BCU Expands Games Academy to Power West Midlands' Gaming Industry Growth

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute 25 seconds

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Quick Read: Birmingham City University has expanded its Games Academy to meet growing demand for skilled professionals in the gaming sector, part of a wider regional strategy to boost creative tech jobs and economic growth.

Birmingham City University (BCU) has launched an expanded Games Academy to meet the surging demand for specialised talent in the fast-growing gaming sector, both regionally and across the UK.

Unveiled during BCU’s annual Innovation Fest, the enhanced Academy will now offer an expanded suite of courses in Design, Programming, Technology, and Technical Art, equipping students with the advanced skills needed to enter an increasingly competitive industry.

Supporting a Booming Sector

The move reflects the growing significance of the gaming sector, which contributed around £6 billion to the UK economy in 2024. In the West Midlands, the industry is projected to generate £65 million annually and create 1,500 jobs by 2030.

Professor Hanifa Shah, Pro Vice-Chancellor of STEAM at BCU, said:

“This expansion is not just about increasing numbers, but about deeper specialisation. Our industry-informed approach ensures graduates are career-ready from day one.”

BCU’s STEAMhouse building hosted the launch, which attracted leading voices from the global gaming community. Notable attendees included Linda Yilin Wen of Microsoft Research Redmond, and Dr. Richard Wilson OBE, CEO of TIGA, who both spoke on how academic institutions must evolve to keep pace with the gaming industry’s rapid transformation.

Backed by Industry and Regional Investment

Industry partners such as Nosebleed Interactive, Roll7, Sega Hardlight, and Jaguar Land Rover also attended to witness how the university is preparing the next wave of gaming professionals.

The Academy’s launch complements CreaTech Frontiers, a £6.75 million investment from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to support SMEs in creative technology, including gaming and immersive experiences. The West Midlands is one of just two regions selected for government-backed creative sector growth funding.

The broader initiative is supported by BCU, Coventry University, University of Birmingham, and University of Warwick, in partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), with a shared goal to strengthen digital skills and create new content.

Professor Hanifa Shah concluded:

“The West Midlands is primed to become a national leader in gaming. If you’re thinking about joining this industry—now is the time to skill up.”

What's new

West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator Unlocks Nearly £50M in Private Investment

The West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA), led by the University of Birmingham, has generated an impressive £49.4 million in private co-investment within its first two years, significantly surpassing its original £14.5 million public funding allocation.

Funded through the Innovation Accelerator programme, coordinated by Innovate UK, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and UK Research and Innovation, WMHTIA has become a leading force in advancing health technology innovation across the region.

The majority of the private investment—£36.3 million—was directly committed by investors to enterprises supported by the Accelerator. This achievement represents a threefold return on the initial public investment, demonstrating the strong investor confidence in the region’s health tech sector.

Powering Health Innovation Through Collaboration

The WMHTIA brings together 21 partners from academia, industry, and the NHS to help healthtech companies develop, validate, and commercialise cutting-edge medical technologies. So far, companies supported through the programme have also secured an additional £10 million in national public grants from agencies including NIHR, Eureka, and Innovate UK.

Including both public and private contributions, the total investment leveraged by WMHTIA now stands at £67.3 million.

Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham:

We’re proud to support startups through the riskiest stages of innovation so more life-saving technologies reach patients. This exceptional investment proves what’s possible when academia, the NHS, and industry work together to drive economic growth and better health outcomes.

In March 2025, the Innovation Accelerator programme was extended with a further £30 million, including £4 million for the WMHTIA to continue supporting the region’s innovators in 2025/26.

Backing the Future of Health Tech

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands:

The West Midlands is leading medical tech innovation—from faster diagnoses to shorter hospital stays. Healthtech isn’t just improving lives; it’s creating secure, high-value jobs that drive inclusive growth.

Dean Cook, Executive Director of Place and Global, Innovate UK:

This programme shows how place-based innovation can unlock greater business investment in R&D. By connecting the region’s strengths, we’re creating high-value jobs and building globally significant innovation capability.

The WMHTIA continues to strengthen the region’s reputation as a national hub for health technology, with far-reaching benefits for patient care, job creation, and regional economic development.

By Anushka Malhotra

24 Jun