newsletter 3 - november 2008

a better business environment

a better business environmentter b siness env ronment

Colmore Business District BID

Newsletter 3 - November 2008

www.colmorebusinessdistrict.com

Colmore Business District

For further information please contact Claire Hawkins

at Birmingham Forward on 0121 632 2209 or email

[email protected]

Wednesday 3rd December 2008

Welcome to our third newsletter. We would like to thank many of you for helping to shape the Colmore Business District BID Proposal by attending one of our briefing events, meeting with one of the BID’s Development Team or by mailing your comments. Our most recent event - breakfast at the Metro Bar and Grill on Cornwall Street - was well supported by over 60 businesses. We are planning to finalise the BID Proposal and circulate it in early December and we very much look forward to seeing you at the ‘BID Launch Reception’. (See panel for details) Your involvement to date has generated tremendous enthusiasm for the BID as a business led, business focused and business funded means of creating a better business environment for the Colmore Business District (CBD). So, what could be ‘the shape of things to come’ with your support in the ballot next January? CBD will pursue a clear 5 year vision for the future: To improve, promote and sustain the Colmore Business District as the commercial centre at Birmingham’s heart for the benefit of all professional, financial and business service companies, public agencies and local service businesses, their staff, customers and visitors.

CBD will pledge to: • Promote a clear identity and profile for the District and

the businesses within it.

• Deliver a high quality and user friendly ‘streetscape’ throughout the District.

• Achieve enhanced environmental cleaning and maintenance standards.

• Provide a safe and welcoming business environment.

• Improve the District’s accessibility and wider city centre connections.

• Promote local business networking and community engagement.

• Operate as an effective business led ‘voice’ with the resources to make things happen.

• Engage with and support businesses in resolving day to day and more strategic issues

• Deliver visible improvements and get things done – it will not be a talking shop.

• Deliver projects and services that are additional to those provided by Birmingham City Council and others.


Colmore Business District BID Area

Area also included within Retail Birmingham BID*

* In order to reflect the optimum extent of the professional and financial services area, there is a small area of overlap with the Retail Birmingham BID boundary. As retail users in this area are already contributing to the Retail Birmingham BID, they will not be required to vote or pay into the Colmore Business District BID. Other business uses will be entitled to vote and, should the BID be approved, they will become liable for the Colmore Business District BID levy.”

The shape of things to comeCBD will deliver a District which is: Cleaner, greener and attractive - by providing:• Environmental improvements• Additional ‘attention to detail’ cleaning and caretaking service

Accessible and connected - by providing:• Additional street signage and IT based guidance• New information and way finding literature• Street Warden ‘meeting and greeting’ service

Branded and promoted – by developing:• District branding• Promotional activities• Resources to assist with the attraction and retention of

investment and staff

Safe and welcoming – by providing:• Street Warden ‘eyes and ears’ service• Significant incident communications and support

Networked and community engaged – by promoting:• Local trading, information and networking website• New seasonal and themed street events• Corporate Social Responsibility activities

Business led and managed – by establishing:• Accountable ‘not for profit’ partnership company• Board with private sector Chair and majority membership• Professional and locally based BID Manager• ‘One stop’ access to the BID team (Manager and Wardens) for

information and assistance regarding local issues

Performance and business driven – by ensuring that:• Existing local services are baselined, monitored and reviewed• BID projects and services are additional• Collective funding from some 500 business via a 1% BID levy is

fair and transparent:• Most businesses, some 60%, will be asked to contribute less than

£500 a year – the equivalent of 4 coffees a week!• 20% will be asked to contribute more than £1,000 and, for a few

very large businesses, a ‘cap’ of £25,000 is proposed.

For CBD to become a reality, it needs your support:• CBD will benefit some 500 businesses and the District as a whole

by investing at least £2.8million over the next 5 years in projects and services that you have identified.

• It is confidently expected that the BID, using its influence and support, will lever in further investment from public and private sectors.

NEWS UPDATE £1million streetscape package confirmed. As part of the BIG CITY PLAN, Birmingham City Council is backing local businesses and the BID by confirming an investment in streetscape and environmental improvements of at least £1million. As a key link between the city centre and the Jewellery Quarter, the Church Street area has been prioritised for a major facelift to be completed in 2011 ie during the first two years of the BID. The BID will work with the City Council on the design and implementation of the scheme, ensuring that all businesses in the area are fully consulted and kept informed of progress. This is great news for the District and the improvements will demonstrate that high quality streetscape can make a real difference to businesses, their staff and visitors. With your support, the BID will build on this tremendous start by promoting and supporting appropriate improvements in other parts of the District.

In January, your business will have a unique opportunity to vote for improvements in your District...to make a real difference…to make it happen!

HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN…

VOTE YES!

CBD key dates December 3 BID Launch Reception

January 9 Notification of Ballot sent to business voters

January 19 Ballot papers dispatched

February 27 Ballot closes

March 2 Declaration of Ballot result

April 1 Assuming a successful Ballot, the BID formally commences for five years

Where can I find out more?

For more information on the BID or for more copies of this leaflet please contact one of the following members of our BIDs Working Group:

Gary Cardin Drivers Jonas – BID Champion0121 236 8777 [email protected]

Richard BrennanBirmingham Forward – CEO0121 632 2206 [email protected]

Nigel Peardon Bidology – BID Consultant07804 272895 [email protected]

Julie Moss City Centre Partnership – Working Partner0121 616 2494 [email protected]


marketing

Colmore Business District is expanding Birmingham’s continued success lies in keeping pace with demand for high quality office development. It is therefore fitting to note that the proposed BID currently includes five significant development schemes totaling some additional 2 million square feet of office accommodation. Colmore Plaza, Two Colmore Square, Post and Mail, Snow Hill Plaza and Snowhill are from first class developers who are confident about the District. They are pleased to lend their full support to the Colmore Business District BID, aiming as it does to enhance the quality of the area as an international business environment through additional expenditure on a range of initiatives, including identity, streetscape, signage, safety and cleaning.

Tailored with Style Congratulations to Clements and Church, recently named as Birmingham’s Most Stylish Independent Retailer 2008. At a star studded event in Birmingham’s prestigious Town Hall, the award was presented by Mary Portas, presenter of BBC’s ‘Mary, Queen of Shops’ and retail guru! Based in Church Street in the heart of the District for five years, Clements and Church offer the ultimate tailoring experience to local businesses and discerning customers across the region. Quality is their watchword and the Colmore Business District shares this objective, aiming to deliver the ‘best dressed’ business environment!

BID wins City Council backing Our proposal to establish the Colmore Business District BID is another step closer after gaining overwhelming support at the City Council’s Cabinet on 27th October. As well as backing the BID, Cabinet also agreed to allocate funding to cover the set up costs for the BID levy collection, and an annual allocation to cover collection costs and the net cost of the levies on City Council properties in our proposed BID area – total estimated at being in excess of £200,000 over the five year life of the BID. In addition, the City Council will continue to provide existing services and support in the area such as waste management, highway services and floral enhancements and these will be baselined and valued at the commencement of the BID.

District goes Christmassy! Discussions with the City Council have led to some of Birmingham’s brand new Christmas lights being installed in the Colmore Business District this year - further demonstrating the power of partnership working, and this is just for starters! The Council is spending almost £600,000 on new, more energy efficient lights across the city centre and features that can now be seen along Colmore Row, Bennetts Hill, Church Street and Temple Row, include angels, stars, trees and scenes of the nativity. Previously the only Christmas lights in our area were in Colmore Row.

newsletter 3 - november 2008

Documents