Colmore BID appoints new chair

Lettings and estate agency owner Nicola Fleet-Milne has been appointed the new chair of Colmore Business Improvement District after receiving the overwhelming backing of the BID’s board of directors.

Ms Fleet-Milne, who owns a residential property agency on Colmore Row, has been a director on the board for seven years. She replaces property consultant Gary Cardin, who stood down in December after chairing Colmore BID since its inception in 2008.

Alex Tross, associate director at property consultancy LSH, and Paul Fielding, chartered wealth manager at Brewin Dolphin, have been appointed joint deputy chairs of the BID.

Colmore Business District is considered the commercial heart of Birmingham with over 35,000 employees and five million square feet of office space. The BID works in partnership with Birmingham City Council on public realm projects and enhancement schemes for the district.

The BID hosts the Colmore Food Festival, which attracts more than 30,000 visitors each year, along with numerous arts exhibitions such as the award-winning Nicklin Unseen outdoor photography exhibition showing the work of Birmingham photographer Phyllis Nicklin.

The Safe and Sound Working Group delivers projects to keep those who work in and visit the district safe and secure, day and night, with a street operations team consisting of security officers and an ambassador.

Ms Fleet-Milne said: “I would like to pay special tribute to Gary Cardin, who has done an extraordinary job steering the BID since its launch back in 2008. Gary should look back on the last decade with a sense of achievement after leading a whole host of legacy projects such as Church Street Square and ongoing events like Colmore Food Festival.

“My time as chair comes during an exciting period for Colmore Business District with 103 Colmore Row continuing to reach for the sky, the announcement that BT will be basing thousands of staff at Three Snowhill and the huge Paradise regeneration scheme taking shape. I look forward to working with these companies and employees in the coming months.

“We will continue to grow our busy events schedule, our Safe and Sound ambassador presence to reflect the changing face of the BID and its new bars and restaurants, along with our work enhancing the district with public realm improvements and seasonal dressing.”

Describing his role as ‘a privilege’, outgoing chair Mr Cardin said: “It’s been an honour to be a part of the BID from its inception into its third term. We’ve achieved well beyond the successes we thought possible. I leave the BID in the best shape possible for its continued and future success and for it to develop along with the city.”