Latest FOR Cardiff workshop identified transport, year-round activity and stronger business representation as priorities for its next five-year term
Better connections between Cardiff city centre and Cardiff Bay, more year-round activity and earlier information to help businesses plan for major events are among the priorities identified in a new report from FOR Cardiff, the Business Improvement District (BID).
The findings follow an action planning workshop held on 11th September, bringing together businesses and civic partners (including DEPOT, Morgan Quarter, St David’s Dewi Sant, Tiger Yard, Techniquest and Utilita Arena, alongside civic partners, education providers and South Wales Police) to help shape the BID’s third term, which will run from December 2026 to 2031.
Participants highlighted Cardiff’s compact, walkable centre, waterfront, parks, historic attractions and arcades as significant strengths. They called for a more coordinated approach to promoting these assets, celebrating Welsh culture and encouraging residents and visitors to make greater use of both the city centre and the Bay.
Improving the connection between the two areas was one of the strongest recurring themes. Participants identified clearer signage, more attractive walking routes and better transport links as priorities, alongside the need to help people feel more confident travelling between them.
The report also highlights the different needs of the city centre and Cardiff Bay. While city centre discussions focused on managing congestion and the pressures associated with major events, Cardiff Bay stakeholders emphasised seasonal fluctuations in footfall and the importance of creating more reasons to visit throughout the year.
Across both areas, participants wanted earlier information about major events, road closures, transport arrangements and expected visitor numbers – to help businesses prepare and communicate with staff and customers.
The findings will inform FOR Cardiff’s first-year action plans across City Experience, City Operations and Business & People, alongside its role as a representative voice for businesses.
Carolyn Brownell, Executive Director of FOR Cardiff said: “The strength of this workshop was in the openness, ambition and willingness to collaborate around the table. There was a clear recognition of what makes Cardiff special, alongside honest conversations about the practical issues that affect businesses, residents and visitors.
“Our third term offers a real opportunity to bring businesses across the city centre and Cardiff Bay closer together. Better connections are a shared priority, but the report also makes clear that different communities and businesses need different approaches.
“Our focus now is on turning that insight into meaningful action: building on the services and partnerships already in place, strengthening connections between the city centre and the Bay, and ensuring the voice of businesses helps shape the future of our capital.”
Making Cardiff clean and welcoming remains a priority. Participants recognised the contribution of FOR Cardiff’s Cleansing Team, which completed 168 individual jobs between December 2025 and October 2026, cleansing 95,715 metres of streets and removing 806 graffiti tags, 506 pieces of chewing gum and 321 discarded needles.
Alongside its Taxi Marshall service, FOR Cardiff currently has 320 CityNet radios in use, helping businesses share information and coordinate responses to incidents. The workshop called for these core services to be maintained, alongside a more preventative approach to safety and anti-social behaviour through better reporting, information-sharing and coordination between partners.
Discussions also highlighted opportunities to improve key arrival points (such as Central Square) through more public art projects, plus greening, seating and clearer signage, helping communicate Cardiff’s identity from the moment people arrive.
Residents and existing community groups were identified as important partners in future events and campaigns, particularly in Cardiff Bay. The report recommends building on established cultural, sporting and community activity, with better coordination to help available budgets go further.
Supporting businesses to attract, develop and retain talent was another key theme. Participants called for easier access to existing training and employment support, stronger links with schools, colleges and universities, and more flexible opportunities for young people through work experience, job shadowing and workplace visits.
The report also identifies a stronger role for FOR Cardiff in bringing businesses and decision-makers together on transport, infrastructure, safety and future investment. Participants wanted clearer routes to raise concerns and influence decisions, including discussions around how Visitor Levy funding could support the city’s visitor economy. Executive Director Carolyn Brownell’s recent appointment to the Welsh Government’s Town Centre Taskforce provides an opportunity to bring insight from Cardiff’s business community into wider discussions about the future of town centres across Wales.
With the new arena expected to bring increased activity to Cardiff Bay, stakeholders highlighted the importance of coordinated planning to help businesses benefit from growth while preparing for additional demands on transport and other services.
The workshop findings will now help shape FOR Cardiff’s detailed first-year action plans of the new term beginning on 1st December 2026.
To read the report in full, visit: BID-3-Workshop-Report.pdf