Join the Leader of Birmingham City Council Cllr Ian Ward as he talks about how the eyes of the world will be on our city this summer as we stage the best-ever Commonwealth Games. A once in a lifetime opportunity for Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, and a catalyst for investment and growth. 

Birmingham is a hotspot for economic growth, a destination of choice for UK graduates, the UK’s best-connected regional city, and one of the youngest and most diverse cities in Europe – at the heart of the West Midlands, the UK’s number one destination for foreign direct investment and a growing hub for tech. 

 Our next tranche of projects will supercharge Birmingham, bringing many millions of pounds of investment into the city, shaping the lives and life chances of Birmingham citizens for years to come. In the city centre, the £1.9bn Smithfield Development has the potential to create over 8,000 new jobs and Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council Deborah Cadman will be joined by the CEO Europe for Lendlease, Neil Martin, to discuss this opportunity.

 In Digbeth, the creative jewel of the city, plans are in place for a 42-acre development centred round the iconic Custard Factory, that will support the creation of over 16,000 jobs and provide over 1,800 new homes alongside shops, restaurants, cafés, and additional leisure facilities. Throw HS2,  the Midland Metro extension, the BBC relocation, and Steven Knight’s proposed film studios into the mix and it’s easy to see why excitement is growing.

 Birmingham’s Strategic Director of Place, Prosperity and Sustainability Paul Kitson with be talking with COO of the Urban Growth Company Sue Barrett about the HS2 Interchange, the NEC and Arden Cross. UGC are creating Europe’s best-connected destination for business, leisure and living; a new and outstanding gateway to the UK. It’s the perfect example of the private and public sectors working together to create something that will support the UK’s international ambitions for decades to come. And now is the time to make the most of the economic growth that comes with this level of infrastructure investment.

 We’re a confident city that is turning huge potential into genuine success, with a City Council committed to working in partnership. We have a product worth selling – a city and a population worth investing in. And we’re looking for partners that share our vision for inclusive growth, and our ambition for Birmingham and its people.

This is a golden decade of opportunity for our communities and our businesses – it’s also a golden decade of opportunity for investors and developers.