Following the November 2023 BID ballot, local levy-paying businesses voted ‘Yes’ to a second term for The Junction Business Improvement District (BID). This gave us a strong mandate to continue our work in 2024, making Clapham Junction a safe, dynamic and prosperous area for businesses, visitors and residents alike.
As we enter a new year full of exciting opportunities, we thought we’d take a moment to reflect on the past 12 months and the work we’ve done to support our thriving business community.
Here are just some of the initiatives we introduced to promote Clapham Junction as more than a station and position the locale as a standout destination.
Events & Festivals
During 2024, we worked closely with Wandsworth Borough Council, traders’ associations and community groups to promote an exciting annual program of events to raise the profile of the area, highlight our rich mix of businesses and attract footfall. These included:
The St John’s Hill Festival
In May, this annual festival – organised and sponsored by The Junction BID – embraced all things Eurovision, from the spirit of community and culture, to the wonderful and sometimes wacky.
The Festival delivered a day packed full of free entertainment and Eurovision-themed fun for the whole family and provided a great opportunity for locals and visitors to discover St John’s Hill with its fantastic selection of restaurants, cafés, bars, pubs and nightlife; health and beauty services; and wonderful independent retailers and business services.
The Northcote Road Summer Festival
July marked the return of The Northcote Road Summer Festival and, as part of Pride Month celebrations, the theme was LGBTQ+, promoting inclusivity and diversity within the community. With food and craft stalls, live entertainment, a giant screen broadcasting the Wimbledon Men’s Final and a community Dog Show, the festival was a great way for locals and visitors to discover a rich feast of retail and service businesses on this much-loved South London street.
The Roots & Culture Market
September saw the inaugural Roots and Culture Market take place on Northcote Road SW11, a vibrant celebration of Black History Month. This was a historic event and a fantastic opportunity to support local Black-owned businesses in a day filled with culture, community, and celebration.
Christmas Lights Switch-On
Christmas officially kicked off in Clapham Junction on Friday 22nd November with our annual Christmas Lights Switch-On! Revellers were treated to festive entertainment around the spectacular Christmas tree, located on the corner of Northcote Road and Abyssinia Road, where the lights were switched on by Deputy Mayor of Wandsworth, Cllr Finna Ayres.
Safe & Welcoming
In 2024 we continued to work closely with the local authority and police to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour, creating a welcoming gateway to our business community. Initiatives included:
BID Security
Throughout the year, we’ve worked closely with the Safer Neighbourhood Teams from Lavender Hill Police Station and Safer Community Officers from Wandsworth Council to tackle concerns raised by businesses about shoplifting and low-level anti-social behaviour.
During 2024, our BID Security Team handled 1,846 enquiries, sharing crucial information via the Wandsworth Business Against Crime portal, which is regularly reviewed with the Police and Council’s Community Safety Team.
In November, we were invited by the British Transport Police to observe a Drugs Dog Operation at Clapham Junction Train Station, supported by Metropolitan Police Officers and Revenue Protection Officers. A quantity of drugs was seized along with a knife during the afternoon event.
Over the last 12 months, we’ve also worked with local charities and agencies to help the homeless and vulnerable by ensuring that locations for rough sleepers are plotted and shared with the relevant support services.
BID Workshops
Last year, we organised a series of meetings and workshops to offer business owners, managers, or security staff the chance to discuss shared issues, exchange best practices on combating retail crime and learn about new Police initiatives addressing under-reporting of crime, street begging, and anti-social behaviour.
In January, we invited BID members to the Clapham Junction Pub Watch meeting, providing an opportunity to discuss crime and safety issues in the area. The meeting was hosted by the Junction BID, and we were joined by representatives from the local police and Wandsworth Council.
In October, we co-hosted a meeting with Wandsworth Council and the Greater London Assembly (GLA) for 17 Officers/Managers from a variety of GLA Departments to provide an update on the Night-time Economy Strategy, Engagement and Borough of Culture Overview and to detail how the Council’s Night-time Economy Strategy links into a variety of The Junction BID’s initiatives including: Pubwatch, Safe Havens, “Ask for Angela”/Wave and promoting Clapham Junction’s bars and restaurants, and arts and creative spaces.
In November, we hosted the Sexual Violence & Safety in Nightlife Awareness Workshop, offering FREE Training for BID Members in the hospitality industry – including bars, restaurants and gyms – aimed at business owners or the staff members responsible for safeguarding their premises.
The Safe Space Wandsworth Initiative
This initiative is a joint venture between Wandsworth Council’s Community Safety Service and Partnership, the Metropolitan Police Service in Wandsworth, and the British Transport Police, supported by The Junction BID, and is designed to help people feel more at ease when enjoying the nighttime economy.
The Safe Space Wandsworth initiative in Clapham Junction is available every Friday night between 8-11pm, providing a safe space for women and girls, or anyone who is feeling vulnerable. You can find the Safe Space located outside the St John’s Hill exit of Clapham Junction station.
Making Businesses Cleaner
In February, we partnered with Wandsworth Council and the Green Mark organisation to help Clapham Junction’s businesses become greener. Through the “Making Businesses Greener” programme, businesses can reduce their energy costs and carbon footprint.
Falcon Road Bridge Renewal
In August, Wandsworth Council launched a design competition to transform the Falcon Road rail bridge, in partnership with the London Festival of Architecture.
Architects, designers, and artists were invited to submit their innovative proposals for a chance to rejuvenate this essential route which runs through the heart of Clapham Junction, and the winner was announced in December.
At The Junction BID, we’re delighted that this project will help make this critical route safer for everyone and look forward to creating a welcoming gateway for our local business community.
The White Ribbon Walk
In December, we supported the Walk to End Violence Against Women and Girls as part of the White Ribbon Walk. Kate Stock, Cabinet Member for Children, started the walk from Grant Road before heading along St Johns Road, Northcote Road and back to the Safe Space on Lavender Hill, outside Clapham Junction Train Station.
Marketing & Promotion
Using a full mix of marketing tools, our communications strategy worked to attract footfall and customer spend by showcasing Clapham Junction as a standout destination, not just a station. Initiatives included:
Digital Platforms
The BID website – visitclaphamjunction.com – continued to serve as a central information hub for consumers with a comprehensive business directory, event information, local offers, and informative blogs and news updates, as well as important resources for BID Businesses.
2024 saw almost 73K sessions and over 150K page views. Notable content highlights in 2024 included The St John’s Hill Festival blog (3.5K page views), Where to Watch The Euros blog (1.2K page views) and over 220 ‘What’s On’ and ‘Offer’ listings showcasing local businesses.
We continued to use Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to engage with businesses and the wider community, to share timely and informative updates and behind-the-scenes video footage, always working to expand audience reach and encourage clicks to the website.
Newsletters
Our monthly consumer newsletter was delivered to circa 1.4K subscribers, further promoting events, offers and news, promoting Clapham Junction as a destination location.
Our B2B newsletter provided levy-paying businesses with project updates, important safety and security updates, business tips and resources, and spotlighted local businesses and success stories.
Photography Competition
In August, as part of World Photography Day, we launched a competition, in conjunction with Archer Street SW11 on Northcote Road, Laser Clinics UK on St John’s Road and Zambrero on St John's Road inviting our Instagram followers to submit their best photos of Clapham Junction. Building engagement with consumers across our social media channels and website was another opportunity to showcase our BID businesses.
Christmas Trail
In December, we invited locals and visitors to take part in our free, virtual reality (VR) trail around Clapham Junction. During the trail, participants uncovered 12 animated Christmas scenes located in the shop windows of 12 local businesses by simply scanning each QR code. This was another great opportunity to drive footfall in the locale during a key retail selling period.
The Year Ahead
As we enter 2025, we’re busy planning another year of exciting initiatives to support our BID businesses by showcasing Clapham Junction as a standout location with exceptional connectivity, a diverse business landscape, a balanced retail mix and a vibrant nighttime economy.
In the meantime, we’d like to thank all the local workers, residents and visitors who have supported our BID business community throughout 2024, and we invite you to carry on supporting local in the year ahead!
With best wishes,
Gary Burt
Executive BID Manager, The Junction BID
