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Businesses in the Jewellery Quarter are being encouraged to vote and support an additional £2.9 million investment into their area over the next five years.

Improvements to the public realm, expanding the dedicated cleaning team, boosting recycling facilities for businesses and free public Wi-Fi are among the projects the Jewellery Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) wants to deliver between 2017 and 2022.

The current term of office is about to come to an end and businesses are being encouraged to ‘Vote Yes’ for a second term. The postal ballot opens today (7 June 2017) and ends on 5 July 2017.

In the last five years, the BID has invested over £2 million into the Jewellery Quarter via projects, events and initiatives to benefit businesses. This includes the annual Jewellery Quarter Festival, public realm improvements in St Paul’s Square and Caroline Street and participating in key city initiatives including The Big Hoot and Birmingham International Jazz & Blues Festival.

Luke Crane, Jewellery Quarter BID Director said: “Working with Birmingham City Council and other partners, the BID has been integral to supporting and facilitating a large number of projects that have supported our aim to; regenerate the Jewellery Quarter, attract more footfall, support existing businesses and attract new investment.”

For its second term, the BID area will be expanded to reflect the natural footprint of the Jewellery Quarter as identified by the Jewellery Quarter Neighbourhood Plan, increasing the eligible BID levy-payers to approximately 700 businesses. Businesses on both sides of Great Hampton Street and the south-eastern side of Constitution Hill will now benefit from the BID’s services and initiatives.

Luke Crane, Jewellery Quarter BID Director added: “Our second term is even more important and our proposals for the next five years incorporate the feedback received during our consultation process over the last six months. We have some exciting, bold ideas for the Jewellery Quarter and we want to expand on the projects that are so important for nurturing business growth in our community.”

Nicola Ridler, Jewellery Quarter BID Chair and property manager at The Big Peg said: “We are very fortunate to have a BID in the Jewellery Quarter. The BID not only delivers additional services to local businesses but is the single voice representing the Jewellery Quarter particularly allowing us to engage directly with partners such as the West Midlands Combined Authority and the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP.

“I am voting ‘Yes’ because this investment is not only for the local business community, it is a commitment and a sign of dedication to making the Jewellery Quarter, the place to live, learn, work and visit.”

The Jewellery Quarter BID is one of 11 BIDs in Birmingham and was established in 2012. It is operated by the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust, an independent business-led community interest company that is committed to the area’s ongoing improvement. The BID is funded through a levy that’s set at 2% of the rateable value of non-domestic premises of over £10,000 within the BID boundary.

For more information about the BID Renewal – please visit here.

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