We are at the dawn of the 2020’s and never have I been in a city at a time where there is such a progressive pace of change and renaissance of identity – as a youthful, next-gen, vibrant, innovation dynamo.
Birmingham's renaissance
I’m in and amongst it. The idea generation and start-up scene is infectious, the crane count towering, the conversations in coffee shops and board rooms, universities and innovation centres energised, inspiring, deep thinking and collaborative. With economic growth of 3.2% year on year it is outstripping the UK national average of 1.5% and believe me, we are only at the beginning of what Andy Street and city business leaders call Greater Birmingham’s innovation renaissance. It will be pump-primed with showcases such as Coventry’s city of culture in 2021 and the Commonwealth Games in 2022 being targeted as milestones for showcasing innovation in the city to the world.
There are certainly strong numbers to support this, amongst them from City-REDI’s Birmingham Economic Review, headed by University of Birmingham’s Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor, Simon Collison, which gives us confidence that this is not short lived, but has energy, legs, momentum and youth on its side. The city has the;
youngest population in the UK (c.40% under 25)
largest numbers of start-ups outside London (over 17,000 in 2016)
most diverse population in the UK (c.40% non white)
highest levels of inward investment outside of London
highest levels of productivity outside of London
fastest growth rates in skills
Over 14,000 digital businesses (largest centre outside London) and growing with a GVA projection to £7.9bn during the 2020’s
The stats are impressive and I am definitely experiencing an energy, dynamism and pace of change – and in areas outside the stereotypical advanced manufacturing, rail tech, automotive, aerospace and robotics that the region is historically badged with. The region is at the forefront of the UK’s 5G roll out and pushing industry ambition and imagination hard for the applications of the technology which will go hand in hand with AI and machine learning to create new societal possibilities. The region’s digital and creative tech scene, autonomous vehicles, nano tech, battery and clean energy tech, AI and next-gen services entrepreneurs are hugely innovation active creating collaborative and innovation generating vehicles – pushing innovation, long missing from professional services. Not only this, but the city’s academic institutions continue to lead the charge with world class research in medical and life science arenas.
Entrepreneur Yiannis Maos, is one such example. His energy is infectious, his pioneering impatience for progress, refreshing. In three months he pulled together Birmingham Tech Week, not just as a one off fad, but with a vision to build a technology ecosystem legacy. He can see the richness of tech innovators across the city, silicon canal and silicon spa and understands the strength of building innovation communities rather than leaving us all stuck in our own sheds inventing new kit alone. There is a groundswell of professionals and great minds pulling together across the city to build these innovation and business ecosystems that are often absent in our vertical silos and ivory towers. They see that innovation breeds innovation which breeds strength and opportunity.
In the region we are falling over ourselves with pioneering academic and innovation centres, in addition to strong international business brands who are increasingly pulling together. Universities in Birmingham, Aston, Birmingham City, plus those in the corridors of Warwick, Coventry and Wolverhampton – are bringing world class technological and societal thinking in AI, digital, battery tech, nano tech, autonomous vehicles, advanced manufacturing, robotics, clean energy, medical and life sciences. Innovation communities and centres are aplenty and growing in number including Birmingham Research Park, Silicon Canal, Silicon Spa, Innovation Birmingham, Velocity Fintech, WM5G, Smart City Commission, Institute of Translational Medicine, Longbridge Technology Park, Advanced Manufacture Technology Centre, Productiv, Midlands Innovation, Digbeth’s digi scene, Tyseley Energy Park, Birmingham Energy Institute and BCU’s STEAMhouse. The likes of Barclays’ EagleLabs and the high growth and tech support of our financial institutions stimulate and harvest entrepreneurial growth. With much more to come including University of Birmingham’s Life Science Park, Exchange and Digital Systems Innovation Centre, the Paradise square development, Warwick’s Fintech centre and Coventry’s UK Battery Industrialisation Centre. There is a wall of investment actively flowing into tech, science and innovation infrastructure with more planned. You will also see fresh innovation squares and quarters springing up across the region over the coming years.
What sets Birmingham apart from other cities? What is creating this dynamic approach to innovation over and above just great ideas? Birmingham has a reputation of being a welcoming, supportive and connected city. Its people are easy to reach and do business with; we are naturally inclusive, respectful and actively seek all views and opinions and are vocal in warmly welcoming the best people (their ideas and their cultures) from all over the world with open arms. It is also no accident that I mention Birmingham as being the youngest and most diverse city with some of the UK’s most vibrant neighbourhoods in Digbeth (voted Coolest Neighbourhood in Britain by the Sunday Times), Kings Heath, Moseley and Stirchley and others snapping at their heels. The DNA of the city is stretching inventive thinking in more dimensions than I’ve seen elsewhere.
Not only are we thinking about the technological impacts and commercial opportunities, but for years I have been in sessions with our anchor business institutions thinking deeply about the responsible societal impacts of innovation, change and Industry 4.0. Our business leaders have this front of mind and are active in building responsible change. Lloyds Bank created the Centre for Responsible Business at the University of Birmingham who have built its principles into the fabric of the Business School, research and teaching. I speak with businesses daily who are actively living, breathing and building into their infrastructure responsible business practices as a necessary given. They speak about longevity and the move to the new sustainable economics of the 21st century. And it isn’t only certain individuals banging drums, our anchor businesses across Colmore Business District and the city come together and turn this narrative into action. As an example, WMCA, Gowling, BITC and the business community are “designing out homelessness” creating a toolkit of practical actions that staff and the business community can carry out now to help our rough sleeping community and bridge the system that has failed them and threatens our vulnerable tens of thousands. As leading economist Professor John Bryson of City REDI proposes “a responsible approach will balance present with future needs and outcomes” and “an inclusive approach will create a safer and more prosperous city”. This is becoming increasingly “just the way we do business around here” in Birmingham.
There is a strong sense of impatience for change. Entrepreneurs in the city are getting on with it and finding new ways to get ahead hand in hand with the city’s vision. There’s a strong pride in linking innovation with place, creating the new Birmingham of the 21st century. Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE DL of Cobra calls Birmingham’s entrepreneurs “humbitious” – a mixture of great ambition alongside a humble, collaborative and respectful nature.
This isn’t just a flash in the pan or a happy set of circumstances. What gives this movement legs is it’s youth, diversity, energy , enviable academics and universities, a honeypot of dependent tech, emerging supportive ecosystems, rich responsible innovation and 21st century sustainable economics culture, fast emerging talent, growing levels of entrepreneurship and innovation.
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