A NEW employee has been taken on by a team which helps Halesowen businesses - and he's set to become a familiar face around town.

Rob Eades has started work as an ambassador for Halesowen's Business Improvement District (BID) team and will patrol the area on a daily basis.

The 47-year-old, who used to work as a security guard at Halesowen College, will identify and report issues such as graffiti, homelessness and will work closely with Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) on issues affecting the community.

Rob, who lives in Dudley, joins BID manager Vicky Rogers, as the team's second employee. He will work 30 hours a week.

Vicky said: "Rob’s role is to be the eyes and ears of the BID community, to meet and greet with the local businesses as well as be a welcome face to those people visiting Halesowen town centre.

"He will report issues across the town such as graffiti, homelessness and other council-related issues.

"He will also spend time engaging with local businesses to help to build a relationship between the BID team and the levy payers.

"Rob will also work with the local PCSOs to assist with community issues.

"He will be an asset to the team and having a face of the BID out in the community throughout each day will help to increase public confidence in Halesowen BID and the town centre in general."

Vicky, who works full-time for the BID, said there are no plans for it to take on any other employees.

Business Improvement Districts are created through a ballot process to deliver additional services to local businesses. Each business across the BID area has to pay a 1.25 per cent levy towards BID work which aims to attract interest and investment to the town.