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The Jewellery Quarter Townscape Heritage (JQTH) project is delighted to announce its latest grant has been awarded to 62-64 Albion Street, newly named as The Jointworks.

This Grade II listed building, designed in 1883 by William Tadman Foulkes, has been in almost continuous use as a jewellery workshop until 2009 and retains many of its original features.  It is an imposing three-storey structure in the Italianate style with pilasters and distinctive fishscale brickwork.  Currently vacant the property is to be converted into a new creative workspace. The Jointworks will accommodate over 100 people including designers, entrepreneurs, creatives and several growing independent businesses including Substrakt and its sister companies, who will be able to share the facilities and workspaces. Part of the building will be available for hire to accommodate events and presentations.

In supporting this project, the JQTH is helping to bring vacant floorspace back into use and contributing to the improvement of this part of the Jewellery Quarter’s Industrial Middle. Work will include repairs to enhance the exterior, including window, brickwork and roof repairs. Internally, later unsympathetic alterations will be removed and the space brought up to modern requirements. The project is aiming for completion towards the end of 2021

Announcing the exciting move, Substrakt founder and Executive Chair Andy Hartwell said: “This is the culmination of many years of searching around the Jewellery Quarter for a suitable space, sadly often ending in disappointment. So we are thrilled to be able to press on with developing The Jointworks to accommodate our own growth while inviting other small creative businesses to join us on a flexible basis. The creative spirit and energy in the JQ is something we feel part of, and we want others to experience the real community benefits of working here to grow their own businesses globally.

“It’s an honour to be occupying a space with such historical significance with so many echoes of the creativity of the city’s industrial, and industrious, past.”

Mandy Hall, Capital Works Programme Manager for the JQTH states “This project exemplifies the aims and objectives of the JQTH in bringing a historic vacant building back into use through a programme of sympathetic repairs. At a time of a changing landscape of office space requirements, this scheme can only be seen as an asset to the Jewellery Quarter, whilst the repairs undertaken to the building will ensure the heritage qualities of the building are preserved.”

Luke Crane, Executive Director of JQBID comments: “The JQBID are pleased to have supported the JQTH project and the investment that it has brought into the Quarter and delighted to see the JQ’s heritage buildings continue to be used as a source of creative space and industry”.

The JQ Townscape Heritage Project is a four-year programme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The programme is supported by JQBID, with additional funding from Birmingham City Council, Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP and Historic England. It aims to regenerate an area within the Jewellery Quarter through the repair and restoration of the historic environment and to deliver a programme of engaging events and activities for all.

For further information about the JQTH programme visit th.jewelleryquarter.net or @JQTHproject on Twitter

To find out more about the JQDT and JQBID visit jewelleryquarter.net or @JQBID on Twitter

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