BCU Alumnus Ashley Innis, who graduated in 2003 with a BA (Hons) in International Business Management before returning to the university to complete an MA in Real Estate Management in 2019, took on the major responsibility of overseeing the preparation of the Smithfield site in Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games.
The Smithfield site, just a stone’s throw away from BCU’s city centre campus, was used by the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee as a venue for Beach Volleyball, 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball, as well as a Festival Site throughout the major event.
We caught up with Ashley to find out more about his involvement in the Games, which started right at the beginning of the bid stage in 2017.
What was your role within the Games and your responsibilities?
I was one of the lead officers for Birmingham Council and was responsible for overseeing the Smithfield site which was used by the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee as a venue for Beach Volleyball, 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 wheelchair Basketball
Initially I was responsible, on behalf of the Council, for overseeing the delivery of the Athletes’ Village which would have been in Perry Barr. Unfortunately, due to Covid, in mid-2020 a decision was made not to use this accommodation, but it is still being delivered as much needed housing for the city. So, I then moved to be responsible for overseeing the preparation of the Smithfield site in Birmingham. The Smithfied site hosted three different sport events (Beach Volleyball, 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball) and was also a Festival site for the Games.
My role involved overseeing a programme of site clearance works which involved demolition of some onsite buildings and the relocation of some tenants on site. During the Games, I was also the Council’s venue owner representative, so I had an overall responsibility for the site during Games time.
I intended to make sure that on behalf of the Council we fulfilled our obligations in respect of the site and provided Birmingham 2022 with a canvas upon which they could host their events. The post-Games feedback has been overwhelmingly that Smithfield was a magnificent venue.
What was it like working at the Commonwealth Games?
I was involved in working on the Games for Birmingham City Council from the bid stage back in 2017, this was the point at which Birmingham expressed its intention to host the Games in 2022.
I worked closely with colleagues across the council, region, and country to be part of a wide team who has helped to deliver the Games. The process was one which I’ll never forget. It was challenging at times, but there was significant teamwork, collaboration and cross partnership working to ensure that the Games were a success and I feel tremendously proud to have played a part.
Having seen other cities deliver major sporting events like the Commonwealth Games, I knew what potential there was for this to help put Birmingham in the global spotlight, the Games were always about more than just delivering 11 days of sport.
Seeing my city reflected so positively in the media and all the positivity in and around the city from spectators and visitors made all of the hard work over the last 5 years, including the hights and lows, worthwhile.
What impact do you hope the Games with have on Birmingham?
Whilst studying at BCU, I wrote my dissertation about the legacy of major sporting events for host cities. The new stadium, improved transport infrastructure and the delivery of thousands of new homes in Perry Barr are very visible legacies, but I hope that the Games will enable and facilitate further investment and growth into the city, as well as an imported perception of Birmingham for those who didn’t already know what an awesome city it is.
What are you up to now?
I left Birmingham City Council in late Summer after almost 19 years with the Council, I have been fortunate to work on many amazing infrastructure projects in my home city, such as the Games, the redevelopments of New Street Station and Grand Central, the Perry Barr Residential Scheme, Paradise and HS2.
In early September I Joined Sanctuary, one of the UK’s leading housing and care providers. My new role, as Head of Land for the West Midlands will see me working to identify opportunities to drive the delivery of housing and care provision to support the growing needs and demands for more housing across the region.