West Midlands Prepares for 1,000 New Tech Roles

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute

Growth

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Quick Read: West Midlands' tech sector to gain a substantial boost with five companies pledging 1,000 new roles over three years during Birmingham Tech Week. Version 1 plans 500 jobs, Novocomms Group to add 300, and Petalite aiming for 100 roles by 2026. The region's growing global recognition reflected in Aubay Group and Primacy's expansion efforts, signifying a promising evolution in the West Midlands' tech landscape.

West Midlands Prepares for 1,000 New Tech Roles

Five companies have revealed plans to collectively generate 1,000 tech jobs in the West Midlands over the next three years, marking a significant advancement for the region's tech sector.

During Birmingham Tech Week, these job opportunities were announced at an event hosted by the West Midlands Growth Company.

Version 1, a digital transformation partner, will establish 500 roles in Birmingham while launching a tech hub in the city center next year. They're also set to introduce two academies aimed at enhancing tech skills among individuals.

Novocomms Group, a wireless communication company, will contribute 300 positions in Birmingham over the next three years to support its smart city services provider launch.

Additionally, Petalite, an electric vehicle charging firm, plans to augment its Birmingham team by adding 100 roles in engineering and business operations by 2026, post the completion of a Series A funding round.

This recruitment wave mirrors the growing international recognition of the West Midlands.

Aubay Group, an IT management company from France, is expanding its Solihull team by 100 people.

Furthermore, Primacy, a Singapore-based regtech company, is partnering with the University of Birmingham to create an ESG Centre of Excellence, resulting in up to 30 new jobs within the next two years. This expansion follows Primacy's establishment in Birmingham last year.

Photo: Neil Rami from West Midlands Growth Company, Aga Manhao from Primacy, Emma Mitchell from Version 1, Colin Tucker from Novocomms and West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, Photo Courtesy: Edwin Ladd

The West Midlands' tech sector was valued at £15.3bn last year and employed 144,000 individuals.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands said in a statement:

"These tremendous investments reinforce our region's status as a destination of choice for ambitious companies across a wide range of sectors"

In a report released this week, trade association techUK ranked the West Midlands fifth in digital gross value added (GVA) across the UK and fourth in the overall strength of its regional digital ecosystem.

These new roles are the latest addition to Birmingham's thriving tech landscape, complementing TechWM's recent announcement of £1m in support for scaling initiatives.

Sources:
Jones, T. (2023) England’s West Midlands welcomes creation of 1,000 New Tech Jobs - ETHRWorld, Business Live. Available at: https://www.business-live.co.uk/technology/west-midlands-set-1000-tech-27932042.

Kilgannon, L. (2023) West Midlands set for 1,000 Tech Jobs Boost, Insider Media Ltd. Available at: https://bit.ly/3RtlvKr.

Scammell, R. (2023b) West Midlands set for 1,000 New Tech Jobs, UKTN | UK tech news. Available at: https://www.uktech.news/tech-hubs/west-midlands/west-midlands-tech-jobs-boost-20231019.

Smout, A. (2023) England’s West Midlands welcomes creation of 1,000 New Tech Jobs - ETHRWorld, ETHRWorld.com. Available at: https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/englands-west-midlands-welcomes-creation-of-1000-new-tech-jobs/104542337.

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