Jewellery Quarter could become Business Improvement District

BIRMINGHAM’s Jewellery Quarter could become the first industrially-based Business Improvement District in the city, according to Fiona Toye, chief executive of the area’s oldest business.

Mrs Toye, boss of Toye, Kenning & Spencer, is the chairman of the new Quarter Trade Alliance (QTA) for Design, Crafts and Manufacturing, a body formed following the city council’s winding down of its support for the Jewellery Quarter Partnership.

She said: “The best change comes from the grass roots, and we want to take hold of issues such as training and working with schools,” she said.

“Some agencies have just got in the road when it comes to training. Sometimes you’ve got to go back to fundamentals and do it for yourself so we want to get involved with schools and show them there’s a real career path in crafts in the Jewellery Quarter.”

Mrs Toye said the new group would press for parity for apprentices with undergraduate students.

“Why shouldn’t trade apprentices get advantageous rates on accommodation and loans like other students,” she said. “The Government should show that these skills are valued every bit as more academic subjects.”

The QTA was formed by members of a strategy group that commissioned research into the specific skills and training needs of industries in the Quarter. Other members include Goldsmith’s College and the Assay Office.

Toye, Kenning and Spencer is a 325-year-old business that makes badges, plaques and other regalia to supply armed forces and governments around the world.

In a video interview with TheBusinessDesk.com, Mrs Toye spoke of the difficulty of recruiting and training skilled staff and other challenges of running such a long established family business. Click here to see the interview.

Now the QTA is linking up with the Jewellery Quarter Association, the area’s Neighbourhood Forum and the JQ Marketing Initiative to establish a Community Development Trust. One of the Trust’s initiatives could be to launch a Business Improvement District (BID) which would be funded by a levy on business rates.

Up to now, BIDs have been launched in retail or white collar areas, and Birmingham already has three BIDs covering Broad Street, the Retail district and most recently, Colmore Business District.

The Colmore BID has used its funds to employ street wardens and an area caretaker and carry out general improvements to the area.