Colmore Business District

Help Save the Staffordshire Hoard!

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery needs to raise £3.3million to save the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure ever found....

Help Save the Staffordshire Hoard

Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery needs to raise £3.3million to save the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure ever found. Owned by royalty and buried by Saxon warriors, there are over 1,500 important finds, including beautiful and finely worked silver, gold and precious stones.

Join our campaign and help save the hoard for the West Midlands.

To donate please visit

www.artfund.org/hoard

Thank you for your support."

The Art Fund have also published downloadable "donate now" etc web buttons that can be pasted from

http://www.artfund.org/staffordshire_hoard/spread_the_word

Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery needs to raise £3.3million to save the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure ever found.

Owned by royalty and buried by Saxon warriors, there are over 1,500 important finds, including beautiful and finely worked silver, gold and precious stones.

Join our campaign and help save the hoard for the West Midlands.

To donate please visit
www.artfund.org/hoard

Thank you for your support.

Fishing for food facts at Opus restaurant

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Attention all fish lovers! On Thursday 4th March, the spotlight will fall on creatures of the sea at a showcase dinner at Opus restaurant in Birmingham’s Business District. .

The latest instalment in the popular Opus Dinner Series, the fish dinner will be hosted by Nigel Ward and Martin Purnell – the team behind Opus supplier Channel Fisheries in Brixham – together with restaurateur, chef and writer Mitch Tonks. This dynamic trio will season the evening with fishermen’s tales and explore the issues around sustainability at a four course dinner which will both tantalise and inform restaurant goers. Diners will be able to taste a four course menu created especially for the dinner, created fresh that morning from the previous day’s catch.

Channel Fisheries provides Opus with the very best quality fish and seafood landed in Brixham, the UK’s largest working fishing port. Caught daily, the fish makes the journey from sea to restaurant within just 24 hours, no easy task considering the 160 mile journey between them. The boys from Devon take great pains to source the best fish that the Channel waters have to offer and transport it in time to retain its freshness and flavour.

David Colcombe, Chef Director at Opus explained: “We’ve relied on Channel Fisheries for the past five years, and without them we wouldn’t be able to serve our customers with the very best quality produce. The fish that we use are fully traceable back to the boat that landed them, and this local industry supports a whole community, which goes some way to helping in their efforts to act responsibly. We create our menus using what is seasonal and market fresh, and in addition to delivering dishes that we’re proud to create, this also helps to ensure that fish stocks aren’t put under unnecessary pressure.

“We work closely with our suppliers, even going so far as to visit them in Devon to see firsthand how the fish are landed. We’re proud to work in collaboration with people like Nigel and Martin and we are inspired by the expertise, passion and enthusiasm that drive them. The Opus Dinner Series is a chance for our customers to see this passion firsthand and learn about the people behind the produce.”

Martin Purnell, founder of Channel Fisheries believes they share similar values to the restaurant. He commented:

“We work in partnership with our local fishermen, in the same way that Opus work with us, their customers and the wider community in Birmingham. In addition, our respect for the season and for the very freshest produce available are values we share with the team at Opus. It is this vision which informs our practices; for example our methods of line catching, hand diving and working with local day boats. This not only provides us with the freshest produce, but line fishing also respects the fish stocks as we use everything we catch. Similarly, by landing what is in season and therefore plentiful, we put less strain on the stocks.

“We’ve always worked to supply our customers with what they need and as sustainability has become top of the agenda, demand has risen for fish such as Pollock and Gurnard. At the fish dinner, we’ll be talking around these issues and sharing our predictions for the future.”

The Opus Dinner Series evenings are interactive, with diners having the opportunity to speak to the suppliers and the Opus team as well as to meet Mitch Tonks, listed in Hotel and Caterer’s ‘top 100 most influential foodies’. Famous for having made the switch from accountant to fishmonger, Mitch is a passionate advocate of the UK fishing community and now runs the acclaimed Seahorse restaurant in Dartmouth. He will be on hand to provide insights into the industry and produce, exploring anything and everything from the best way to prepare and cook fish, to the issues around sustainability.

Opus Restaurant is situated on Cornwall Street in Birmingham’s Colmore Business District. To book a place on the fish dinner call 0121 200 2323. A four course dinner including wines and service is available for £65 per head. opusrestaurant.co.uk.

Search is on for the 10th Birmingham Young Professional of the Year

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Do you or someone you know have what it takes to be Birmingham Young Professional of the Year 2010?.

For nine years, the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year awards have increasingly become the business community’s most coveted awards. On this, our tenth anniversary, Birmingham Future is committed to identifying and celebrating the city’s most promising young professionals who will become tomorrow’s leaders.

We would like you to consider your professional life in Birmingham and also think about nominating someone who should be celebrated for their contribution to their profession and Birmingham. Any professional who is under 35 and works within the Birmingham ‘B’ postcode area can be nominated. This can be yourself, a friend, a colleague or a work contact and they do not have to be a Birmingham Future or Forward member. We are looking for nominees in the following six categories:

Communications
Financial
Legal
Property and Construction
Recruitment and Training
Entrepreneurial

So why should you nominate? This is a perfect opportunity to celebrate the massive contribution that nominees make to their organisation and to Birmingham’s professional community and beyond during their precious free time. Please visit the BYPY website for more information, including the opportunities that could arise if you are selected as a finalist for one of the above categories.

To put yourself or someone else in the running, please complete the nomination form (no additional documents please unless specifically requested) and return it to the Birmingham Future office no later than Monday 1^st March 2010.

Short listed candidates in each category will be invited to meet a panel of judges for a short question and answer session on Monday 29^th March 2010, when category winners and the overall Birmingham Young Professional of the Year will be chosen. Unfortunately we cannot consider applications from anyone who is unable to attend the judging day.

The winners will be announced at the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year awards ceremony on Thursday 27^th May 2010 at the ICC.

Please ensure that nomination forms are completed and returned to Isabel Drabble at Birmingham Future, 5th Floor, One Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD by Monday 1^st March 2010. Please contact the Birmingham Future office on 0121 632 2200 or Isabel@birminghamforward.co.uk if you have any queries.

For more information about BYPY please visit our new website at www.birminghamyoungprofessional.co.uk

Colmore Business District cleans up with caretaker appointment

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT

The streets of Colmore Business District (CBD) are set to become a more attractive place to be, with the launch of an enhanced cleaning service..

Caretaker Keith Massey has been appointed by the CBD team to work alongside existing council cleaners to keep the area spotless.

Businesses within the commercial district will be able to call on caretaker services to tackle specific problems, like litter in doorways and alleys.

CBD manager Michele Wilby said Keith’s appointment reflected an overall commitment to deliver the cleaner, more attractive environment set out in CBD’s aims.

“The caretaker will be joining our team, which now also includes a dedicated warden service, to ensure that the Colmore Business District environment matches up with its reputation as the place to do business,” she said.

“Keith’s services will be available to all businesses through the CBD office for specific clean up operations which may not be covered by the city council’s team or are on private property.

“He will also be working closely with the wardens to identify potential issues in the district environment and feeding these back to the CBD office.”

Keith, who is 55 and lives with his wife and children in Great Barr, spent 20 years working at Land Rover Solihull.

He said he was delighted to join the team at CBD and to be working in the heart of the business community in Birmingham.

“It is a great opportunity to be out and about on the streets of Colmore Business District and working in partnership with the team at CBD and businesses within the area to improve the environment,” he said.

For further information, contact the CBD team on 0121 632 2208.

Green light for city night-life in purple flag win

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Want a great night out for people of all ages? Head to Birmingham – it’s official..

Want a great night out for people of all ages? Head to Birmingham – it’s official.

The city has been awarded ‘purple flag’ status, (like the blue flags given to beaches) in a new scheme being launched nationwide. The flag recognises cities that offer a real mix of things to do in the evening like arts and music venues, restaurants, shopping, as well as pubs and clubs. Run by the Association of Town Centre Management, the Home Office backed scheme judges town centres on everything from crime and safety, to how clean the public toilets are.

BCC Regulatory Services and the Police are key partners in the process being lead by the Birmingham City Centre Partnership (BCCP) on attaining the standard for the city centre.

Jonathan Cheetham Chair of the BCCP, says: “Following our success in Britain in Bloom, this is another landmark win for the city, and once again demonstrates the power of partnership working.

The flag can now be used on city marketing materials as confirmation to visitors that Brum is a great night out.”

Jacqui Kennedy, Director of Regulatory Services at Birmingham City Council, said: “This award is a real boost to the local economy, and will be great for attracting visitors to the city, just as the Blue Flag Award scheme for beaches does for the seaside tourist resorts. Winning the Purple Flag demonstrates to residents, businesses, shoppers, tourists and visitors that Birmingham city centre is clean, safe, enjoyable and accessible at night.”

Chief Supt Andy Nicholson, City Centre Police Commander, project champion on behalf of BCCP, says: “People want to be reassured that when they venture out for the night they are going to be safe. The flag shows visitors that the city centre is a safe place for all the family, and that there is much more to the city at night than just pubs and clubs”.

Street Wardens welcome to the Colmore Business District

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Visitors to Colmore Business District (CBD) can now expect a warm welcome with the appointment of street wardens..

The wardens are now on hand in the Colmore Business District to act as a first point of call for all visitors and workers in the area.

CBD board director Councillor Len Gregory said the wardens were an essential part of the delivery of the CBD’s pledges.

“The wardens have a vital role in supporting our commitment to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all workers and visitors to the area,” he said.

“Part of their role will be as the eyes and ears of the CBD team spotting and reporting any issues. They will also identify where the CBD could help local businesses by feeding back information which will be addressed by the relevant contact.

“We have recruited a committed team of people who are already becoming familiar faces for the business community in the district.”

The wardens have been out introducing themselves and started spreading news about the work CBD has been doing by handing out the latest information booklets and maps of the area.

CBD manager Michele Wilby said the wardens were a highly visible friendly face on the streets of the Business district.

“The wardens are in the district from first thing in the morning until after the rush hour in the evening to make sure that the area is as welcoming, safe and secure as possible,” she said.

“We are working with the police, the city council and other stakeholders to make sure that Colmore Business District is the best possible place to do business in Birmingham and the wardens are a big step forward in aiding this.”

Colmore Business District takes centre stage in TV Double Header

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT

TV viewers will get two very different views of Colmore Business District (CBD) over the coming weeks as the area features on prime time BBC dramas Hustle and Survivors..

Last night (Monday) saw locations including Metro Bar, Hotel Du Vin and One Victoria Square take centre stage as part of the first episode of slick heist drama Hustle.

Featuring stars including Robert Vaughan, Adrian Lester and Robert Glenister, the BBC show is set in London but used sites from Colmore Business District for location filming.

CBD manager Michele Wilby said the programme showed the fantastic facilities that the area had to offer as well as some beautiful buildings.

“It was great to see places like Metro and Hotel Du Vin take centre stage in the programme, along with Colmore Row and Victoria Square,” she said.

“For eagle eyed viewers across the UK it was a perfect opportunity to spot some of the best parts of Birmingham and it was a fantastic advert for Colmore Business District.”

And on January 12, Colmore Business District will be back on prime time TV in a very different guise as a location for post apocalyptic drama Survivors.

Areas including Newhall Street were turned into rubbish strewn locations during filming of the show, which features Max Beesley and Julie Graham as part of a group of people battling to cope.

“Survivors presents a very different aspect of the district and is in stark contrast to the very stylish vision portrayed in Hustle, but clearly demonstrated that Colmore Business District is a versatile site for filming,” said Michele.

“The team at CBD are working hard to put the area on the map as the place to do business in Birmingham and the national and international spotlight that these quality BBC programmes put on the area can only help that.”

Colmore Business District brings a sparkle to Christmas

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:00:00 GMT

The commercial centre of Birmingham is celebrating an extra special Christmas, thanks to Colmore Business District (CBD)..

For the first time, the area has its own Christmas lights and decorations, funded by CBD and Birmingham City Council, which will bring a fresh, new look to the district over the festive season.

CBD manager Michele Wilby said the investment in the decorations was an important part of attracting and retaining Christmas trade in the Business Improvement District (BID).

“As Colmore Business District is in its first year, we wanted to make a splash with the lights and Christmas decorations to create a sense of occasion and to reinforce the fact that the district is a great place to spend time to spend time this winter,” she said.

“We hope that the lights and decorations encourage people to spend time shopping and celebrating as well as working in the district.”

The Christmas decorations include a feature display at Snow Hill Piazza, welcoming commuters onto Colmore Row and lights extending down Church Street.

On Edmund Street and Livery Street, there are festive bows and wreaths decorating lamp posts and bring some seasonal cheer to the area.

Iwan Lloyd from BWB Consulting, based in Livery Place on Livery Street said: “We are delighted with the wreaths and the decorations have made a real difference in brightening up the streets.

“It extends the festive feel further into the district and makes us feel part of the commercial heart of the city.”

Alterations to Bus Services in the city centre

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Some stops on Bull Street are affected.

Since the end of October somes changes have been made to stopping points in the City Centre which may affect your journey to and from work.

Here is a link with more information: http://networkwestmidlands.com/News/BusServiceChanges.aspx

Please contact Traveline for more details: 0871 200 22 33

Called to Action at the Bar!

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Several months ago an unlikely group of bar stewards stepped forward to pull a few pints behind the bar at Metro Bar & Grill, to help raise funds for the Birmingham Community Foundation. . With help by way of tips and sponsorship, plus a donation from Metro's profits, the lads raised a staggering £2,000 in just over two hours; this immediately became £4,000 via the Double your Donation initiative: Grassroots Endowment Challenge The challenge has now been laid down to the ladies within the business community of this fair city to do the very same in an attempt to beat the boys' fund raising record... ...the ladies have inevitably risen to the challenge en masse, and you are duly invited to join in the merriment and provide a little heckling combined with lots of support on Wednesday 14th October 2009 from 6pm - 8pm when the girls will put the original fund raising record into touch at the Metro Bar & Grill! Those fair damsels already signed up include: Claire-Elaine Arthurs (HBJ Gateley Wareing), Alex Bishop (Shoosmiths), Suzie Branch (BHMG), Anne Brookes (Coutts), Kay Cadman (Core Marketing), Lorraine Francis (Weave Marketing), Menna Rees-Steer (Liquid PR), Dawn Roberts (Headline Communications), Roula Samaha (Radisson) and Jo Sollom (Birmingham Forward). Any funds raised during the evening can be immediately matched using the Government’s current Grassroots Endowment match funding. Last year’s event raised £2k, which automatically became £4k. Birmingham Community Foundation aims to build up the endowment fund and will be using the interest to fund more than 900 projects in the region whilst keeping the capital in place. Please do come along with colleagues and friends to support this great cause. It's also not too late to sponsor a pump for the event. For the bargain price of £100 your business' logo can be mounted on the front of one of the pumps! If you would like any more information about this please contact Claire-Elaine Arthurs CArthurs@hbj-gw.com