A COST-cutting scheme is paying dividends for Altrincham businesses.

Ten months ago Altrincham Unlimited - the town's Business Improvement District (BID) - launched an initiative to drive down costs for firms.

And the scheme has already identified savings totalling more than £85,000.

Meercat Associates - a specialist procurement company that works exclusively with BIDs across the UK - has been working with businesses in the BID area to reduce costs across a range of services including energy, telecoms, testing and pest. 

Urban Burger Bar and Land Law are two of the many businesses that have benefited directly from the ‘free to use’ service.

Adam Wilde of Urban Burger Bar is delighted that it has saved the company thousands of pounds.

He said: “I was initially sceptical as to whether Meercat could make a difference to our costs, but it was well worth finding 30 minutes to meet them.

"They have helped us to renegotiate our energy bills and reduce our costs by almost £3000 – a huge saving for our business.”

Gill Hayhurst of Land Law LLP said: “The Meercat experience was very quick and simple.   

"We passed them copies of our utility and telephone bills and they came back with savings well in excess of our BID levy fee. They did all the work and we gained the benefit.”

Mark Hope, a BID levy payer with High Street Medical, who has led the project on behalf of Altrincham Unlimited’s Business and Operations Advisory Group, added: “We are really pleased with the cost savings that Meercat have identified for Altrincham businesses this year, totalling over £85,000 in just 10 months.

"I really would encourage all levy payers to take advantage of the service if they haven’t yet done so.  It is free to use, takes minimal input - as Meercat undertake all of the work - and can lead to very substantial savings.”

For more information, or to book an appointment, businesses within the Altrincham BID area should contact the Meercat team directly on 01444 416529.