Success for Birmingham Assay Office at Made Me Awards

The awards marked the culmination of the first Birmingham Made Me Design Expo, an integral part of IDEA Birmingham, which is a massive collaboration spearheaded by Birmingham City University.

The Design Expo was intended for businesses in the Midlands to showcase the range of innovation and design in the region.

The shortlist consisting of AGA, Aston Martin, Cadbury, Codemasters, Jaguar, JCB, Marmite, Paul Smith, Poundland and the Royal Shakespeare Company was put to a public vote and the top three companies were very close.

AGA was placed first, with Codemasters and the Birmingham Assay Office placed a close second.

Chairman of the Birmingham Assay Office Kay Alexander said: “I am incredibly proud of what the Birmingham Assay Office has achieved. These awards acknowledge innovation, design and forward thinking, and it is gratifying that people recognise the Birmingham Assay Office for these strengths as well as for hallmarking and our wonderful history and heritage.”

Also commenting on the Birmingham Assay Office’s success, chief executive and assay master Michael Allchin said: “Innovation, independence and integrity are what we have always been about, and always will be. The Birmingham Assay Office has invested heavily in high tech equipment and the highly skilled experts to use it. We would not have survived for over two centuries without continual innovation and in the current difficult trading conditions it is more important than ever. We are delighted and honoured to have been recognised in this way.”