In The City

WONDER WALL: The award-winning digital agency boss is excited by our creative city of ideas

WITH JIMI SHABIR OF BOOTCAMP MEDIA

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF I’m Jamil Shabir, more commonly known as Jimi. I’m the founder and CEO of Bootcamp Media, a multi-awardwinning digital marketing agency that specialises in results driven marketing projects that cover SEO, Social Media and Pay Per Click advertising. We also offer our clients website design and e-commerce solutions. Now in our eighth year, Bootcamp Media is based in Birmingham and Exeter and we are now expanding as a business and opening in London this summer.

HOW DO YOU GET INTO TOWN? We’re based in the vibrant Jewellery Quarter and I live not far from there in Handsworth Wood. I do drive into work but I’m starting to use the bus every now and again to do my bit to reduce pollution in the city.

HOW’S THE COMMUTE? It’s pretty easy as I live 10 minutes away and have a good bus route when I need to jump on public transport.

IS BRUM A GOOD PLACE TO WORK IN? One hundred per cent – there is nowhere else I’d rather be. I love Birmingham and everything about it. It’s an exciting time to be living and working here right now with all the exciting developments going on.

COFFEE BREAK? I’m quite lucky being based in the Jewellery Quarter as I have a number of great coffee shops and bars nearby. I have to admit that I really like Saint Pauls House for a meeting outside my office. I also like a cheeky coffee at Tim Hortons if I’m passing through town.

LUNCHTIME? Most lunch times you can find me grabbing a quick sandwich at Deli Heaven.

POWERWALKING? I usually take a walk around the beautiful Jewellery Quarter and St Paul’s Square, leave my mobile in the office and just take in the sights and sounds.

WHERE’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE CITY? In the summer I love Moseley because of all the restaurants and bars – it has a big community feel, especially with the local farmers’ market. Birmingham Rum Festival at the Cuban Embassy was brilliant – it was held on such a hot weekend, giving it a perfect holiday vibe!

AFTERWORK PINT? There are so many great places to hang out in Birmingham right now but if I had to choose one it would be the Gentleman and Scholar at the Hyatt with a nice whiskey.

HOW CAN THE CITY BE MADE BETTER? Isn’t Birmingham already perfect? OK seriously, I think we do need to improve public transportation around Birmingham. When the council brings in the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) we will need better access to public transport.