The Daily Mail and Times played a Peaky Blinder after picking up on a Retail BID press article about the TV drama’s most famous fashion accessory.
Our story for the BID’s Edit magazine about Great Western Arcade fashion boutique Peter Forson and its Peaky Blinders-style caps was picked up by the two national newspapers, which featured the boutique founder, Daisy Nyamie, in articles about must-have Stetson range of hats.
The story was written by Edwin Ellis Creative Media, publishers of Edit magazine.
Peter Forson founder Daisy Nyamie
Edit is delivered to all Retail BID levy-payers and head offices and talks about BID projects such as street cleaning, public realm and visitor experiences. The publication also helps raise the profile of member businesses.
Peter Forson is the only city centre stockist of the sought-after Stetson hats, a style similar to those worn by the notorious Shelby gangster family.
Daisy Nyamie said: “I usually sell around three or four Peaky Blinders-style caps everyday but with the third series starting in May, they’re even more popular.
“They sell well because I’m the only retailer in the city that stocks the high-quality Stetson range, which David Beckham wears.
“I was running low and had to order more in time for the show. I must stress that mine come without the razor blades!”
Read the original Peter Forson press release here.
Read the Daily Mail article here.
Read the Times article here.
Read Edit magazine here.
Commercial real estate experts Lambert Smith Hampton will be hoping the Great Birmingham Run Business Challenge trophy becomes their property after entering a team in the annual event.
Eleven runners from the Edmund Street office of the property consultancy are entering the half marathon to raise funds for the company’s charity partner, Edward’s Trust.
To date, LSH has raised more than £6,000 for Edward’s Trust through a variety of events such as raffles, cake sales and other activities.
The Edgbaston-based charity supports children and families who are facing loss and surviving bereavement.
The Great Birmingham Run is one of the country’s biggest half marathons with more than 20,000 people expected to hit the streets on Sunday October 16.
Supported by the Birmingham Post, The Business Challenge sees companies compete against each other for trophies with placings based on the accumulated first four finishing times in each team.
More than 400 runners took part in the Great Birmingham 10K Business Challenge on Sunday, May 1, representing over 40 companies from a variety of industries.
Any company that enters 12 or more employees will automatically receive a free, personalised engraved plaque in the name of the fastest runner in the team.
Companies taking part will also feature in a special collector’s edition magazine featuring all Business Challenge entries.
Tim Simmons, a director in the agency’s valuation team, explained this is the first time LSH will have entered the Business Challenge.
“I’ve done the half marathon once before as an individual runner but thought we’d take on the challenge this year as a team for Edward’s Trust,” he said.
“A mixture of teams and roles from across the business will be coming together, all with various running abilities.
“We’ll try to stick together during the run as much as we can and I’ll have to try my hardest not to drag the team down!” he joked.
Helen Wood, Marketing and Fundraising Executive for Edward’s Trust, thanked LSH for their support.
“We like to build up our relationships with businesses in the Birmingham area,” she said.
“The half marathon is a big deal for us as our head office is on the route.
“We open up the office and have a cheering station with all our banners out to make a big day of it.
“We rely on companies like Lambert Smith Hampton supporting us. It doesn’t matter what time they do, it’s all about supporting us and having fun.”
After being told a winning team in last year’s Great Birmingham Run Business Challenge came from the East Midlands (Sigma Components) Tim has a message for the Birmingham’s business community.
“We need to step up this year to make sure there’s a firm from Birmingham among the top finishers,” he said.
Sign up for the Great Birmingham Run Business Challenge by visiting https://www.greatrun.org/great-birmingham-run/business-challenge
To sign up for the Great Birmingham Run as an individual runner visit https://www.greatrun.org/great-birmingham-run
To support LSH and its fundraising for Edward’s Trust visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/LSHGreatBirminghamRun
This article was written on behalf of Edwin Ellis Creative Media client The Great Run Company
Edwin Ellis Creative Media was honoured to be part of this year’s Great Birmingham 10K, which saw more than 7,000 runners hit the city streets on Sunday, May 1.
Our brief is to manage all regional PR for the annual event; fast becoming one of the highlights of the city’s sports calendar.
We’ll also be overseeing PR for the Great Birmingham Run on Sunday, October 16.
Edwin Ellis director Stacey Barnfield was on hand at the 10K start-line to help make sure celebrity runners arrived on time, were interviewed and photographed, and to help highlight the great, heart-warming stories from the thousands of charity runners who make this event so special.
This year’s 10K proved a smash hit as thousands took part in the run with music at its heart.
Runners of all abilities completed the music-themed 6.2mile event from Jennens Road to its finish on Broad Street in its second staging in the city.
The event is organised by The Great Run Company, who also stage the Great Birmingham Run in October and recently launched the brand new Birmingham International Marathon, to be staged next year.
Brum music legends UB40 on the Great Birmingham 10K start line
Among the many celebrities taking part were former Birmingham City stars Geoff Horsfield and Michael Johnson, ex Aston Villa hero Ian Taylor, Birmingham-born TV and radio host Adrian Chiles, and England and Warwickshire cricketer Jonathan Trott.
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Raymond Hassall, ran and walked the 10K route to raise funds for his charities of the year, and Handsworth-born Olympic medallist Ian Stewart also took part.
Former Apprentice contestant Gary Poulton completed the course in a mankini, while ‘Blind Dave’ Heeley, a regular at Great Run events and avid fundraiser, and triathlon star Jodie Stimpson were also involved in the event.
Reggae legends UB40, Robin and Duncan Campbell, Brian Travers, Earl Falconer, James Brown and Norman Hassan, cheered on the runners as honorary starters of the event, with Britain’s Got Talent star Connie Talbot serenading runners and spectators alike ahead of the start. There was no shortage of musical motivation as each wave was set off to tunes from a different decade, with 70s, 80s and 90s ‘fashion’ thrown in.
The first male across the finish line was Brit Jack Gray in a time of 31:45, with Aaron Bienenfeld and Sascha Strotzel of Germany following in 32:12 and 32.20 respectively.
A performer from the International Dance Festival Birmingham in Centenary Square
The first female finisher was Emma Clayton in a time of 34:27, closely followed by Jodie Stimpson in 35:17 and Leonie Balter in 37:09, which overall resulted in Team Birmingham winning the Birmingham European Capital of Running 10k Cup.
Acrobats from the city’s International Dance Festival, which features 39 free outdoor events and 11 world and UK premieres between May 1-22, performed the critically-acclaimed Cubes in Centenary Square to the delight of 10K spectators.
David Hart, communications director for The Great Run Company, said: “It was great to see so many people not only taking part but coming along to support their friends and family too.
“With the musical theme loud and proud, it was a day that everyone could enjoy and we hope to see as many people back on the start line next year.”
Entries for the 2017 event are now open, for more information visit greatrun.org/birmingham10k.
Entrants to this year’s event also get £10 off entry to the Great Birmingham Run half marathon on October 16. Visit greatrun.org/Birmingham
To register interest in the Birmingham International Marathon, sign up to the reminder service at greatrun.org/reminderservice
For press updates, images and interview opportunities for all Great Run events in Birmingham email stacey@edwinelliscreativemedia.com
With less than a month to go it’s ‘The Final Countdown’ for the thousands of music lovers taking part in this year’s Great Birmingham 10k run, which will be started by city legends UB40.
More than 6,000 people have now signed up to take part and entries are still open for the city’s annual 10k, which takes place on Sunday, May 1.
If music is a running motivator, the Great Birmingham 10k is the perfect event. Participants can strut their stuff across the start line to a choice of tunes and special warm-up routines from the 70s, 80s, 90s or present day.
And fancy dress runners are in for a treat with a VIP hotel-stay prize on offer for this year’s most creative outfits.
UB40 stars Robin and Duncan Campbell, Brian Travers, Earl Falconer, James Brown and Norman Hassan will be cheering on the thousands of 10k runners who will pass the Jennens Road start line.
Duncan said: “It’s a great event for the city and we’re delighted to be starting the run and offering our support to the thousands taking part.
“I’ve actually been involved in the run every year – but only because it comes past my house!”
Brother Robin added: “Sadly, neither of us can run it as our knees are shot! But we’ll be there at the start and finish, cheering everyone on.
“It’s such an important event as many of the runners will be raising money for great causes, like cancer charities, a cause dear to our hearts after our dad passed away a few years ago.”
Tom Ross with Cyrille Regis MBE and Paget Rangers official Josh Smith at the launch of the Ding Dong Derby Cup in Victoria Square, Birmingham city centre
Music is at the heart of this year’s run with more bands and performers than ever along the route. The run starts an hour later than last year to give people plenty of time to travel into the city centre and enjoy the party atmosphere.
There’s also a football flavour with stars Geoff Horsfield, Richard Sneekes and Michael Johnson signed up to take part.
They’ll be joined by Birmingham-born TV and radio host Adrian Chiles and Warwickshire and England cricketer Jonathan Trott.
More than 30 Midlands companies are playing their part by taking part in the Business Challenge to compete for fastest-time trophies and encourage team spirit in the office or factory, while raising thousands for chosen charities.
And grass-roots football teams can take on the Midlands elite in the Ding Dong Derby Cup, after Villa, Blues, Albion, Wolves, Walsall and Coventry all entered teams of physios, ex-players and training staff.
David Hart, Communications Manager for the Great Run events, said: “With a month to go this year’s Great Birmingham 10k is shaping up to be the best yet.
“The music, the football, the fancy dress; it’s all adding up to a great day for Birmingham’s 10k runners or walkers.”
Birmingham Press Club members attending its regular First Thursday networking night on April 7 are in for a special treat.
For the club has been invited to the city’s newest four-star hotel, the Park Regis, which has officially opened its doors to guests.
Park Regis is located in the former Auchinleck House on Broad Street, which has received a £50 million renovation to transform the building into a modern silver-clad hotel offering 253 deluxe rooms, two junior suites and the largest presidential suite in Birmingham.
Positioned as a hotel for both leisure and business travellers, Park Regis Birmingham houses an à la carte restaurant, all-glass Saki Bar and Pan Asian Fusion Restaurant on the 16th floor, as well as an executive level complete with conference and meeting spaces, a business lounge with executive check-in facilities, dry spa and gym.
Park Regis Birmingham is the brand’s first hotel in Europe but 15th globally, with locations in Australia, Asia and the UAE.
Press Club Director Stacey Barnfield talked about the hotel for one of his ‘Barnfield’s Brum’ updates in his role as Chairman of Downtown Birmingham in Business, after attending the topping-out ceremony earlier this year.
Press Club members are requested to meet on the fourth floor of the hotel in its 1565 Restaurant & Bar from 5.45 pm
But remember – to take advantage of the ‘free drinks’ offer you must be a signed-up member of the Press Club.
Details on how to join the Club may be found at www.birmingham-press-club.co.uk or by getting in touch with Membership Secretary Adrian Kibbler on 07831 690940. E-mail him at adrian@akpr.ltd.uk
A report has been commissioned to help transform one of the busiest streets in Birmingham as part of Retail BID’s proposed third term.
The Business Improvement District (BID) is working alongside Birmingham City Council to find ways of improving New Street to make it more welcoming for shoppers and visitors to the city centre, improving the public realm and commercial viability of the street.
Businesses and retailers with an interest in the area will soon be invited to a special summit to discuss proposals and debate any concerns.
The 500-metre street, which dates back to the 13th century, connects Bullring and High Street at its eastern end to Victoria Square at its west end.
Most of the street is now pedestrianised with the Corporation Street junction crossed by the new Metro tram route and the road loop that connects Temple Street to Bennetts Hill, near Piccadilly Arcade.
Once home to King Edward VI High School for Girls, principal tenants include Odeon Cinema, BHS, Watches of Switzerland, Macdonald Burlington Hotel, Lloyds Bank, Tesco, together with the forthcoming new Apple store in the listed Midland Bank building near Corporation Street.
New Street in Birmingham
Major New Street tenant Primark will be moving to the nearby Pavilions as part of its landmark acquisition of the High Street mall.
Chair of Retail Birmingham, Jonathan Cheetham, said both the city council and the BID have aspirations to improve the street’s public realm, which will be a key strategy in Retail BID’s proposed third term.
“We are working with the city council and Greater Birmingham Local Enterprise Partnership to take the New Street project forward and to fully understand the needs and expectations of key stakeholders to establish what is the future shared vision for the street which we can then deliver. The street has an eclectic mix of businesses from the retail, hospitality and service sectors and we need to look closely at how it works and how new public realm aligned to planning strategy can help it improve further as an important destination in the city centre.”
The Retail BID has been working with the city council to assess funding options for any improvement works.
“There is identifiable funding available which we hope to access together to improve New Street and this may be a once-in-a-generation chance to get the basics right and develop an important retail landscape for years to come,” he said.
“We aim to hold a New Street Summit early this year with key stakeholders, property owners and retailers to start to explore how we deliver a world-class street for Birmingham.”
To find out more about the New Street Summit and how you can be involved please contact the Retail BID team.
This article appears in Edit magazine, published by Edwin Ellis Creative Media for Retail BID Birmingham. Read the latest edition online here.
The second edition of Retail BID Birmingham’s Edit magazine, produced by Edwin Ellis Creative Media, will be finding its way to more than 500 BID member businesses over the next few days.
The bi-monthly news magazine features Business Improvement District news and projects, plus retail and restaurant launches within the city centre.
The January/February edition looks at plans to transform New Street, one of the oldest streets in the city centre, and reveals details about the BID’s renewal ballot process.
There’s also a focus on the Bennetts Hill area of Birmingham city centre and the numerous bars and restaurants making it a great destination for a night out or lunchtime business catch-up.
Pinball wizards and craft beer fans will be in their element at city centre bar Tilt Birmingham.
Tilt is bringing premium beers and ‘the top 5% of coffee produced in the world’ to the Grade II listed City Arcade off Union Street.
Kirk Sadler and Richard Kimberley, who will use their expertise of CAMRA membership and working for BrewDog, are behind the new venture.
Alongside coffee roasted in Helston in Cornwall, the bar stocks baked goods supplied by BAKE, located in Edgbaston.
City Arcade, Birmingham; home to Tilt
A whole corner of Tilt is dedicated to classic pinball machines to ‘increase social interaction and friendly competitiveness’, according to owners Richard and Kirk, who are also keen to host clubs such as mother and baby mornings, book clubs and a pinball children’s club in the morning, when alcohol is not being served.
Tilt’s City Arcade premises also benefits from the new Metro route and a tram stop on nearby Corporation Street.
Follow @Tilt_Brum on Twitter for more information about the bar.
This article appears in the January/February edition of Retail Birmingham’s Edit magazine
A topical and newsworthy angle provided an Edwin Ellis Creative Media client with extensive press coverage across the West Midlands.
Solihull Business Improvement District is training its Town Host visitor guides in crime prevention in anticipation of cuts to community policing in the borough.
Solihull BID’s four Town Hosts have now been given Security Industry Association (SIA) training to Door Supervisor Level as well as instruction in conflict management and legal advice on what they can and can’t do in an emergency situation.
The news release was published in print, online and through social media in the Birmingham Mail, Solihull News and Coventry Telegraph newspapers at the end of November and early December 2015.
The Solihull BID Town Hosts’ training news release in full:
Solihull town centre’s visitor guides have been given additional crime prevention and conflict management training after a proposal to cut police community support officer numbers in the borough was announced.
The four Town Hosts are employed by Solihull Business Improvement District (BID) to support shops and businesses by patrolling the town centre and guiding visitors. They also have radio links to the CCTV control centre.
West Midlands Police is proposing to take hundreds of police community support officers (PCSOs) off the streets by 2020, part of the force’s WMP2020 consultation plan which sets out how it will operate in future as it makes savings of £130 million.
Solihull BID’s Town Hosts have now been given Security Industry Association (SIA) training to Door Supervisor Level as well as instruction in conflict management.
As part of the SIA training the Town Hosts were given legal advice on what they’re allowed to do in emergency situations. They were also trained in self-defence and restraint techniques.
Solihull Retail Crime Initiative is chaired by BID Operations Manager John Timms, who said: “With the reduction in visible neighbourhood police officers in Solihull town centre the Hosts are going to be called upon more by businesses for help and support.
Solihull BID Town Host
“By giving them this extra training it will enable the Hosts to recognise and deal with different and evolving situations in a more reassured and confident manner.”
BID Executive Director Melanie Palmer explained how a key strand of the BID’s business plan, formed following consultation with town centre companies, was to keep Solihull safe and secure.
“The main role for our Town Hosts is to act as a reassuring presence in the town and to work closely with key partners to protect our businesses and to deter criminal activity,” said Ms Palmer.
“The recent training enhances their existing knowledge making their team impact even stronger.”
Figures released by West Midlands Police earlier this year revealed shoplifting in Solihull town centre dropped by 18 per cent in the 12 months to April 2015, the second year in a row that crime has reduced in the town, bucking the regional trend as shoplifting increased in other parts of the West Midlands.
There was also a 25 per cent reduction in the theft of purses and business crime had also dropped by 10.5 per cent over the 12-month period.
Chief Superintendent Alex Murray, the Solihull police commander, said the expected reduction in PCSOs will not happen immediately and he did not know at this stage where and how fast the numbers would be reduced by.
“West Midlands Police is still committed to neighbourhood policing and to cater for the smaller numbers we are changing how we operate in nearly every field of operation to become more efficient and concentrate in the areas where the greatest impact on crime can be achieved,” said Chief Superintendent Murray.
“Part of that process is building on the knowledge that residents and partners can have a huge effect on feelings of safety and preventing crime.
“In Solihull town centre the BID’s Town Hosts are well known and much loved in providing reassurance to visitors, advice to businesses and a clear deterrent message to offenders.
“Not many town centres have teams like this and I am really pleased Solihull’s works so well. The extra training they will receive on crime prevention will help bring down business crime and make sure Solihull is even safer in the evening.
“I would personally like to thank both the BID team for their commitment and the Solihull businesses for their on-going support to the BID. I would love to see BIDs start in Shirley and Chelmsley Wood too.”
Birmingham Cathedral has been making waves throughout 2015 as it celebrates its 300th birthday with a series of public art events.
Soul Boats is the latest installation and quite possibly the most eye-catching.
Designed by artist Jake Lever, hundreds of gold boats hang from the cathedral roof space; the inside of each designed by individuals of different faith perspectives and views.
The flotilla of tiny cardboard boats pointed in the direction of the newly-refurbished cathedral’s chancel, with Edward Burne-Jones’s Ascension window behind the altar, is a striking sight and one to take a moment to savour if you’re in the city centre.
One of the most fascinating aspects to Soul Boats is that each of the individually-designed 3D interiors, featuring hand-crafted words or illustrations, is hidden from view, creating a private reflection in such a grand space.
Soul Boats is on display until March 18, 2016 at Birmingham Cathedral.
All change! These aerial images show how New Street station has been transformed from the 1960s development to today’s stunning building.
The Queen officially reopened the New Street building and Grand Central complex on Thursday November 19.
Accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Her Majesty unveiled a plaque marking her visit – the first to New Street in her 62-year reign and her first visit to the city since her Diamond Jubilee tour in 2012.
The new station, including the new Grand Central shopping complex and John Lewis store, was unveiled in September after a five-year, £750 million Network Rail project.
The Queen at New Street station
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were greeted by a host of dignitaries – including Sir Peter Hendy, chairman of Network Rail and Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail – after arriving at the station on the Royal Train.
They were shown an exhibition of the station through the ages since it was first built in the 1880s and were introduced to many of those involved in building the latest incarnation.
The Queen and Duke’s visit was broadcast on the station’s largest ‘media eye’ at the front of the station for the public to watch while many also gathered inside.
Boasting an iconic new atrium over a huge passenger concourse – five times the size of London Euston’s – the station has been rebuilt while trains continued to run as normal for the 170,000 passengers a day who use it.
The new station will eventually feature 43 shops at concourse level. Above it sits the new Grand Central shopping complex, including one of the UK’s largest John Lewis department stores.
Pictures: Network Rail press office
