Future Focus with Kevin Breese

Birmingham Future’s bulletin have been running Future Focus interviews throughout 2008 and it seemed only fitting that our final focus for the year should be with Retail guru and one of Birmingham’s most important voices on fashion and consumerism – Kevin Breese, General Manager of Harvey Nichols. Kevin is also heavily involved in ‘Retail Birmingham’ and is a fantastic supporter of Birmingham Future and Birmingham Forward.

1. How do you think Harvey Nichols will cope in the current market?  Like most companies we will have to make changes to adapt to the new economic climate, but we are one of the world’s most famous luxury brands and hopefully that will stand us in good stead.

 2. Have you noticed a change in consumer confidence in Birmingham recently?  It’s hard to tell in the run-up to Christmas because people are still spending – the high street is as busy as ever. There are some great discounts being offered by most of the big stores and this seems to be attracting consumer confidence. Hopefully, the post-Christmas sales will continue to see people spending.

 3. Birmingham has changed dramatically in recent years and Mailbox was one of the developments in the initial phase of the city’s regeneration. Do you think it has stood the test of time, especially since the opening of Bullring?  The two centres offer very different experiences for the shopper – Bullring has a great mix of high street favourites, while Mailbox offers the luxury brands. Both thrive really well alongside each other, and between them have changed the face of shopping in Birmingham far more than anyone could have dreamed ten years ago.

 4. What do you think is the next important change Birmingham is ready for?  The city has changed so fast in the last decade and the retail offering now is recognised as being the best outside London’s West End. What we need now is a central train station that matches our 21^st century lifestyle experience.

 5. How important a role do you think Birmingham Future and its members can make in guiding decisions in the city for the future?Birmingham Future members are just that – the future of our city. They are well placed to become the decision makers in the coming years and as such, they have an incredibly important role to play in our continuing success.

 6. If you had one hour to take a visitor around Birmingham where would you take them and why?Not surprisingly I would take them to Harvey Nichols to show that we can compete with the best shopping destinations in Europe. For lunch somewhere like Simpson’s or Purnells and for cocktails Malmaison Bar. If I could extend my hour, then an evening concert at the CBSO or to see the Birmingham Royal Ballet at the Hippodrome.

 7. If you could change one thing about the city – what would it be and why? The perception that Birmingham is still unfashionable!

8. Library – stay or go? Natwest tower – stay or go? More high rises like the V building – good or bad?Library – go; Natwest Tower – it needs a modern face-lift; more high rise – yes.

 9. What are you hoping for this Christmas?  I’m not hung up on the presents etc because of where I work, for me it’s getting time to spend with my partner and visit friends and family.  Of course having an excuse to eat and drink comes as no surprise for those who know me well

 10. And finally, Villa or City?  Villa. I am very proud of such a great team, one that does so much for our region with a fantastic manager like Martin O’Neill.

The Colmore Business Improvement District is go go go…

The Colmore BID is being led by Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future, supported by Birmingham City Centre Partnership and was launched last week at an event hosted by PwC.

The BID Prospectus lists the ten BID pledges, details the key actions that will be undertaken, provides a detailed breakdown of the first year’s budget and explains the voting process for early 2009.

The Colmore Business District is Birmingham’s premier concentration of professional and business service firms and home to some 500 companies that employ almost 24,000 people. The area welcomes many of the city’s business visitors and is due to play a major role in the development of the city centre as detailed in the Big City Plan.

This is the first UK BID with such a high concentration of commercial occupants at over 90%.

A part of the BID’s key pledges is a promise to promote a clear identity for the district and to deliver a high quality and user friendly “streetscape.” Also contained within the prospectus are pledges to make the area safer and cleaner. It is also hoped that the BID will bring a collective voice for the business community within the area and opportunities to network and engage with neighbours.

Within the specific actions detailed by the BID is the recruitment, during the first year, of a team of “street wardens” to provide both meet and greet in addition to safety and security services to staff and visitors alike. There is also a commitment to improve safety with upgraded lighting and other physical improvements and to initiate a range of street and IT based signage and information media.

The BID will be financed by an annual levy being collected by Birmingham City Council. All business sectors will be included and a 1% levy of rateable value will be charged on all properties with a rateable value in excess of £10,000 per annum. The largest occupiers in the district will have their contributions capped.

As part of the prospectus the BID team presented the first year’s spending priorities from an anticipated budget of £680,000. Of this £170,000 (25%) will be allocated to improving the streetscape and public realm environment including the commissioning of sculpture, greening, floral displays and festive lighting.

£160,000 (23.5%) will be set aside to finance the full time uniformed street wardens.

£40,000 (5.9%) will be allocated for the BID caretaker service to ensure maintenance and cleaning is kept up to standard.

At the launch, the team confirmed the BID Ballot timetable.  The Ballot will be conducted by Independent Scrutineer, Electoral Reform Services.

• January 9^th 2009 – Notification of the ballot will be sent out to all those businesses eligible to vote.

• January 19^th 2009 – Ballot papers will be dispatched

• February 27^th 2009 – Ballot will close at 5 pm

• March 2nd 2009 – The result will be announced and if it is in favour, the BID will formally be established for a five year term on April 1^st.

 A not-for-profit company will be formed to run the activities of the BID with a voluntary Board made up of representatives from different sectors of the business community taken from firms situated within the BID area and from other strategic partners. The BID will be run by a dedicated manager and a small support team based in the BID area.

Commenting on the launch of the BID Prospectus, Gary Cardin said; “This is a very exciting initiative for one of the city’s most prestigious business areas. If the BID is successful we will, through the BID company and by working with partners such as Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police, change dramatically the environment and atmosphere of the Colmore Business District.  During the five year term of the BID we are able to invest just under £3.5 million pounds into this important area of the city centre that will significantly improve the landscape for the firms and their staff who work here and also provide a more welcoming and pleasant place for our visitors.”

The ten Colmore Business District BID pledges:

·       Promote a clear identity and profile for the District and the businesses within it.

·       Deliver a high quality and user friendly ‘streetscape’ throughout the District.

·       Achieve enhanced environmental cleaning and maintenance standards.

·       Provide a safe and welcoming business environment.

·       Improve the District’s accessibility and wider city centre connections.

·       Promote local business networking and community  engagement.

·       Operate as an effective business led ‘voice’ with the resources to make things happen.

·       Engage with and support businesses

·       Deliver visible improvements and get things done – it will not be a talking shop.

·       Deliver projects and services that are additional to those provided by Birmingham City Council and others.