Birmingham hospitality centre boss wins 2024 ‘Woman of the Year’ award  

The manager of one of Birmingham city centre’s best-known hospitality centres has been announced as Southside Woman of the Year 2024.

Jo Kinsella, centre manager of The Arcadian, won the award for her leadership, dedicated commitment and hard work establishing the Southside Safe Space.

The Safe Space is a dedicated resource staffed by trained paramedics from Saint John’s Ambulance based in The Arcadian which offers help and support to anyone needing it during a night out at the weekend.

Julia Robinson, manager of the Southside Business Improvement District (BID), explained how the Safe Space had helped more than 5,000 people since it was jointly launched by the BID and LCP Management Ltd in 2019.

Mrs Robinson said: “The Safe Space is staffed by paramedics from St John Ambulance and offers help and support to people who need it from midnight until 5am every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

“This has been an incredible success thanks largely to the impressive leadership and unswerving support shown by Jo Kinsella throughout the last five years.

“Jo’s commitment to Safe Space means that the service is welcomed every weekend and that all the staff across The Arcadian know exactly where to guide anyone who is feeling unwell, upset or threatened in any way.

“The fact that more than 5,000 people have benefited from its presence is due to the consistent commitment shown by Jo, and this longstanding dedication was judged to be worthy of this year’s Southside Woman of the Year award.”

Jo Kinsella received her trophy from Kin Bong Lam (pictured) Chairman of the Birmingham Chinatown Business Association, which sponsored the award when it was launched for the very first time in 2024 on International Woman’s Day.  The Southside Woman of the Year Award 2024 also includes more than £1,000 worth of prizes from local businesses. 

Jo has managed the day-to-day running of The Arcadian since 2017, the base for 10 restaurants, seven bars, two coffee shops, two hotels, a comedy club and 15 other outlets.

The centre is owned and managed by LCP – one of the UK’s largest private owners of retail, industrial and office property.

Before joining The Arcadian, Jo was facilities manager for 11 years at South and City College, one of the largest further education colleges in Birmingham. She was previously a licensee and a contract catering manager.

Words by Julia Robinson, Images by Gary Lindsay Moore.