchor Group Services brings with it a wealth of experience and we look forward to working with them to deliver new initiatives whilst continuing to offer much-needed support to our BID members."

Buxton is Chief Executive of Marble Arch London BID.

The contract also gives Anchor a position in one of London's best-known mixed-use districts, where business improvement districts play a practical role in supplementing public services. In areas such as Marble Arch, that often includes extra attention to street management, visitor support and liaison with public authorities.

Operational role

Anchor said its contribution to the service will draw on its wider operational set-up, including its control room and consultancy arm. It described the work as stewardship of an established local team rather than the launch of a new service.

Alan Neill said: "We are thrilled to be partnering with Marble Arch London BID and to take stewardship of what is already an award-winning Street Team, a fantastic foundation to build upon. Here at Anchor Group Services we bring over 35 years of integrated security expertise, the intelligence of our 24/7 Control Room and eGuarding technology, and the specialist support of our PAL Protect consultancy to this partnership; all underpinned by a genuine commitment to the safety, reassurance, and experience of everyone who lives, works, and visits this iconic part of London."

Neill is Group Operations Director at Anchor Group Services.

The arrangement reflects the growing use of specialist contractors by business districts seeking to maintain a regular street presence for members. In Marble Arch, that model puts Anchor at the centre of a service the BID describes as one of its most trusted points of contact for local businesses and visitors.