Birmingham City Centre to Host £4.5m Startup Hub

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute 26 seconds

Investment

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Quick Read: Bruntwood SciTech has begun a £4.5 million project to transform the Centre City tower in Birmingham into a startup hub, with completion expected by January 2025.

Work has commenced on a £4.5 million redevelopment plan to transform a 210,000 sq ft site in Birmingham’s city centre into a dynamic startup hub. The project, spearheaded by UK science and tech property developer Bruntwood SciTech, aims to create a vibrant workspace for startups and scale-ups within the iconic Centre City tower, a landmark built in the 1960s located in Birmingham’s theatre district.

Construction is underway, with the completion target set for January 2025. The 20-storey building will offer a variety of flexible working spaces, including co-working and pay-as-you-go options, tailored to meet the needs of emerging businesses.

“The redevelopment of Centre City represents a pivotal moment for Birmingham, underscoring Bruntwood SciTech’s dedication to fostering innovation and economic prosperity in the region.”

stated Bruntwood senior asset manager Mohammed Ali.

“As we progress with construction, we look forward to welcoming a diverse range of leading organisations to this revitalised landmark, further cementing Birmingham’s reputation as a premier destination for business growth.”

Photo Credit: Bruntwood Sci-Tech

The project is a collaborative venture involving Bruntwood, Legal & General, and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund. Bruntwood has already established six innovation hubs in the West Midlands city, reflecting its ongoing commitment to supporting the local tech and startup ecosystem.

This latest initiative follows the successful launch of the Birmingham Innovation Quarter in May 2023, another significant project by Bruntwood in the city.

“We are proud to be part of the transformative redevelopment of Centre City, which will reimagine the building as a central hub for innovative companies in Birmingham.”

said Andy Riach, director of estate agency Lambert Smith Hampton.

“We have no doubt that demand will be high for this market-leading workspace, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact this project will have on the local business landscape.”

The redevelopment of Centre City is expected to attract a wide array of innovative organisations and contribute significantly to Birmingham’s economic growth. By providing state-of-the-art facilities and a collaborative environment, the startup hub aims to foster creativity, collaboration, and business development, ensuring Birmingham remains a top destination for entrepreneurial ventures.

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