Business Birmingham - Making Business Happen by West Midlands Growth Company

Birmingham

Making Business Happen

RANKED TOP UK REGIONAL CITY FOR QUALITY OF LIFE (MERCER LIVING INDEX)

GVA

POPULATION

FDI JOBS CREATED THAN ANY OTHER REGIONAL

16,300 IN VISITOR

HOME TO SOME 1,200 INTERNATIONAL FIRMS

BIRMINGHAM’S

REGIONAL ECONOMY FDI

DESTINATION OF THE FUTURE

NUMBERS IN

THE LAST EIGHT

YEARS TO

33.8 MILLION

MILLION

REGIONAL

£35.5 BILLION

TWO

OVER 16,300 NEW START-UPS IN THE REGION

2013 (FDI AWARDS)

950,000 PEOPLE OF WORKING AGE WITH A DEGREE OR HIGHER DEGREE REGIONALLY

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The

home

business

Home to world-class companies, R&D facilities, innovative entrepreneurs, renowned universities and one of the youngest populations in Europe, Birmingham is a dynamic, thriving, business-focussed city.

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Well connected and centrally located in the UK, Birmingham provides the scale and size to service the largest of business functions, coupled with a highly skilled and emerging talent pool.

A city transformed The city was the birthplace of the industrial revolution and continues to be the engine room of the UK economy. An area of outstanding natural talent. Excitingly, the city has one of the most ambitious plans for growth and investment in the UK and Birmingham’s vision will transform the city for generations to come. Our Economic Zones – led by the City Centre Enterprise Zone – provide investors with unrivalled specialist facilities, incentive packages and invaluable support.

A new revolution Birmingham is synonymous with world-leading manufacturing, but in more recent times has become a pioneer of a new

revolution, based around life sciences, digital and media industries and the environmental technologies sector.

Reaching further afield Moreover, the world is coming closer to Birmingham. National infrastructure projects include the HS2 High Speed Rail link to London, the £600 million redevelopment of New Street station and Birmingham Airport's £65 million runway extension, which will open up direct flight routes to China, South Africa, South America and West Coast USA.

Business Birmingham is the city’s inward investment programme, the link to establishing or growing a company’s presence in the city. We are the access point to Birmingham’s business networks and to the numerous benefits from the city’s strong enterprise culture. We strive to work with investing companies as a strategic partner to create relevant business solutions.

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I D E A L LY P L A C E D T O HE L P BUSINESS s u cc e e d Birmingham city centre is ideally placed for business with exceptional connections to local, national and global networks. It is at the heart of the UK’s road and rail infrastructure and its own international airport with direct flights to cities in Europe, North America and Asia, handling 9.1 million passengers a year. Birmingham Airport Runway Extension The new £65 million runway extension at Birmingham Airport will increase Greater Birmingham’s capacity and reach as a global gateway. The new development will increase international networks and boost passenger numbers to 18 million. It will build on the existing portfolio of over 140 direct connections to both established markets, such as North America and Europe, as well as growth markets, including China, India, Dubai and South America. The Airport master plan called ‘Towards 2030: Planning a Sustainable Future for Air Transport in the Midlands’ sets a framework for sustainable development and illustrates how the airport intends to meet increased regional and national demand for air travel.

New Street Station Birmingham’s New Street station is currently undergoing a £600 million redevelopment which will see its annual passenger capacity of 52 million a year increase and transform the centre of the nation’s rail network into a spectacular 21st century transport hub.

This ‘Birmingham Gateway’ redevelopment will bring an estimated £200 million of private sector investment into Birmingham and the West Midlands, and increase further the competitiveness of the region’s tourism sector.

Metro Extension The extension of the Midland Metro into the heart of the city and New Street station will revolutionise the way people travel to and around the city. It will provide a fast link between Birmingham’s two major rail stations and deliver 3.5 million passengers a year right into the heart of the city’s shopping district. The extension is part of the city’s ‘Vision for Movement’, which lays the foundations for a comprehensive network of rapid transit, bus, rail, cycling and walking routes to underpin Birmingham’s economic regeneration.

£65 million

runway extension to Birmingham Airport

90%

of the UK market is within a four hour drive

THE WORLD CONNECTS WITH US Over 140 direct schedule and chartered routes from Birmingham airport

to Manchester & Scotland

4.3 million working age people within an hourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drive

Glasgow

Edinburgh

Belfast

Manchester: 40 minutes

Dublin

Birmingham Cardiff

London

M54

M6 TOLL

I N

Leeds: 55 minutes M42

Heart of the UK motorway network

to Leeds

M1 to London Snow Hill Moor Street New Street

M6 BHX

Birmingham International

Birmingham

Proposed HS2 Route M42

to Wales & Bristol

M40

ÂŁ17bn High Speed rail link is set for completion in 2027 and will give access to London in under 40 minutes

London: 45 minutes

to London & South East

Only 75 minute travel time to London

ING

Y ’ S

N A T ION A L A N D G L OB A L R E P U T A T ION

Reaching out to the world

A major player

With our overseas presence in North America, India, Germany, Australia and China, we now have one of the most expansive international reaches of any city in the UK. As our economic zones and city centre enterprise zone develop, momentum will continue to build amongst investors, developers, supply chains and occupiers.

More than ever, investors are increasingly considering alternatives to London and being seduced by the Greater Birmingham region. Excellent links and connectivity aside, it is the combination of a high quality, highly energised workforce and cost efficiencies that are catching the eyes of major players like Deutsche Bank, ASOS and DHL.

A compelling offer Fostering good relationships with investors and their advisers continues to be key. Our team partner with the local business community in order to introduce investors to Birmingham’s compelling offer. With significant centres of excellence in areas such as HR, law and financial services, the impetus in our niche sectors such as e-commerce and social media are gaining the city national and international plaudits.

Our Business Catalyst programme helps many new businesses to set up and expand by reducing the associated risks. It offers attractive incentives such as rent-free periods, free and discounted space, subsidised recruitment costs, PR support, legal, banking and accountancy advice.

“

In the spirit of localism, Comux sought the most opportune geography, connectivity and highly skilled workforce in the UK when looking for a location for its HQ. Through Innovation Birmingham Campus’ management, we found a flexible, affordable and really straightforward solution. Clare Bramley Chief Operations Officer, Comux UK

“

We have found Brindleyplace to be an extremely exciting business location with world class services. Its mix of professional services tenants and associated companies has created a natural micro-hub for the financial services sector and we believe that we could not get a better location in which to extend our significant presence in Birmingham.

“

The city’s global reputation is also growing in life sciences and digital media, seeing more investment channels continuing to open up.

Christopher Pike Business Location International

“

We’ve delivered on our promises, making things happen in the city, in the region and increasingly overseas:

“

The effect upon my perception of Birmingham was a complete transformation. You struck the overall balance between resources, infrastructure and lifestyle remarkably well.

“

Business Birmingham has been a key force in attracting inward investment into the city, both nationally and internationally. Building strong relationships with investors has been our priority and the results are plain to see: we have helped deliver over 7,000 new jobs in the past 3 years, driven more projects and initiatives than ever before as well as achieving record levels of capital investment into the city.

Richard McCarthy Managing Director, Deutsche Bank Birmingham

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TOP 5

NO.1 UK REGION

FOR JOB CREATION

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FOR FDI STRATEGY AND OVERALL LARGE CITY OF THE FUTURE

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(FDI’S EUROPEAN CITIES AND REGIONS OF THE FUTURE SURVEY)

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TOP 100 GLOBAL CITIES TO INVEST (IBM 2012)

Young, TALENTED and skilled ■■

■■

THE UK’S MOST

ENTREPRENEURIAL REGION (START-UP BRITAIN)

BEST TO INVEST FOR WESTERN EUROPEAN CITIES SITE SELECTION 2012

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Birmingham already has one of the highest quality workforces in Europe (fDi intelligence) The most diverse region outside of the capital with the highest number of language students anywhere in the UK Youngest population of any major European city irmingham’s five universities make it the largest B centre of higher education and academic research in the UK outside London

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SIX

ir m i n

Economic Zones

B M6

The Food Hub

A38 M6

A34

Advanced Manufacturing Hub M5

The Enterprise Zone

A38

Life Sciences Campus

Environmental Enterprise District

A41

A45

Birmingham Airport & NEC

A38

Longbridge ITEC Zone

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i bus inessbirm

EN T E R P R ISE Birmingham’s Economic Zones Birmingham’s advantages as a world-class city - its central position, connectivity and access to a substantial labour force - make it a location of choice for business, be it local, national or international. It is a city that makes things happen and is supported by major developers and investors as well as internationally renowned academic and research organisations. However, in changing economic times it is essential for the city to focus on the areas in which it offers a competitive advantage. Developing clusters of high-growth sectors is part of the City Council’s strategy for economic growth. Within the region, six strategically important geographic areas have been identified as Economic Zones. Each one provides an exciting and bespoke business offer to accelerate development and support businesses as they start up or move into the city. Each Economic Zone can offer businesses simplified planning, access to finance, gap funding, business development programmes and tailored training and recruitment packages.

Advanced Manufacturing Hub – Aston The Hub will provide opportunities for investors in the automotive supply chain, aerospace industry and associated advanced manufacturing activity. It is situated at the centre of the UK motorway network, in close

AND

ENE R G Y

proximity to Jaguar Land Rover, and has the potential for 100,000sqm of new floor space and the capacity to accommodate up to 3,000 jobs. A £15 million public sector investment has already been secured for site assembly and access improvements.

Birmingham City Centre – Enterprise Zone Within the heart of the city, 26 sites make up the City Centre Enterprise Zone (EZ) – the most ambitious Enterprise Zone in the UK. Focusing on key sectorial strengths, including professional and financial services, digital media, ICT and the creative industries, the Big City Plan ensures the EZ will drive forward delivery of a truly world-class business and cultural centre building on the strengths of the city centre as an already successful economic engine for the region. The development opportunities in the EZ will be supported by a major investment programme. By retaining the uplift in business rate income, Birmingham has already raised £125 million towards a further programme of investment that will transform its infrastructure, develop new commercial and office space, boost skills and training, and enhance digital connections. A range of incentives are also on offer for investors and businesses, including rates relief, simplified planning, digital infrastructure, business support and investment.

Environmental Enterprise District – Tyseley To exploit the growth in resource recovery, energy production and low carbon technologies, Tyseley has been designated as the city’s Environmental Enterprise District. An employment site will promote the creation of new environmental business parks at Tyseley Wharf and Energy Way, fostering environmental technologies symbiosis through work with academic institutions and exploiting green opportunities through the Energy Recovery Facility.

Life Sciences Campus – Selly Oak The Life Sciences campus will become the principal location nationally for key elements of the Life Sciences sector. Located adjacent to two of the city’s world-renowned institutions – the University of Birmingham (with the UK’s second largest medical school) and the brand new Queen Elizabeth Hospital it will be a bespoke facility promoting medical technology and healthcare companies, bringing high value jobs into the city. The campus will be configurable to provide a range of solutions for Life Sciences businesses, from wet labs and data houses to manufacturing and support services. The recent opening of the National Institute for Health Research and launch of the new Centre for Translational Inflammation Research illustrates the region’s commitment to and investment in this thriving sector.

Food Hub – Former IMI Site, Aston The food and drink sector is a significant economic driver within the city and the opportunity exists to form a cluster of food processing, manufacturing and distribution businesses as a Food Hub. With unparalleled motorway links nearby, the site provides the perfect location for this concentration of like-minded businesses. The Food Hub will also afford the opportunity to combine manufacturing, R&D and distribution in a location attractive to companies seeking serviced plots for bespoke development.

ITEC Zone – Longbridge The ITEC Zone lies at the heart of one of the largest urban regeneration programmes in the country at Longbridge, Birmingham. The Zone has the potential to provide for businesses requiring large floorplate buildings with high spec fittings, set in a town centre location with excellent accessibility. It is particularly suited to companies in the IT sector including Software products, IT services, Business process outsourcing, Cloud computing, Data mining and e-commerce.

HE L P IN G

IRMINGHAM

C OM P A NIES

THRIVE

By working as a strategic partner and consultant with local, national and global businesses, we can provide relevant intelligence and a comprehensive package of support services. Companies will have direct access to an extensive network of skills, knowledge and assistance. Business Catalyst Most cities will give potential investors an hour with a lawyer, maybe even two. We’re a little more ambitious as we understand the support needed to get businesses operating successfully. We are supported by over 100 private sector companies who help to promote the city on a global scale. Working with some of our partners to go above and beyond basic support, we have formulated a ‘market-entry package’ with specific subsidised rates that can be tailored to individual needs. Each partner brings different skills and support for a business, but will fall into one of the four categories of people, property, process and profile. People – Local labour pool analysis, bespoke recruitment & apprenticeship solutions Property – Property and incubator space – short-term accommodation and support for future plans Process – Business services including legal advice, project management and other professional services for business establishment Profile – Profile raising opportunities such as PR announcements, sales and marketing workshops and promotional opportunities such as networking events for client interaction

A range of incentives are on offer for businesses including rates relief, simplified planning, digital infrastructure, business support and investment in infrastructure.

SME Fast Track

Once the programme has been completed, businesses will be eligible to move forward onto one of our aligned projects, delivered through Winning Moves, which offers growing organisations further business support and the possibility of matchfunded grants of up to £10,000.

SME Fast Track is available for small to medium enterprises operating within areas of Birmingham and the Black Country. We’ve teamed up with two leading private partners that have decades of expertise within business development; Winning Moves and Winning Pitch. SME Fast Track consists of three simple stages, which will have an immediate impact: 1. Specialist business advice We begin with a diagnostic session where a business expert analyses a company’s current situation and helps focus on tangible and realistic targets for the future. 2. High impact workshops To achieve these targets, workshops are held across a number of areas, covering marketing and communications, access to new markets, sales techniques and access to finance. 3. Opportunities to attend trade shows Companies will be invited to any relevant events to meet new customers to help grow order books.

Get in Touch T: +44 (0)121 202 5022 E: invest@marketingbirmingham.com W: businessbirmingham.com/catalyst business_bham BusinessBirmingham Reference ‘Invest Birmingham’

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Plan We’ll help create a convincing business case for setting up in our region. Our planning support includes: ■■

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Mediating between a business and local or central government (e.g. skills needs, planning and environmental considerations and access to incentives and grants) Providing intelligence through up-to-date information, data and research for the specific sector in which a business is active

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Providing familiarisation tours to help make the most of Birmingham’s offer

Relocation and property advice – whether a move to new or expansion of existing premises, we can help. We know the real estate market in the Birmingham area. We’ll help with the right connections and first steps in the city

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Connecting businesses with networks, sector support agencies and media contacts Refinement of property planning – distilling down through design and build requirements. We can also find turnkey solutions

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Our approach is long-term and aimed at supporting inward investing companies to grow further

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Funding signposts to the right sources of business and property finance (grants, loans or equity) both government and private provision

Staffing support through help in attracting the right staff, with the right skills. We help by bringing companies into contact with the right people Relocation support for existing staff with help in the transition – providing information on housing, schooling, healthcare and more

GROW We are committed to supporting inward investors once they are based in the city.

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Legislation and tax advice tailored to a company’s situation and requirements

SET-UP Our set-up support includes:

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Ensuring investors quickly become hard – wired into the local business community Continuing to identify and facilitate commercial introductions and opportunities

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Our services are independent and free of charge

Food

and

Drink

Food and drink brands recognised the world over call the West Midlands home. A long history of food and drink production has built a tried and tested infrastructure. Moreover, because of its unique geography, Birmingham has a first-class logistical network.

£14

Billion

Birmingham’s Food & Drink sector turnover

2,000 Food & drink companies in the region

Centre of the UK’s food and drink distribution network

C A S E S T U D Y

C ad b u ry Cadbury, now part of Mondelez International, is one of the world’s most iconic brands, having been established almost 200 years ago in Birmingham. Founded by John Cadbury, who opened a shop in Bull Street in 1824 selling tea, coffee and cocoa, the manufacturing business was subsequently born in 1831 when he began producing cocoa in a factory in nearby Crooked Lane. Having created the business, he passed it on to his sons George and Richard who, in 1879, created the model factory and village of Bournville four miles from the crowded city centre.

The rest, as they say, is history. Bournville continues to be a major manufacturing site, producing more than 300 million bars of Cadbury Dairy Milk each year as well as 350 million Creme Eggs. Cadbury houses its Global Centre of Excellence for chocolate at Bournville, as part of a £17 million investment in R&D in the UK. Mondelez International chose Bournville to take advantage of the wealth of talent and skills available; creating a ‘Centre of Excellence’ that includes new innovation laboratories, a test plant facility and a collaboration kitchen.

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59,000

C A S E S T U D Y

Ea s t E n d

As demand grew, they moved to two further sites in the area, before moving to Birmingham in the 70’s, setting up in Highgate

Of all spices JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION nationally are imported to #whybham Birmingham

After the closure of the old HP Sauce site in 2007 in Aston, Birmingham, East End Foods purchased it and built a new cash and carry facility.

#borninbrum

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Today with the product range containing a massive 1,250 lines, East End Foods not only caters for Birmingham’s diverse ethnic population, but is now one of the largest importers of ethnic foods in the UK.

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#borninbrum

#whybham SME FO C #borninbrum US

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With the surge of immigration in the 50’s and 60’s, the enterprising Wouhra brothers spotted a gap in the market with the growing demand and lack of availability for ethnic foods. They opened a small store in Wolverhampton in the Black Country stocking raw ingredients and dried goods.

supplying independent retailers, family owned stores and a growing number of Indian restaurants.

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Established in the West Midlands in 1972, East End Foods Plc has grown into one of the UK’s leading Asian food specialists with an annual turnover in excess of £180 million.

Employees in the region

Foods

16%

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Perfection Foods is a family firm founded in the Black Country in 2000 and has quickly become one of the UK’s leading manufacturers and exporters of high-quality cakes. It employs around 45 staff to bake, hand-decorate and deliver more than a quarter of a million cakes a year across Europe.

A dva n c e d Ma n u f act u r i n g The birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, advanced engineering generates over £12 billion for our region’s economy. Already leaders in the Automotive and Aerospace sectors, we are rapidly building a profile in the Low Carbon and Renewables sector.

C A S E S T U D Y

JLR Jaguar Land Rover is the largest manufacturer of premium vehicles in the UK and employs over 25,000 people in the UK and 1,000 more globally. It supports 190,000 people through the supply chain, dealer network and wider economy. Jaguar Land Rover sells vehicles in almost 180 markets globally with 80% of production exported from the UK. The company has embarked on its most ambitious product creation programme ever, supported by £2.75 billion investment in product and facilities.

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People employed in manufacturing

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280,000

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Jaguar Land Rover supports two advanced manufacturing plants in Birmingham: Solihull and Castle Bromwich. The company is investing £1.5 billion in all-new technically-advanced aluminium vehicle architecture in future models. This will create 1,700 new jobs at Solihull. Castle Bromwich boasts some of the most advanced aluminium body construction facilities in the world. Jaguar Land Rover has made a significant investment in the plant to prepare for the launch of the all-new Jaguar F-TYPE Coupe range in spring 2014.

£12 billion

generated Regionally by manufacturing & engineering

C A S E S T U D Y

Shanghai Automotive SAIC Motor Corporation Limited is a Chinese owned automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Shanghai, with multinational operations. One of the ‘Big Four’ Chinese automakers, the company has the largest production volume of any Chinese automaker producing more than 5.1 million units, an increase of 13.71% on 2012 sales; the first Chinese automotive manufacturer to exceed five million units in a year. Following the acquisition of the world-famous MG marque by SAIC in 2008, the UK division, SMTC UK relocated to Longbridge, Birmingham, as the region is home to a critical mass

West midlands share of UK automotive production

of engineering skills and expertise as well as MG Rover, an iconic British brand. After a multi-million pound investment in facilities and infrastructure at the site, SMTC UK now benefits from the close proximity and integration with its group manufacturing sister company MG Motor UK. A £5 million newly expanded Design Centre was also created and the studio, the fifth largest in Britain, carries out advanced design work for new models, including the new MG3. More than 400 people are employed at the MG Birmingham site where the new MG3 will roll off the assembly line later this year.

30%

SME

FO C US

adi Group, a specialist mechanical and electrical contractor started in Birmingham in 1990 with one member of staff and has now grown to over 350 employees.

B u s i n e s s P r o f e s s i o n al a n d F i n a n c i al S e rv i c e s Birmingham is a location of significant HQ and finance centres with the largest regional BPFS hub in the UK, bringing £23 billion (25% of GVA) into the region. The industry is at the core of our city, with 30% of Birmingham’s firms in this sector and over 300 company headquarters located here. Overall, Birmingham has over 15,000 BPFS companies.

D e u t s c h e Ba n k Deutsche Bank AG is a German global banking and financial services company with its headquarters in Frankfurt. It has more than 100,000 employees in over 70 countries, and has a large presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and the emerging markets.

Nearly

100,000

People EMPLOYED in the BPFS SECTOR

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Deutsche Bank opened their first office in Birmingham in late 2006, initially with 30 employees. Since that first investment they have

“Five Brindleyplace is an excellent building in an outstanding location on the estate and will be an aspirational place in which to work. Brindleyplace itself has a real sense of community and its connection to the main transport hubs enables us to both attract and retain the very best talent”. Richard McCarthy MD, Deutsche Bank, Birmingham

C A S E S T U D Y

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become the city’s largest foreign owned financial services company, employing over 1,000 staff in a range of roles in technology, support operations and increasingly front office functions The company has chosen to further expand in Birmingham having benefited from the talent, quality of life and potential to fuel growth globally.

OVER 15,000

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BPFS companies in Birmingham

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C A S E S T U D Y

DTZ DTZ’s history dates back to 1784 when the founding predecessor firm, Cheshire Gibson was established in Birmingham. Since then, the company has become a global leader in property services, providing occupiers and investors around the world with industry leading, end-to-end property solutions. Serving many of the world’s greatest companies, DTZ’s 47,000 people across 208 offices in 52 countries offer seamlessly integrated operations throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and the Americas. In mid 2013 DTZ chose to establish a new Financial Control EMEA Centre of Excellence in

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Colmore Square. The depth of accountancy talent in Birmingham, coupled with multi-lingual capabilities enabled the company to consolidate operations from across the UK, Germany, France and Poland.

SME

FO C US

Synapse set up its cloud computing business in Birmingham recently, creating a system that automates report production for small and large businesses. It is a highly secure system that saves companies both time and money.

I n f o r m at i o n t e c h n o l o gy, e l e ctr o n i c s & c o m m u n i cat i o n s C A S E S T U D Y

1,700 Companies in the sector

One of the largest tech clusters in the UK

V i rg i n

Media

Virgin Media provides TV, fibre-optic broadband, home phone and mobile services to businesses and consumers in the UK, and was formed in March 2006 by the merger of NTL and Telewest by Richard Bransonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Virgin brand. In early 2012 Virgin Media opened a 1,100 person strong regional HQ in East Birmingham. The operation hosts a customer experience centre of excellence and also provides marketing and business support functions as part of a major shared service centre. Creating a hub of opportunity in the region, the new site at Eagle Court is also home to Virgin Mediaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Apprentice Training Centre.

The centre runs an immensely popular programme giving apprentices the chance to get comprehensive training in digital home entertainment and telecommunications, whilst working towards a nationally recognised ICT qualification. Business Birmingham worked closely with Virgin Media over a twelve month period to deliver this project. The team assisted in benchmarking, talent acquisition and the relocation of staff along with local recruitment partners.

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The region provides exceptional technological infrastructure, a critical mass of skills and a steady supply flowing into the talent pool for creative agencies, games companies and global technology giants. Birmingham and its surrounding region offer a wealth of talent, experience and upcoming future stars in the crucially important, fast growing broad digital sector.

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C A S E S T U D Y

£18 billion

SCC SCC is an information technology solutions firm, servicing medium and largesized enterprises as well as public sector organisations. Set up in Birmingham by Sir Peter Rigby, Chairman of parent group Rigby Group PLC, the company has grown from an initial investment of £2,000 to become the 13th largest privately owned business in the UK.

Birmingham IS investing £18 billion into the sector

SCC has helped numerous clients get more for less from their IT investment, yet this is just one of the supporting services the company provides. It also maintains a philanthropic attitude, collecting for local food banks and aiding in the manual clean up of Birmingham’s canals as well as supporting carbon offset projects in Africa.

Profitable since 1975, SCC now has over 5,000 international employees in seven European countries and supports five million users. The company chose to grow its presence in the region because of the exceptional technological infrastructure, critical mass of skills and talent as well as the excellent road, rail and air links.

SME

FO C US

Elonex, established in 1986, provides the very latest electronic technology for government, business, retail, e-tail and tech hungry consumers. It has launched some of the world’s most exciting electronic products to a gadget hungry consumer base all around the world.

E n v i r o n m e n tal

Technologies

Birmingham is seeking to become one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading green cities. Already a leader in renewable energy - from low carbon fuels to waste management and bio-energy to solar photovoltaic - the city is paving the way as a sustainable, future-proof city. An integrated city transport system is taking shape and our universities produce world-class research, including bio-energy, hydrogen materials and future power systems.

C A S E S T U D Y

Veolia Veolia Environmental Services Birmingham Limited is a project company, set up in 1993 to manage the domestic waste arising from the city of Birmingham. The company has a 25-year integrated waste management contract with Birmingham City Council, to operate as its strategic partner to deal with waste arisings, maximise recycling and produce Energy Recovery.

Veolia chose Birmingham as a key location because of its Universities commitment to world-class research in areas such as bio-energy and future power systems. Tyseley itself has been designated an Environmental Enterprise District, promoting innovative environmental approaches, and the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s facility here fosters new technologies and academic partnerships.

In 1996 Veolia ES Birmingham built a stateof-the-art Energy Recovery Facility in Tyseley, East Birmingham, taking 350,000 tonnes of rubbish each year and converting it into electricity. This energy production is enough to power 41,000 local homes.

Veolia also assists Birmingham City Council in continuing to be one of the top-performing local authorities in terms of landfill avoidance and is targeting 40% recycling by 2026.

Arup is the world leading independent firm of designers, planners, engineers, consultants and technical specialists offering a broad range of professional services. Founded in 1946 with an initial focus on structural engineering, Arup first came to the world’s attention with the structural design of the Sydney Opera House, followed by its work on the Centre Pompidou in Paris and also the Birmingham M6 Toll Road. Arup’s campus in Solihull established in 2001 is home to 500 employees. Their campus is the result of Arup’s commitment to, and investment in, the West Midlands region

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ARUP

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nt al

C A S E S T U D Y

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since 1968. On site Arup have brought together a wide range of disciplines, encouraging employees to look beyond their own specialism to achieve their clients’ objectives. This unconventional approach to design originates, in part, from their own structure – the firm is owned in trust on behalf of its staff. The result is an independence of spirit that is reflected in their work, in their dedicated pursuit of technical excellence, and the lasting value they create for their clients. With over 50 nationalities the office is able to address the present and future challenges of clients from the markets of social infrastructure, industry and resources, property and transport.

SME

FO C US

Dotted Eyes is the latest digital innovator to enter the city with a move to Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. Dotted Eyes are a mapping company who help to deliver projects through data management, analysis, service redesign, performance and operational software as well as training.

D i g i tal M e d i a C A S E S T U D Y

A SOS

Digital media contributes over £18 million to the city

sin e

“

Pete Marsden Chief Information Officer for ASOS

£18M

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“

We’ve been welcomed with open arms and supported through every step by the Business Birmingham team, who we will continue to work with. Birmingham feels like a city that has some big plans and is on the cusp of big things. We wanted to get in there first.

ASOS chose Birmingham as its first location outside London in spring 2013, basing themselves in the Custard Factory, at the heart of Birmingham’s creative quarter. The company is one of the city’s most high profile investors and a symbol of a growing trend for e-commerce companies choosing the region to take advantage of one of the UK’s largest digital sector talent pools and a growing specialism in e-commerce across the city.

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ASOS is a global fashion destination for twentysomethings. Selling cuttingedge ‘fast fashion’ and offering a wide variety of fashion-related content, the company’s website ASOS.com has become the hub of a thriving fashion community. It attracts 21.3 million unique visitors a month and has 13.2 million registered users. Retail sales are up 37% year on year, resulting in first half retail sales growth of 34% to £352 million.

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Hotbeds of digital talent reside within our clusters at Fazeley Studios, the Custard Factory and the Jewellery Quarter. An installation of nextgeneration super-fast broadband has made Digbeth a real focus for creative and digital industries.

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C A S E S T U D Y

BB C its diverse talent pool, vibrant young audiences and strong arts scene.

SME

FO C US

Droplet is a new mobile app developed in the heart of the city that revolutionises the way people pay online. It is the company’s vision to create a more convenient, equitable way for people to deal with their money.

The offices will be situated in the Mailbox soon to become one of the UK’s most technologically advanced developments.

£23.5M

Additional activity to the city over a three-year period

80 new

jobs

“

I want to make Birmingham a really exciting and important part of what we do. This is just the start but make no mistake, if you’re interested in new skills and digital innovation, this is the place to be. Tony Hall BBC Director General

“

Birmingham is home to the BBC’s new digital innovation hub. A centre of excellence that will look to use cutting edge technology to tell stories differently and produce content in a whole new way. This is part of the BBC’s wider strategy to engage younger, more diverse audiences and a testament to Birmingham’s growing reputation for cutting edge digital work,

Life

Sc i e n c e s

The city is a powerhouse for the Life Sciences industry, combining extensive R&D facilities, strong collaboration between academia and business and one of Europe’s largest, most diverse and non-transient patient populations. Birmingham is moving to the cutting edge of global healthcare at an extraordinary rate and offers the Life Sciences sector everything it needs to grow.

C A S E S T U D Y

Binding Binding Site is a specialist protein company committed to the research, development, manufacture and distribution of innovative, immunodiagnostic assays for the global laboratory market. For over 25 years now, the business has specialised in producing highly sensitive and specific antibodies used for the detection of certain cancers and serious disorders. In 2011, Binding Site relocated to new headquarters in Birmingham city centre, having had its roots at the University in the 1970s. The company has achieved double-digit growth for many years and rehoused

Professor Nicholas Barnes CEO, Celentyx

“

Celentyx’s unique selling point is the strength of our research, so the location of the business and consequently the relationship with the hospital and the University of Birmingham is extremely important.

Over 500

Medical technology companies

Site 380 UK-based employees into a new six storey sustainable building. The company has opted to stay in the region not just because of its strong academic links with the University of Birmingham, but access to a multi-cultural population mix as well as excellent transport links. Furthermore, the city is now attracting highly skilled workers into the region and believes that other initiatives such as the ITM, Edgbaston Medical Quarter and Innovation Birmingham will all serve to create a nucleus that attracts even more outstanding talent.

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C A S E S T U D Y

As a central meeting point and working hub, it will allow clinicians, academics, patient groups and industry to maximise their interaction and develop productive collaborative networks. It will facilitate the rapid

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assessment of cost-effective new drugs and medical devices to rapidly bring them to market and frontline use within clinical settings.

Summer 2015 will see the opening of Birminghamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Institute of Translational Medicine (ITM). Located at the heart of Birminghamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health and Life Sciences quarter the ITM will be a world class facility that capitalises on Birmingham being one of the few centres internationally that can provide a bespoke multidisciplinary translational environment for development and delivery of clinical trials and device evaluation.

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Institute of tra n s lat i o n al m e d i c i n e (I T M)

The ITM will build a vibrant translational community that will facilitate collaborative relationships with industry. It will maximise interaction between clinicians, academics, patient groups and industry. Co-location will facilitate the design of clinical trials, the selection of patients for trials in a stratified manner, and the early application of robust health economic evaluation to inform development decisions on new treatments and devices.

40% Increase

In life science businesses since 2005

SME

FO C US

Celentyx is a pharmaceutical company that develops treatments for serious common diseases by finding new uses for existing drugs. It was founded in 2007 and is situated in the University of Birmingham College of Medical and Dental Sciences.

Inspiring culture Soak up the culture in one of Europe’s most vibrant cities, with more than 500,000 examples of world-class art in one square mile, unique drama, musical flair, diverse dance and performing arts.

Affordable living Birmingham’s been ranked the best regional UK city for quality of life for the third year running by the global Mercer Living Index, with an average house in the West Midlands costing as little as one-third of a house in the capital.

Shopping paradise One of the UK’s top retail locations. The city centre is home to over a 1,000 shops within a one mile radius, ranging from Selfridges and Harvey Nichols to independent arcades. Shop in the city’s historic markets offering authentic local produce or visit the world-famous Jewellery Quarter, which produces 40% of the UK’s output.

Top talent Access to 90% of the entire UK market and attracting emerging professionals, the region generates over 105,000 graduates per year, (all within a one-hour drive)

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Sporting success #whybham

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Birmingham is renowned across the world as a venue for competitive sport, having hosted moreJOIN world and European IN THE CONVERSATION championships than any #whybham other regional city.

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The city has a special place in as the birthplace ofTHE CONVERSATION JOIN IN the Industrial Revolution. Inventions #borninbrum #qualityoflife that emerged from this area – the steam engine and the light bulb – have fundamentally changed the way the world works.

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With no less than four Michelin starred restaurants to tempt you, plus a whole quarter of the city devoted to our very own Asian speciality, the Balti, Birmingham is a UK foodie haven and is fuelled by a burgeoning street food scene with the finest food artisans concentrating on food and flavour in a variety of quirky locations.

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Get in Touch T: +44 (0)121 202 5022 E: invest@marketingbirmingham.com W: businessbirmingham.com business_bham BusinessBirmingham