Colmore Business District
OVERVIEW PROGRESS REPORT April 2009 – September 2010
WELCOME FROM GARY CARDIN Welcome to the Colmore Business District Overview, an outline report on some of the key milestones achieved by Colmore Business District (CBD) during our first operational year. Since the formation of CBD in April 2009, our efforts have been focussed on delivering important changes and developments to benefit everyone within the District. This report is designed to provide you with a quick reference overview of some of CBD’s key accomplishments from spring 2009 until summer 2010. During this time, we have made impressive progress on our objectives, promoting the District as clean, safe, welcoming and accessible. The CBD board and office would like to pay tribute to Richard Brennan who died in July. He was an enthusiastic and integral influence in the formation of CBD and delivery of the BID objectives and is greatly missed. I am looking forward to the year ahead as we have exciting plans for a variety of projects and events. We are committed to ensuring that Colmore Business District is the place to do business in Birmingham. We endeavour to continue to engage with you and we welcome your views, so please do contact us with your thoughts on any of our activities or projects by emailing gary-c@colmorebusinessdistrict.com.
Overview of year one activities One of the objectives of CBD is to support local business competiveness through developing proactive marketing campaigns to promote the District’s identity. Some of the key communications initiatives launched in 2009 / 2010 include: l CBD “Z Card” – the introduction of an annual pocket map which also provides visitors with information on how to access places to eat, drink, shop and encourage the public to stay in the CBD area. l CBD “Food and Drink Guide” – an annual brochure promoting all restaurants, pubs, bars, hotels and coffee shops within the District. l Bespoke “Welcome Packs” – to provide information on the District to new businesses, employees and visitors. l
“ CBD Digest” – our own quarterly magazine providing news from businesses and organisations within the District, as well as the latest on projects and developments that the CBD Board and team are working on.
All communication material is distributed through various channels throughout the District, on our website, at Snow Hill station and at
PROGRESS REPORT April 2009 – September 2010
Birmingham International Airport Tourism Information Centre, to promote the District locally, regionally and nationally. Another key CBD objective is to facilitate a vibrant local business network and community through the launch of a diverse events calendar. Some of the events and activities we have been involved in over the past 17 months include: l The 2009 and 2010 International Jazz Festival – we welcomed some of the world’s finest jazz musicians to the area and hosted over 30 free performances at various locations in the District. l Taste of Business – in summer 2010 we supported a premier networking event, Taste of Business, at Cannon Hill Park and used this platform to promote CBD’s range of food and drink outlets at a regional level throughout the weekend. l
“ CBD Arts and Craft Market” – a one day event hosted and arranged by CBD to showcase some of the best local craft products
l
“ CBD Snapshot” – the District’s Photographic Competition is open to anyone visiting, living or working in the District to submit their most interesting and inspiring pictures of the District
As part of the objective to secure a higher quality environmental landscape and a safer working environment we have been working on a series of physical improvements to the District including: l Additional Street Cleansing – implementation of a deep cleaning schedule covering all pavements in the District, on a regular basis throughout the year. l Livery Street Subway tidy-up – through a working partnership between CBD and Birmingham City Council, this key access point to the District was cleaned and painted. l Britain in Bloom Floral Trail – CBD supported Birmingham’s Gold Winning Britain in Bloom entries by funding a series of floral displays throughout the District in summer 2009 and 2010. l Christmas Lights and Decorations – in 2009 our investment into Christmas lights and decorations brought festive cheer to those working and visiting CBD. These will be installed in the District in 2010 for all to enjoy through the Christmas period. l CBD Street Wardens – we have a team of dedicated wardens who work with the police and other stakeholders to ensure the District is safe and welcoming. l Purple Flag award – led by Birmingham City Centre Partnership, CBD was a key partner in achieving this accreditation for Birmingham. The award recognises excellence in the management of town and city centres at night.
PROGRESS REPORT April 2009 – September 2010
Colmore Business District (CBD) Board of Directors Gary Cardin – Driver Jonas Deloitte (Chairman) Diane Benussi – Benussi & Co Mike Best – Turley Associates Councillor Sir Albert Bore – Birmingham City Council David Bradshaw – Nurton Developments Alex Burrows – Centro Simon Cuthbert – Allianz Mark Davies – Hotel du Vin Paul Fielding – Brewin Dolphin Mark Hopton – KPMG Councillor Timothy Huxtable – Birmingham City Council Chris McKeogh – West Midlands Police Richard Probert – Ballymore Group Sarah Skurr – Glidefern Property Management Ltd Derek Stone – HM Court Service Ann Tonks – Opus Clive Vernon – Buller Jeffries Colmore Business District Team Michele Wilby – CBD Manager Tahreen Kutub – CBD Administrator Kirsten Henly – CBD Project Assistant Clare Perkins – CBD Administrator (Maternity Leave)
250 200
Overheads 12 (36%) 21 (64%)
Safe and Welcoming 40 (24%) 130 (76%)
Networked and Community Engaged 60 (100%)
Business Led and Managed 82 (86%) 13 (14%)
Cleaner Greener and Attractive 78 (33%) 160 (67%)
l Working in partnership on a major scheme to improve way finding in the city centre. The Interconnect Project aims to improve walkability and connectivity through the installation of on-street maps in the District, linking CBD to other key areas and points of the city.
Branded and Promoted 43 (64%) 24 (36%)
l The launch of CBD Challenge 500, in partnership with the Prince’s Trust. Challenge 500 is a teambuilding competition encouraging CBD organisations to work together to raise money for local young people in Birmingham.
Accessible and Connected 9 (18%) 41 (82%)
l Rejuvenating the pedestrian footbridge across Great Charles Street to Ludgate Hill in the Jewellery Quarter.
150
l Working with Birmingham City Council and other stakeholders, CBD is hosting and supporting a nationally significant photographic exhibition of Birmingham-born photographer Brian Griffin. Brian is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential British image-makers of recent times and the exhibition will attract a national audience to the District.
Spend Surplus
100
l Commissioning design work for a public realm scheme on Church Street. This project will see the widening of pavements and the creation of a more pedestrian friendly environment, providing new street furniture and landscape.
Actual Spend 333 (47%) Surplus 380 (53%)
BUDGET SPEND IN £000's
Some of the key development projects for the autumn of 2010 include:
Spend to 31 March 2010
50
Future Development Projects
ACTIVITIES
Summary Income and Expenditure Account £000 Income
713
Expenditure
(333)
Surplus
380
The surplus of £380k in the first year of the BID was primarily set aside for two legacy projects: the Church Street environmental scheme under the Cleaner, Greener and Attractive working group and the Interconnect project, under Accessible and Connected.
Colmore Business District One Victoria Square Birmingham B1 1BD T: 0121 632 2208 W: www.colmorebusinessdistrict.co.uk E: enquiries@colmorebusinessdistrict.co.uk