A powerful new organisation which aims to make the Jewellery Quarter a better place in which to work, live and invest has been formally launched after many months of planning and discussion. The new Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT) is a unique partnership of City Council, business and community groups in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter and represents all sectors of the area's vibrant creative, leisure and office community and its many residents. Fundamental to future plans is the desire to establish a Business Improvement District (BID) in the Quarter, whereby the largest business ratepayers would contribute towards additional services to benefit the whole community, by paying an additional levy on their rates. At a launch hosted at Birmingham's internationally renowned School of Jewellery, local residents and business owners learnt how the area could benefit from improvements such as better security and lighting, street wardens, enhanced street cleaning and maintenance, better signage and accessibility. The ultimate aim is to increase the profile of the area and bring in more visitors and businesses to help the local economy. Councillor Tim Huxtable, Cabinet Minister for Transport, Environment and Regeneration said: "The BID proposal for the Jewellery Quarter involves more than 500 businesses and is one of the largest in the UK with the potential to raise nearly

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