Pictured: (l-r) Terry Cotton, Jewellery Quarter Development Trust Manager, with JQ BID supporters Peter Foreman, managing director of Lavery Rowe, and Jilly Cosgrove, managing director of Barques Design

Birmingham business leaders and supporters of the Jewellery Quarter are hosting a series of consultation meetings to encourage companies to support proposals for a Business Improvement District (BID).

Throughout January and February, businesses with a rateable value of £10,000 or more are being invited to attend one of over 20 consultation meetings organised by Jewellery Quarter BID champions. Bid champions are local business leaders who support initiatives to improve the area.

The meetings give business owners the chance to review the draft prospectus of potential improvements to the Jewellery Quarter. Attendees will also be able to address their questions to members of the team leading the BID proposal. If the proposals go forward, businesses would be required to pay an annual levy of 2% of the rateable value of their premises.

The BID aims to attract investment, increase visitor numbers and encourage a more vibrant economy, while making the Jewellery Quarter a better place in which to work, invest and live.

Dave Mahony, chair of the JQDT and managing director of PCPT Architects in Spencer Street, believes business support for the BID is vital.

"The BID will not only give us a strategic voice alongside other Birmingham BIDs, such as Southside, Retail, Colmore Row and Broad Street, but it should also raise around £400,000 a year to address the improvements needed in the Jewellery Quarter. Decisions on those priorities will be made by the levy payers.

"It's imperative that the Jewellery Quarter community takes greater control and ownership of the area's future prosperity and becomes the driver for the continued regeneration of the Quarter."

Stephen Whittaker, a JQDT director and managing director of Fellows & Sons, hosted the first consultation meeting.

Stephen said: "The first meeting, which was attended by almost 30 levy payers in the Quarter's thriving retail sector, was very successful. The question and answer session with myself, Andy Munro and fellow JQDT director Mike Henrick, showed a strong positive support for the BID.

"The issues that were raised by some business owners are helping to shape the final manifesto, so we can ensure that the proposal outlines improvements that levy payers feel will benefit the area most."

Dates and times of upcoming BID consultation meetings are available on the JQDT website, www.jqdt.org. For levy payers who are unable to attend a consultation meeting, the JQDT will be hosting an open day on Thursday, 2nd February at Fellow auctioneers.

The board of the JQDT decided in early-summer 2011 to support the BID proposal and develop the initiative in partnership with Birmingham City Council. Being a Community Interest Company, the JQDT is made up of those key representative bodies and stakeholder organisations from within the Jewellery Quarter, including the Jewellery Quarter Association, the Jewellery Quarter Marketing Initiative, the Jewellery Quarter Trade Alliance and the Jewellery Quarter Neighbourhood Forum.

The BID could help to improve the Jewellery Quarter in many ways, including increased security through expanded CCTV, better lighting, local-based police presence, enhanced street cleaning and maintenance; better signage, accessibility and information; environmental initiatives; and more effective marketing of this unique area. Ultimately, it will help to increase the profile of the area and encourage business networking to bring in more visitors and businesses to help the local economy.

After the consultation meetings and open day have been completed, a final Prospectus will be agreed by the BID Steering Group and will form the Election Manifesto, which will be sent to all eligible addresses and prospective levy payers along with ballot papers.

The ballot - managed and organised by an independent organisation, the Electoral Reform Society - will take place over five weeks, starting on April 17.