Birmingham’s business, civic, and cultural leaders are calling for a bold new attitude—a shift away from self-deprecation toward confidently celebrating the city’s vibrant future. At a high-profile gathering at Birmingham Exchange in Centenary Square, around 100 city influencers shared a common concern: the tendency to focus on negativity threatens to overshadow the city’s immense potential and deter vital investment.
Despite Birmingham’s rapid transformation and exciting developments—such as major private investments in the city center, the creative revitalization of Digbeth, plans for the East Birmingham Sports Quarter, and its emergence as a hub for life sciences innovation—these successes often go unnoticed beyond the city’s borders. Negative headlines about issues like waste management continue to dominate narratives, obscuring the city’s strengths from potential investors and stakeholders worldwide.
The event marked the launch of Birmingham Colmore, a new initiative uniting the Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) of Colmore and Southside to create a single, powerful voice for the city. This collaboration aims to accelerate progress, attract more opportunities, and cement Birmingham’s position as England’s second city.
City Council Leader Councillor John Cotton emphasized the need for Birmingham to embrace a bit more “swagger.” “There’s a charming streak of self-deprecation in Birmingham, but to move forward, we need to be louder about our achievements,” Cotton stated. He highlighted the collective success of promoting Birmingham during the 2022 Commonwealth Games and urged sustained enthusiasm in championing the city’s life sciences sector, cultural quarters, and academic collaborations through the Knowledge Quarter.
Cotton acknowledged Birmingham’s profound challenges, describing it as a “tale of two cities.” While the city center flourishes with cranes and development, many neighborhoods face stark poverty, unemployment, and health disparities. “Ending inequality is crucial if Birmingham is to work for every community and citizen,” he said.
The city’s business community, he noted, plays a pivotal role in attracting investment and fostering ambition. “Our challenge is ensuring that Birmingham’s economic success uplifts all its people.”
Nicola Fleet-Milne, chair of Birmingham Colmore, highlighted that the initiative represents a new era of partnership between public and private sectors. She and Dr. Steve Ball, chair of the Southside District Board, formalized their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding. The two BIDs will operate a Joint BID Executive to streamline services and present an empowered, unified front—following successful models seen in Liverpool and Bristol.
Michele Wilby, CEO of Birmingham Colmore, described the partnership as a turning point. “Together, we will create a stronger, better-connected, and more ambitious city center that the Government cannot ignore.”
Birmingham Colmore covers a vital business district home to over 650 companies and 75,000 professionals, while Southside encompasses the city’s cultural heart, including theatres, the Gay Village, and the Smithfield development.
Funded by a levy on local businesses, the BIDs work to improve safety, cleanliness, events, and the overall vibrancy of the city center.
It’s clear Birmingham is ready to shed its self-doubt and proudly showcase its brilliance to the world.