Annual Report
April 2025 - April 2026
Southside District partnership
Building a more unified Birmingham city-centre
Over the past year, Colmore Executive has worked closely with other city‑centre BIDs to explore how collective working can deliver greater efficiency and amplified impact.
April 2025: Following discussions between both Boards, we agreed to support Southside with a small range of services.
August 2025: We stepped in to caretaker their services and deliver their ballot.
The ballot, held in October delivered exceptional support: 96% voted yes by rateable value, compared to 94% in their BID3 ballot With a turnout of 50.5%, compared to 46% in the BID3 ballot
Since the successful ballot, we have been working with the Southside Board to formalise long‑term partnership that will enable greater efficiency better joint working, stronger and a more unified voice for Birminghams business community.
In January 2026, both BIDs formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Birmingham Colmore Summit, witnessed by more than 100 civic, cultural and commercial
This landmark partnership mirrors successful BID models in cities such as Liverpool and represents a bold, collaborative future for the city centre.
Rebrand & strategic direction
A new identity for the next chapter
In January 2026, we launched our refreshed brand at the Birmingham Colmore Summit, by over 100 leaders from across the city The summit explored themes including economic inward investment, public realm, culture and the future of the city centre.
Strategic foundations
This year, we completed a comprehensive strategic programme including:
A renewed vision, mission and values
A refined tone of voice
A new Colmore Life website (colmorelife.co.uk)
A redesigned Colmore Life magazine, procured through competitive tender
A high‑energy brand launch video
The launch of the Colmore Life app, providing live access to events and offers across the district
This work marks a significant strategic shift. We are moving from a project manager to a placemaking champion. This is not a cosmetic update; it is a business strategy and a place strategy. It shapes how we advocate, how we collaborate and how we lead on behalf of the district and wider city-centre.
We extend heartfelt thanks to all levy payers who contributed to workshops, interviews, surveys and testing. Your insights informed every part of our new direction.
Curating public spaces that reflect
Colmore's exceptional character.
Lead: Melanie Williams, DWF
Our Colmore Placemaking Working Group continues to enhance the character, identity and everyday experience of the District, strengthening our connection to culture, heritage and community
Our ‘Open’ art competition returned for a second year in 2025 and once again continued to support and champion emerging Birmingham artists, offering real-life opportunities for over 80 artists’ work to be exhibited in the public, as well helping emerging talent on their creativity journeys through portfolio reviews with curators and creatives.
For the 2025 competition, we also extended the prize with an additional exhibition at Birmingham City University’s School of Art running in April 2026. We’re excited to reveal that the Open will be returning again for the third year in 2026.
This year marked the launch of the first phase of our work celebrating George Shaw, an outdoor exhibition installed in October 2025 at the Paradise Street Metro stop. Positioned at the site of the first photograph ever taken in Birmingham, A White House on Paradise Street, the installation connects the District’s present-day environment with its esteemed history Following a fantastic initial response, we are exploring a phase two of the project, to be launched early 2027.
The Livery Street Subway transformation was also completed and unveiled in 2025. Through a £120,000 revitalisation project, led by Birmingham Colmore in partnership with Moda Living, Birmingham City Council and JQ BID, the once dark underpass has been reimagined with a vibrant installation of colourful ceramic tiles designed by artist Adam Nathaniel Furman, creating the illusion of three‑dimensionality and turning the space into a welcoming, civic‑minded corridor
In 2025 we also began early work on the Brum Transport Fest, establishing partnerships with industry leaders, media companies and vehicle clubs. These relationships lay the groundwork for a future flagship event coming this September, celebrating Birmingham’s transport heritage.
This year we relaunched our Property Owners and Agents Forum, strengthening engagement commercial owners and agents. This renewed collaboration ensures placemaking continues reflect the needs and ambitions of those who shape and invest in Colmore.
We initiated work on a new community garden project in Colmore Square, suppor stewardship and expanding green space at the heart of the District, delivering four planting sessions in partnership with the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust.
We continue to invest each year £40,000 to deliver year‑round floral installations
much‑loved festive lighting returned to the District’s streets, ensuring Colmore remained welcoming and full of seasonal atmosphere.
This year, Colmore Culture strengthened its role as the creative and social engine of the District; driving footfall, boosting business visibility and offering memorable experiences for workers, residents and visitors alike.
Our flagship event returned for it’s 12th year, with record-breaking success:
Bringing the district to life this week, next weekend, and anytime of day or night.
Lead: Alex Tross, Carter Jonas
75,000 visitors across two days
93.8K Instagram views, with profile visits up 745%
16.6K landing‑page visits, including 2.6K direct clicks to traders
124K+ impressions from our first Sky TV campaign
54 pieces of media coverage, reaching 1.5M+ people
Traders reported up to £10,000 in sales
The festival continues to be one of the most impactful hospitality showcases in the region and will return in July 2026.
3,800 wristbands distributed
91 participating venue recommendations
95% of attendees visited a new venue
Partnership reel reached 21.8K views
Colmore venues included: Tiger Bites Pig, Hotel du Vin, The Alchemist, 24 Stories and Dishoom
Since March 2025 (12 competitions in total, one per month):
145.6K total views
3,864 likes, 7,691 comments
1,250 saves and nearly 1,000 new followers
Prizes ranged from £50 dining vouchers to a Christmas stay at The Grand Hotel.
Three tours held in January 2026, with all nine venue tickets sold out (30 each).
Participants consistently reported discovering new venues in the District marked the events as a great introduction to book a return visit.
Easter: 5 venues, 5.5K views, plus an F1 Arcade repost generating 15K views Christmas: 3 venues, 49.5K views via sponsored post.
Safer Colmore continued to lead, innovate and influence public safety across Birmingham and beyond. We drove national conversations, supporting local businesses and championing safer environments for all.
Our Safer Colmore Project Manager Paul Street now chairs The BID Foundation’s Counter Terrorism & Protective Security subgroup, giving Birmingham a national voice in safety policy and best practice. We have provided extensive business support for Martyn’s Law, including workshops, vlogs, legislative updates and a growing online knowledge hub.
Safer Licensing work strengthened with new vulnerability and personal‑safety resources.
Partnership with Stamp Out Spiking improving awareness and preventative measures.
Collaboration with Ask For Angela UK enabling wider rollout across multi venue types including restaurants, bars, cafés and gyms.
Strong growth of the Women’s Safety Forum and our virtual network.
Increasing national interest in our strategic VAWG approach.
Ongoing partnership with The Hollie Gazzard Trust, providing consultancy, free training and advocacy for the Hollie Guard app.
Innovative projects include safe space tags for Hollie Guard, development of a Womens Saf Charter, and becoming the first to launch a new online Stalking Awareness Toolkit.
Birmingham Colmore awarded Business Ambassador Award at the Hollie Gazzard Trust Celebrating Excellence Awards 2025.
Personal Safety Workshops led by martial arts expert Fay Goodman (voice, legislation, planning, disengagement tactics).
Safer Colmore Talks with West Midlands Police, delivered directly to businesses, covering ASB, homelessness support, crime, and reporting.
Trauma Equipment Awareness Sessions with West Midlands Fire Service, which led to a lif being saved in 2025.
Increased visibility through variety of lunchtime pop‑up events in local businesses.
Operational statistics:
648 footways cleaned
340 graffiti or sticker removals
254 fly‑poster removals
Managed 326 ASB incidents involving drugs or alcohol
Managed 58 ASB incidents involving aggression
Managed 976 cases of begging
And 1,202 rough sleepers were supported
Safer Colmore continues to lead with compassion and conviction, shaping a District where safety visible, trusted and evolving.
This year, our Colmore Community has continued to grow, creating tangible impact both within the Business District and in the neighbourhoods surrounding it.
We delivered our annual Colmore Community Games, bringing together teams from 15 businesses for a day of connection, collaboration and friendly competition. Ha were crowned Community Games champions for 2025.
Transforming 75,000 professionals into a connected, thriving community.
Lead: Tim Hall, Hays
The event highlighted the strong relationships and shared purpose at the heart our District, with entry fee donations being donated to the Ladywood Community Project.
Our work with local organisations and schools in Ladywood remains one of our most important community commitments. This year we have:
Supported 40+ children across 16 families through direct experiences and family-focused initiatives.
Reached a further 60+ children during Easter with donations including chocolate eggs and school uniform support.
Delivered six Ladywood-focused events, including our ongoing Leadership Through Sport and Business (LTSB), helping young people opportunities that broaden horizons and build confidence.
Our community projects are strengthened by collaboration. This year we with:
Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce
NatWest
Barclays
Eversheds
Phoenix Business Club
LTSB
Ladywood Community Project
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
Each partner has brought something unique, and together we’ve created greater than any one organisation could achieve alone.
In October, we proudly hosted our first Black History Month event, welc 80 attendees for an evening of insight, storytelling and celebration. This marks an important step in our wider work to champion diversity and representation within the District.
Colmore Next Gen continues to grow as a platform that supports the district’s emerging talent, ensuring new voices and future leaders are recognised and encouraged.
This year, we partnered with the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce’s Future Faces Network to deliver a major networking event, welcoming over 100 young professionals into the District. The event strengthened relationships, spotlighted ambition, and broadened opportunities for early‑career professionals across the region
Working alongside Colmore Marketing, we gav prominence to our District’s award winning youn professionals through Colmore Life magazine an Colmore’s social media channels. These feature have helped raise visibility, celebrate success, an highlight the depth of talent within the Busines District.
To support the next phase of development, w relaunched recruitment for Colmore Next Gen wi a focus on new projects, new perspectives, an renewed ambition.
As a result, we have welcomed five new membe who will help shape the future direction of th group and expand its impact across the District.
This year, our efforts to build a more inclusive, low‑carbon district have continued accelerate. Through collaboration, practical action and a commitment to long‑term change, we’ve helped create a more accessible and environmentally responsible Colmore.
Connecting Colmore for everyone.
We delivered an engaging and interactive programme for Clean Air Day 2025 in June, with high participation on our in-person gym‑style cycling machines. This initiativ encouraged active travel through incentives and helped raise awareness of the positive impact of low‑carbon transport choices.
To drive forward a more sustainable, resilient and community‑powered future for Birmingham, we have significantly accelerated the development of the Birmingham Energy Community (BEC).
Over the past year, we have taken key steps to transform the concept into a tangible and growing movement:
We have formally created a CIC to give BEC a clear organisational structure, strengthen its governance, and ensure it can operate with transparency accountability and long‑term purpose.
Obtained £40,000 grant funding that enables BEC to build capacity, deliver pilot projects and undertake essential research and stakeholder engagement. This funding acts as a catalyst, ensuring the organisation can progress from concept to action and lay the groundwork for future investment.
Delivered a series of engagement events across Colmore and two other city centre BIDs, helping businesses and individuals understand the benefits and opportunities of community‑focused energy transition.
Lead: Alison Kilby, Arup
Collectively, these activities are helping to grow a well‑connected, well‑informed energy community that is motivated to act. They also reinforce Birminghams position as a leader in place‑based, citizen‑centred approaches to net zero.
We have taken an active role in a public–private partnership exploring new approaches to kerb‑side delivery working alongside:
Connected Places Catapult
Grid Smarter Cities
Birmingham City Council
This collaboration aims to improve delivery efficiency reduce congestion, and support cleaner, more sustainable city centre logistics.
Putting Colmore on the map and keeping it there.
Lead: Victoria Osgood
2025 was a landmark year for marketing, communications and place-brand storytelling across Colmore, delivering strong digital growth, high-performing campaigns and deeply engaged content in preparation for our new rebrand launched in January 2026.
Digital & press growth
LinkedIn: Followers grew by 20% (from ~5,000 to 6,000).
Instagram: Followers grew by 62% (from 5.5k to 8.9k).
Website: 125,000 new users — a 70% increase from 2024.
Press Office: 260 pieces of coverage, driven by Birmingham Super Weekend, Birmingham Light Festival and increased place-based brand visibility.
Printed publications
Colmore History Magazine (first edition since 2020): delivered £1,800 promotional value, with 2,000 copies distributed across Heritage Week and cultural venues.
Colmore Life Magazine (3 issues since March 2025):
Summer 2025: 58 promotions (£3,700 value)
Autumn/Winter 2025: 39 promotions (£6,750 value)
Spring 2026: 47 promotions (£9,150 value)
Colmore Cookbook 2025 (printed June 2025):
13 venues featured
£6,500 promotional value
1,000+ copies distributed at Colmore Food Festival
Levy payer communications
We keep our levy-payers in the loop to ensure they can run their business smoothly. We delivered 12 monthly update emails, 572 weekly bite-size mailers, three decision-maker updates and 54 resilience emails (road closures, travel disruption, protests).
International Day of Birmingham: Hosted activation in Colmore Square; 200+ attendees. Christmas in Colmore: District dressing, lights, competitions, choirs, advice content and donations to Ladywood Community Project.
A summer “surprise and delight” ice-cream giveaway with La-Pop saw 600 ice creams distributed to local businesses for free. The Working Group part-funded the new Colmore
Life app launch as part of rebrand project, and we also delivered free, fully booked walking tours (Art Walk, History Tour, Gods & Monsters) with 50+ participants.
Six 30‑second videos, produced and posted weekly from 24 September–29 October 2025. Content focused on authentic, positive conversations about Birmingham and its people, including key voices across business, hospitality leisure and culture. The content achieved 133,040 views in October alone, and all videos placed in the top 15 posts for the month.
Working two days per week, th s year Alex has focused on delivering ambitious, high profile pub ic programmes wh le laying important strategic foundat ons for Birmingham’s long term cultural growth
Across all activity, City Curator projects generated over 350 pieces of positive news coverage, result ng in more than 2 6 bi lion opportunities to see. This figure does not inc ude PR for wider projects that Alex supported throughout the year mean ng the true posit ve reach figure assoc ated with City Curator activ ty is significant y higher
To deliver City Curator projects, approx mately £300,000 was fundraised This investment into culture in Birmingham only happened as a resu t of Alex’s work and was un ocked by Birmingham Colmore’s investment into the role of City Curator an by seed funding the programme itself
The 2026 ed tion of Birmingham L ght Festiva de vered its most amb tious programme to date, transforming the city centr into a free, open‑air gal ery of lluminated artworks
Festival n numbers 58 partners 13 artworks | 4 festival days 86% of visitors felt more connected to the city as a result o the festival | 58% of fest vlagoers spent money in local hospitality | The average spend per head increased by £4 vs 2025 99% of audiences expressed strong support for its return | 100% of partners want to remain involved in future edit ons
Work a so continued on developing the Birmingham’s legacy of permanent light artworks Th s included commissioning new piece by Richard O Gorman in Edgbaston Village, de ivered in partnership with Calthorpe Estates. The artwork will join exist ng installations including All Right Bab, Ideas Happen Here and Roof of Stars The Birmingham Light Festival Legacy Programme is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
A collaboration of private bus ness and public sector organisations enabled the f rst development stage of a new Food & Drink Tour sm Strategy for B rmingham. This pro ect is being delivered with the World Food Travel Association in partnership w th The Relationship The research phase has now concluded and will provide insight to strengthen Birmingham’s profile as one of the UKs most exc ting food destinations
Work progressed on the development of the Birmingham Jewel ery Biennial set to launch in 2027. This new festiva is set to become the UKs Jewe lery Festiva and will ce ebrate the city’s world renowned jewe lery heritage and contemporary innovation. This work a igns with Birm nghams recent World Craft City designation which Alex was thrilled to support.
Initial groundwork began on the City Curator L brary, a new concept for a shared creative resource des gned to support organisations and communities in activating Birmingham’s public spaces. Further development wi l continue n 2026.
Alongside core projects, support was prov ded across a wide range of in tiatives including Delivery of the second Br ght Brum event
Speaking engagements and panel contributions
Consultation support and sector insight
Partner matchmak ng for cu tural pro ects
Input nto the International Day of Birmingham, including the United States of Birmingham tourism it nerary and promotional film
In total over 100 partners were brought together through City Curator activity this year, demonstrating the ro e’s collaborative reach.
Our weekly Colmore Life newsletter is packed with the latest district news and events. Sign up by emailing felicity.blades@birminghamcolmore.co.uk. Download the Colmore Life app on all app stores for events, activity and food and drink offers.
