Birmingham BIDs team up in joint placemaking deal
Birmingham Colmore and Southside District say a partnership working deal announced today will help to unlock major projects across the city centre.
The two Business Improvement Districts have signed a partnership working agreement, which they say is a “major step” for plans to boost trade in the city centre – and will help them plan, manage and deliver city-wide projects that benefit the whole of Birmingham.
Colmore chief executive Michele Wilby made the announcement at the organisation’s rebrand launch event, held at the Exchange building earlier today, 29 January.
Colmore BID will now be known as Birmingham Colmore, following what it says was an intensive strategic review aimed at encouraging more joined-up working with the city’s other ten separate BIDs.
The organisation’s new direction will see it more heavily focussed on place-making, it says, mirroring similar models in Liverpool and Bristol which it says have strengthened those cities ability to deliver large-scale projects and present a “compelling, united voice” to local authorities and public service partners.
“Today marks a long overdue turning point for Birmingham city centre,” said Michele Wilby, chief executive officer of Birmingham Colmore.
“By committing to this partnership, we are taking the first meaningful step towards levelling the playing field between Birmingham and our regional competitors. The partnership will give us greater efficiency, deeper collaboration, and most importantly, a unified voice that can’t be ignored by Government. This is about creating a stronger, better-connected, more ambitious city centre, together.”
Under the agreement, Birmingham Colmore and Southside District will move toward operating a Joint BID Executive (JBE), a single executive team responsible for delivering services across participating BIDs while allowing each individual District to retain its identity, autonomy and decision-making power through its own operating Boards.
Dr Steve Ball, Chair of Southside District Board, added: “This agreement is about building a better future for all of Birmingham city centre. Southside District, the cultural heart of Birmingham, is proud to be part of this milestone moment.
“By preserving our local identity while sharing a unified executive team, we can deliver more for our businesses, our residents and our visitors. It’s an efficient, modern, and genuinely collaborative step forward for our city.”
