By Matt Long, Senior Asset Manager Praxis
Brindleyplace starts and ends with ‘community’ and 2023 has seen us refresh and enhance our workspaces and our relationships with each other and the wider Birmingham business, leisure and charitable communities.
Brindleyplace is unique in Birmingham, an oasis of greenery in the city’s urban landscape and this is an area we have built upon this year for our tenants. Working with our dedicated Wellness Coordinator and Nicky from Core Marketing, we have created exercise trails, walking trails and running trails which not only take in the estate’s squares and open spaces but also maximise our proximity to the canal network. We actively encourage, through our marketing communications and the Brindley Life App, our tenants to get active for their health and mental wellbeing. In addition, the free weekly massage and yoga classes we offer remain popular.
To further support an active lifestyle and in line with our ESG policies, 2023 has seen the launch of our ‘Better Connnected’ video which highlights the accessibility of Brindleyplace from all areas of the city and beyond and using a host of travel methods – including on foot or by bike. We’ve also embarked upon the ‘Modeshift Stars’ Travel Plan scheme and are pleased to have gained our ‘green’ accreditation already. The awards promote sustainable travel and we have been working with BCC and TFWM to further enhance the estate’s travel offerings and look to build upon this in 2024 with additional incentives along with additional scooters across the estate. We will also be looking to reach our bronze award level!
To celebrate the special community we have here at Brindleyplace, 2023 saw the launch of the Best of Brindley Awards, a recognition scheme for those who work on the estate and who have gone above and beyond to deliver exceptional service and promote the estate to others. We also introduced ‘Acts of Kindness’, a multi-faceted initiative which can see charities benefitting from our tenant’s generosity or our business tenants benefitting from the kindness of fellow tenants.
Charity plays a large role in everything we do across the estate and as well as our long term association with the Ladywood Project, this year we supported the Suited for Success team with the launch of their ‘bus’ in Central Square. We will build on this relationship next year, encouraging our community to donate work clothes to the cause as well as talking to the organisation about mentoring and job opportunities.
2023 has seen new leisure tenants arrive on the estate. Early in the year we saw the opening of Rudy’s and they were quickly followed by BOX Bar, Ribeye and The Park Playground. Spar reopened with a built-in Philpotts concession which now offers a further grab-n-go option for the office tenants. We have an exceptional mix of F&B and leisure tenants which make Brindleyplace an enviable option for visitors too.
In 2023 we partnered with external organisations for a series of activations centred on the cherry blossoms in Oozells Square. We held a photography competition in conjunction with Ikon Gallery and the National Trust and a Blossom Together Picnic (also with National Trust) along with a Blossom Concert with Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. Each of these activities, in conjunction with partner activities from the restaurants in Oozells Square, inviting both tenants and the public to enjoy a unique piece of public realm.
This year the Crescent Theatre celebrated its 100th birthday and next year Ikon will celebrate 60 years. We have also seen an influx of new business tenants with both Reach plc and Lloyds choosing to make Brindley their home. Long time Brindley stalwarts Page Group have chosen to stay on the estate and have gone through a major refurbishment while Unity Trust Bank has also renovated its office space.
More change is on the cards as our new owners, Praxis, look to further enhance the public realm. With major improvements in the pipeline for the office buildings also, 2024 will see us positioning the estate as a modern business and leisure environment with the added attraction of shops and leisure attractions – a unique, mixed-use offering in the City.
Throughout the year we have bettered our community engagement, our connectivity and our wellness and ESG offerings through a variety of activities and initiatives and we head into 2024 well-placed for further improvements with new owners and new ideas to strengthen the firm foothold we have in the Birmingham wider community.
Brindleyplace is the community perfectly placed at the heart of a caring community. It is ideally suited for both business and leisure activities and is easily accessible by all modes of transport. Quite simply, Brindley is the place to be in 2024 and beyond…
Happy Christmas and we look forward to welcoming you to Brindleyplace in the New Year.
Bauble photo provided by Daniel Sturley.
