Highly-experienced town centre regeneration specialist Nikki Rolls has been appointed to head up Mansfield Business Improvement District (BID).

Nikki, who succeeds Sarah Nelson as chief executive, said the organisation had already made a positive difference to the town and she wanted to take it further forward.

Nikki said: “The BID in Mansfield has been an extremely proactive organisation in the town centre, working with partners such as the local authorities and the businesses on a number of initiatives that have really made a difference.

“In fact, I have never come across a BID that does as much as Mansfield does for its levy payers.

“One of my first aims is to get the BID officially accredited for what it does. I am confident this can happen and that the BID will become one of just 30 out of 205 across the UK to have this recognition.

“My key role is to take the BID forward, using the foundation it has already built. I will be working on a strategic vision for the town centre, in particular the public realm areas (community spaces), attracting more national inward investment and the potential regeneration sites.”

Nikki has a wealth of experience that includes stakeholder partnership development, community safety initiatives, delivering events, marketing strategies, and developing and delivering environmental and public realm improvements.

In particular, she has a thorough understanding of regeneration schemes and how to bring them forward, working to resolve issues that might prevent them from being successful.

She has worked on the regeneration of a number of strategic town centres within Walsall, setting up a number of town centre partnerships, and has secured vital investment in the continued development of strategies that result in the reduction in the number of vacant units.

Nikki is one of just 45 BID managers to have worked towards, and gained, a certificate in BID management.

She won an Association of Town Centre Managers 2016 Award for building a sustainable town centre community.

Mansfield BID chairman John Sankey, pictured with Nikki, said: “Nikki has a wealth of experience in working in town centre regeneration and promotion, and has a track record of getting results. She’s a logical thinker with a can-do attitude, and that’s exactly what we need in Mansfield.”

Nikki won an Association of Town Centre Managers 2016 Award for building a sustainable town centre community.