Louise Baxter
Harrow Business Improvement District
Louise helped develop the Harrow BID in 2014 and prior to that worked for Harrow Local Authority and Groundworks. She was essential in delivering the BID from the outset and the effective implementation of the initial business plan. HA1 BID is smaller than a lot of other BIDs with a yearly levy of around £350,000 and 4 staff members. However, through Louise’s hard work and engagement with businesses, she led the BID to its third term in 2024 with a 97% Yes vote.
Over her 14 years she has continuously championed the needs of the businesses and offers them personal support and advice on improving their experience in the town centre. This includes helping them with their operating issues, personal struggles, licensing challenges and criminal proceedings. She makes herself available to businesses, offering her personal support at all times, encouraging her team to offer that same personal level of engagement with them. As such, she is extremely well known and respected throughout the Borough and is looked to for advice and guidance on all town centre issues. She has established exceptional links with the Local Authority who actively seek out her advice and consult with her on regeneration issues including the recent redevelopment of St Ann’s Road from the Future High Streets Fund.
Louise has a range of particular interests in her role and feels she has a duty to take on additional responsibility including vulnerable people and youth, youth behaviour issues, supporting the homeless, VAWG issues and supporting mental health. She has been a Senior Governor at the Helix Secondary School in Harrow for the last five years and engages with all local head teachers to ensure pupil behaviour is managed effectively, as well as campaigning on safeguarding issues and protecting their wellbeing. She visits schools and gives talks on the dangers of drugs, shoplifting and ASB in the town centre to help prevent future criminal behaviour. She also recently walked two year 6 pupils to their primary school to ensure they were safe whilst they were in the town during school hours.
Louise is a strong proponent of VAWG initiatives and has hosted numerous events and campaigns on the issue. Having been the victim of domestic abuse herself, this has only strengthened her resolve and was a guest at the recent ‘Ask for Angela’ relaunch which she champions. She pushes for all VAWG incidents and AfA to be addressed by the areas licensed premises and has been a strong advocate of the Best Bar None scheme for the last ten years. At the recent BBN Awards 2026 at the House of Lords, Louise received a special recognition award for her outstanding and continued support of the scheme.
She is considered the ambassador for the Harrow town centre and has personally given tours of the area to Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and Gareth Thomas MP. She lobbies the LA and local MPs to address town centre issues and regularly speaks to the Harrow police Superintendent to make him aware of crime and disorder issues including the need for counter terrorism improvements.
Louise also shows unwavering support for her staff and has supported team members through periods of significant illness and personal grief, showing them that they are a valued. As such, staff turnover is very low as her team is happy to support her as well. She is also a keen supporter of local arts and culture, encouraging local talent and showcasing them at events. She considers BID events a source of personal pride and strives to make each Christmas Switch On bigger than the last with this year’s scheduled to be the first Borough wide live streamed simultaneous switch on ever.