Invest Midlands 

The University of Birmingham is proud to be a partner of Invest Midlands for an online event, run by TheBusinessDesk.com on Wednesday 26 May 2021. 

The event will bring together decision makers and creative thinkers from across the Midlands to explore the Midlands' place in the world and provide insight, analysis and updates on the near and longer-term strategies as the region recovers from the pandemic and builds back towards a better future.

Professor Clive Roberts, Head of the School of Engineering, will join the panel for the session Connecting the Midlands: The Digital Roadmap which will discuss plans to transform digital infrastructure across the Midlands and to ensure the region has the skills to make the most of the technology.

Gurmit Kler, Director of Business Engagement, will join the panel for the session Racing towards the Commonwealth Games to discuss taking the opportunity that Birmingham 2022 will provide to showcase the city and wider region to the world.

As an anchor civic institution, we are keen to support businesses across the region and to highlight the opportunities that the Midlands provides for skills and talent as well as innovation across product, services and process. If you are interested in finding out more, please do get in touch: businessteam@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Skills and talent

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.

Innovation

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

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. 

Birmingham Health Innovation Campus

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. 

Regional Anchor Institution 

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.

Corporate Social Responsibility 

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