Pictured: front left to right - Emma Rogers, Sally Hoban (both from Birmingham Assay Office) and Nicola Baron (Chantrey Vellacott DFK) Back left to right - Paul Fenner (Chantrey Vellacott DFK), Martyn Pugh (Birmingham Assay Office), Michael Allchin (Birmingham Assay Office Chief Executive & Assay Master)

Birmingham Assay Office is preparing to put its stamp on one of the busiest periods and developments in the hallmarking organisation's illustrious history. 

The largest assay office in the world, which can trace its roots back to 1773, is moving forward with its plans to relocate from Newhall Street to a new home within the St George's development in the Jewellery Quarter in 2013. 

The not-for-profit organisation, which employs 150 staff, is also being kept busy ahead of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in July and is being supported in its growth plans by the Birmingham office of national accountancy firm Chantrey Vellacott DFK. 

The top 20 accountancy practice, which can also trace its roots back to 1778 and moved to Grade II listed offices of its own on Calthorpe Road last year, has been appointed advisors and auditors by the organisation.

Emma Rogers, finance director at the Birmingham Assay Office, said 2012 promises to be a landmark year.

"The development of our new home is an exciting stage in the Assay Office's history and the continued regeneration of the Jewellery Quarter," she said. 

"Not only is the Birmingham Assay Office one of the city's oldest institutions it is also the largest assay office in the world - so moving away from our home of 135 years will be a key moment in our history. 

"The offices are Grade II listed and have been extended numerous times over the years, and now a maze of different working areas. The space is inflexible, inefficient and expensive to maintain, so the time has come for us to move on and begin a new chapter. 

"The transition will enable the Assay Office to remain in the Jewellery Quarter, supporting the jewellery trade, while at the same time ensure its continued commercial viability."

Rogers said the office is in for a hugely busy six months and values the support of Chantrey Vellacott DFK in the growth of the organisation. 

"We'll continue to be busy striking the special Queen's Diamond Jubilee commemorative mark on a range of products made in Birmingham until October, and with 2012 also being a leap year we are also expecting to see a rise in the popularity of mangagement rings, so we'll have plenty to do before the move!

"As a not-for-profit organisation we have to provide our services at a reasonable cost and having specialist business advisors is vital and we value the financial advice and support Paul Fenner and the team at Chantrey Vellacott have afforded us." 

Paul, partner at Chantrey Vellacott DFK in Birmingham, added: "Birmingham Assay Office is steeped in history, and has in fact hallmarked over 100 million articles since 2000. 

"The organisation has a lot to look forward to during 2012 and we're delighted to be supporting Emma and the team with a range of business services as the organisation moves forward with the opening of a major new chapter in its history next year."