Invest Midlands 

Our education programmes offer the highest quality learning experience, so that our students are ready, resilient and effective in the working world. We are constantly engaging with all sizes and sectors of business to support this, providing integrated education and career development programmes.

Activities include: events and presentations from business, business-led challenges, mentoring, internships and placements, careers fairs, skills sessions and application workshops. Our reskilling and education programmes, such as Degree Apprenticeships, Executive MBAs and other Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes are in continual development with businesses to ensure we bridge the gaps around data science and digital skills. At C-Suite level, The Birmingham Leadership Institute allows leaders and chief executives to come together to work on system leadership challenges and on their own personal and professional development.

We have created an effective innovation ecosystem, both with and for business. Working effectively with all types of industry sectors and all sizes of businesses, we enable the most impactful social and economic change by delivering innovative products and services and supporting improvements to how businesses work.

We have a vast wealth of expertise at the University, often in collaboration with business that can contribute to sustainability goals. For example, we are tackling global emissions through transport technology, and with Porterbrook, we have recently tested HydroFLEX, the first UK hydrogen-powered train that emits nothing but steam, on mainline UK railways. Our Business School is a key contributor to the responsible business agenda, focusing on areas like sustainability, inclusive workplaces and leadership. 

Alongside our research collaboration activities, there are a number of other business services we offer, such as academic consultancy, spinouts, Intellectual Property (IP) and licensing and business incubation. We help solve problems in the here and now, such as decarbonised technologies for cold energy, making public transport greener, or delivering fundamental research that will boost recycling technologies.

We also offer leading-edge technical and lab facilities with experts on hand offering support, problem-solving and help with product development. 

Tyseley Energy Park will support the delivery of low-carbon heat and transport. With heat accounting for 40% of energy usage – a third of the CO2 emissions in the UK – we’re working with policy-makers to develop practical solutions to convert the UK’s housing stock to low-carbon heating and high-spec thermal insulation in under 20 years. It is also the base of our Birmingham Energy Innovation Centre for innovation in waste, energy and low-carbon vehicle systems across the West Midlands, working with businesses of all sizes. 

The Birmingham Health Innovation Campus will accelerate healthcare innovation and economic growth, centred on a shared mission to transform the health of all citizens, in Birmingham and beyond. Due to open in 2023, it will offer high-quality laboratory, office, incubation and innovation facilities for forward-thinking businesses in the healthcare and life sciences space and will be part of an integrated, physically connected critical cluster of patient-centred health excellence. 

We want to strengthen the positive perceptions of the Midlands, dispelling the myths and showing the region to be rich in culture, innovation, entrepreneurship and business opportunities. Working with other key stakeholders across the region such as regional and national government bodies, The Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, the CBI, the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), other education providers and business, we want to ensure the region and its people benefit as much as possible from the investment opportunities, the business scale-up and through showcasing the innovation, skills and talents  in the West Midlands.

The University of Birmingham can help businesses fulfil their CSR strategies and ambitions through its shared commitment to civic engagement and providing  opportunities for all. Corporate scholarship programmes and bursaries can  help businesses to support and recruit young and diverse talent. We design educational programmes that address skills gaps and ensure diversity and inclusion is represented. We can provide strategic philanthropic and research opportunities to collaborate and help tackle some of society’s biggest challenges. Our sector-leading outreach, mentoring and support programmes provide businesses with tangible and meaningful volunteering opportunities to support the next generation of talent, whilst improving staff morale and skills