The Jewellery Quarter Business Improvement District (JQBID) has launched a new  website to give customers access to Birmingham Jewellery Quarter businesses during England’s second lockdown.

Discover JQ lets customers connect with local businesses via a search-based system.

Customers can also leave reviews, watch videos and message their favourite local company directly.

The JQBID’s work involves supporting local businesses. It fought to secure government grants for local business owners during the UK’s first lockdown.

It also organised an online festival that showcased the best of the Jewellery Quarter in a virtual format.

Steve Lovell, marketing and communications manager for the JQBID, hopes that the new site will help promote ‘online footfall’.

He said: “Local businesses need the support of customers more than ever.

“The Jewellery Quarter is the home of Birmingham’s independents and without people supporting these businesses online over periods of lockdown, many of them will sadly not be here into the new year.

“I hope that people can shift their buying behaviour online over the next few weeks and months.

“The Discover JQ platform will help connect customers to local independents all in one place.

“It can become the tool we use to either shop online or plan our next visit once it’s safe again to do so.”