Colmore BID appointed to support Lawrence Barton, NTE Champion for Birmingham

We are delighted to announce that we have been appointed to support Lawrence Barton, the Night-Time Economy (NTE) Champion for Birmingham, who has been tasked with advocating on behalf of businesses operating late at night.    

The role has been designed to create a coherent strategic approach to developing Birmingham’s busy and evolving NTE. This builds on earlier work Lawrence had already carried out, which includes Chairing four local business events to gather key stakeholders’ concerns, ideas, and opinions on potential NTE approaches and innovations, and meeting with key local partners and national experts on the night time economy. 

We will work closely with Barton to develop an action plan to improve night-time safety in Birmingham, improve the perception of the NTE sector, and identify any challenges and potential solutions facing the city centre. 

Our appointment to support the NTE Champion aligns closely with our Safe and Sound workstream, which aims to reduce antisocial behaviour and increase the safety of the surrounding area. 

It also corresponds with our recent work with Licensing SAVI, which included helping five venues in the District to achieve a 5-star National Police Safety Award. Licensing SAVI strives to meet four key objectives which correspond with improving Birmingham’s night-time safety:  

• Prevention of Public Nuisance 
• Prevention of Crime and Disorder 
• Protection of Children from Harm 
• Public Safety 

We will now work closely with Barton to ensure that the operators of Birmingham’s venues are well-equipped to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for their visitors. 

Lawrence Barton, Birmingham’s Night-Time Economy Champion, said: “Hospitality businesses, especially those operating at night, are under considerable financial and regulatory pressure. There is a pressing need for us to reassess how the city responds to these challenges and for us to put in place a sustainable strategy to secure the industry’s success going forward. 

“I am thrilled to be supported by Colmore BID to help deliver a plan to protect and augment Birmingham’s flourishing nightlife.” 

Nicola Fleet-Milne, Chair of Colmore BID added: “We are delighted to be appointed to support Lawrence with strategically developing an action plan for Birmingham’s Night-Time Economy.  

“At Colmore BID, we prioritise the safety and security of visitors to the District and its surrounding areas, ensuring that individuals enjoy a welcoming atmosphere. Therefore, through this partnership, we hope to contribute to implementing effective initiatives to enhance Birmingham’s thriving nightlife whilst guaranteeing a safe environment.” 

To find out more about how we are creating a safe and secure Business District, please visit: https://colmorebusinessdistrict.com/safercolmore/