Andrew Cooper - Place Making Consultant and Keynote Speaker
Bringing new life into towns, cities and spaces with over 20 years’ experience of place management.
Andrew first gained interest in place management, while working at Boots head office in Nottingham over 22 years ago. As part of the company’s Corporate Affairs team, he gained an understanding of town centre policy and corporate social responsibility issues around the high street, as well as regeneration and the creation of City Centre Partnerships.
After 13 years at Boots, he then went on to head up the Stratford-upon-Avon Town Management Partnership, which later became Stratforward BID (Business Improvement District).
Following 5 successful years in Stratford-upon-Avon, Andrew spent 8 years in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bath. As City Centre Manager, he created a public/private partnership, bringing new investment and a collaborative spirit to the city. This laid the foundations for Bath BID, formed under his leadership in 2011. He guided the Bath BID through two successful ballots.
In 2015, Andrew became the Chief Executive of Leeds BID, the largest multi-sector BID outside London and the third largest in the UK. With the hard work and support of his excellent team Andrew gained an astounding renewal endorsement of 99% from the businesses in 2024 and gained recognition of his work in the 2025 Pride in Place government strategy.
With a passion to mentor other Place leaders, Andrew has supported numerous locations nationally and internationally.
Andrew is an accomplished public speaker and has spoken at the US International Downtown Association, UK Conferences, including Tourism and High Streets, a LIFI25 Panellist and via roles with charities and church lay preaching.
A passion to support other BIDs
Andrew enjoys leading the team at LeedsBID, while supporting BIDs across the UK in his other roles. His passion is to invigorate the businesses he works with to give a renewed vision for the place they operate in.
Over recent years, he has supported BIDs in Wakefield, Ripon, Ilkley, Huddersfield, Shrewsbury, Salisbury, Harrogate, Bradford, Otley and York amongst others. Place leadership can be a lonely and isolated role, Andrew provides mentorship to ‘fly alongside’ with a supportive, ‘done with’ and not ‘done to approach’.
Supporting Place leaders and BID Managers on day to day issues as well as during the renewal cycle that face BIDs every 5 years.
Andrew has an excellent knowledge of tourism, having worked in two of the busiest tourist destinations in UK – Stratford-upon-Avon and Bath. He also has extensive experience of Montenegro and the UNESCO World Heritage site and tourist destination of Kotor, understanding the impact and long term management required in tourist destinations.
Keynote speaker
Andrew’s passion for his place is reflected when he speaks. He has spoken at several conferences in America and Canada organised by the International Downtown Association, which serves BIDs across North America.
As a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Place Management, Andrew has spoken at a number of national conferences and during his time as Chair of The BID Foundation.
In 2025 Andrew was delighted to be asked to speak at the Leeds International Festival of Ideas on the challenges of tourism and the hospitality sector with panellists TV’s Fred Sirieix and Marriott National Sales Executive, Zoe Hands.
As Chair of Charity Cry In the Dark, Andrew spoke across the UK to harness support for this charity as it brings hope and change to the lives of children and families in Romania. Andrew remains a passionate advocate.
“I thrive on finding creative solutions that bring new life into tired spaces.”
Andrew Cooper, SFIPM
Responsibilities
LeedsBID
Chief Executive
LeedsBID was the 200th UK BID and Andrew has led the BID through two successful renewal ballots. Overseeing a team of 20, LeedsBID expanded its area in 2025 to include the riverside area of the city.
Institute of Place Management
Senior Fellow
Andrew was elected a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Place Management. The award is in recognition of his impressive achievements in the Business Improvement District (BID) industry and support for the Institute of Place Management, in particular leading the formation and impact of The BID Foundation.
Leeds International Festival of Ideas
Chair
Since its inception in 2017, Andrew has chaired the team which includes internal and external partners to deliver an award winning festival. The concept was to create a place festival that put the city on the map.
High Streets UK
Member
High Streets UK is a pro-growth, nationwide partnership of business representatives which aims to tackle the most pressing issues facing the UK’s flagship high streets and unlock local and national growth.
High Street Task Force
Expert
From 2020-2024 Andrew was appointed an expert to support the High Street Task Force. This initiative was government funded and managed by the Institute of Place Management. Andrew carried out research and workshops to support this initiative.
Northern BIDs Group
Member
Andrew has been a member of the group for 10 years and has chaired the group.
Andrew is an inspirational leader. He is positive, warm and infectiously enthusiastic. He is a keen promoter of efficient and effective corporate governance and he gets things done. He is well-liked by the business community he serves and is a real asset to the LeedsBID. He is great to know and work with.
Jonathan Butler
Partner, Gellards LLP
Do contact Andrew for speaking mentor or consultancy enquiries
