Fifteen years of hard work, fundraising and a £2 million refurbishment paid off when BCT re-opened the former coffin furniture factory in October 2014. The building preservation trust, working with a team of dedicated volunteers, have given the factory a new lease of life and preserved a unique and special slice of Birmingham’s history for the city. The semi-derelict grade II* listed industrial building, left at the end of the 1990s when the factory closed, now has a very bright and sustainable future as both a highly-rated time-capsule museum, an events venue, and six commercial units, which are all fully let.

Simon Buteux, Director of the Trust, says “We are extremely proud that our project has been recognised nationally by Historic England. It’s been a fantastic awards year already, winning a Historic England Renaissance Award and two Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Awards in the categories of Best Conservation Project and Best Tourism and Leisure Project in the West Midlands.

“We are also shortlisted for an Institute of Conservation Award for our conservation work with the community. However, for us it is the public vote that would mean so much and we hope that the people of Birmingham will get behind us and vote for the project so we can bring back an Angel Award for Brum”.

To vote for Birmingham Conservation Trust follow this link: www.historicengland.org.uk/news-and-features/angel-awards/shortlist-2015/