It will move to a purpose-built office off Icknield Street. The Assay Office, founded in 1773, has a statutory duty to hallmark precious metals. Marion Wilson, director, said: "We have been in this building for a very long time. "It's too small and we have continually patched and extended it but it's actually constraining our business and preventing us from growing the way we need to."

Assay Office Birmingham has a long association with mac Birmingham, based in Cannon Hill Park. It is one of Britain’s most exciting arts centres. Mac’s mission is to promote innovative, creative arts activities in ways which help to establish them as an important part of people’s lives. With its annual programme of performances, exhibitions, film screenings and educational workshops, mac attracts almost 1 million visits a year from people of all ages. Set in the outstanding Can…

Brett Whitney, winner of the Assay Office Birmingham prize at the recent Birmingham School of Jewellery Industry Awards collected his cheque from Chief Executive and Assay Master Stella Layton.