West Midlands set for 1,000 tech jobs boost
The West Midlands is set to receive a boost of over 1,000 tech jobs as a result of significant investments from five innovation-focused companies – Version 1, Petalite, Novocomms Group, Aubay and Primacy.
The investments are testament to the region’s status as a leading global location for high-growth companies, looking to stimulate tech-led innovation.
The announcement was made during “Global West Midlands: The Tech That Makes Tomorrow Work” – a dedicated event hosted by the West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC) during Birmingham Tech Week 2023.
The event saw Birmingham Tech Week pivot towards a global audience for the first time, with WMGC actively targeting overseas firms looking to nurture new innovations in the UK.
Global digital transformation partner, Version 1, has announced plans to scale up its operations in the region, creating around 500 jobs in Birmingham.
This news is part of an expansion programme that will see the opening of a new technology hub in the city centre in 2024, giving the company access to the rich and diverse talent base that the region has to offer, as well as better proximity to its existing and future customer base.
Following the success of its existing Early Academy programmes which focus on upskilling individuals interested in a career in cutting-edge technology, Version 1 will start two new academies in Birmingham in the second quarter of next year.
Wireless communication specialist, Novocomms Group, has plans to create 300 new jobs in Birmingham over the next three years through its launch of a new smart city services provider.
Leveraging the Group’s expertise in next-generation antenna technology, the investment represents a key part of the Group’s growth strategy.
It will provide clients with bespoke smart solutions covering a range of areas, including smart cities, smart agriculture, smart ports, smart healthcare, smart transportation and smart grids.
With a strong background in international corporate development, M&A, capital markets and business operations, Johann Tse has been named as the company’s Chief Executive, with experienced industry veteran, Dr. Colin Tucker, joining as Chair. Colin previously held prominent positions at a number of major telecoms companies, including Orange and Hutchison 3G.
Innovative electric vehicle charging company, Petalite, has announced plans to grow its Birmingham-based team, creating 100 engineering and business operations roles by 2026. The expansion will follow the completion of its Series A funding round, which is expected to happen by the end of the year.
Petalite’s innovation capabilities were recently recognised at the Engineering & Manufacturing Awards, where the business’ Chief Technical Officer, Dr Stavros Pressas, won in the “Engineering Innovator” category. Petalite has also been announced as one of six partner companies for UK Research and Innovation’s “Future Flight and Land Infrastructure Programme” (FFLIP).
The Programme will deliver a full-scale multi-modal electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle demonstration at a site in Oxfordshire, including eVTOL charger infrastructure.
French-owned IT management company, Aubay Group, is also gearing up to grow its team by up to 100 people in Solihull.
With roles covering a range of areas, from development to project management, the expansion will support the firm in providing its services to a major banking client and other financial services / FinTech and energy players. Geographically, the West Midlands is perfectly placed for substantial investment from Aubay Group and to support its future growth.
Exemplifying the region’s collaborative R&D ecosystem, Primacy, a Singapore-based RegTech company which expanded into Birmingham last year, has announced the development of a new ESG Centre of Excellence (CoE).
The partnership with the University of Birmingham will create up to 30 jobs over the next two years. As well as providing professional and financial services firms with access to expert research insights to inform responsible business practices, the initiative will include the co-development of a Youth Education Centre to train the next generation of ESG warriors.
During the 2022/23 financial year, tech and digital represented the sector attracting the most FDI into the West Midlands, resulting in 17 new projects. Following the recently agreed Deeper Devolution Deal, the region’s drive to attract more tech led FDI into the region will be supported by WMGC’s co-development of an international strategy, along with the UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade.
As the region’s official investment promotion agency, WMGC provides investors into the West Midlands with a bespoke package of support, enabling them to unlock new opportunities and realise their growth ambitions.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “These tremendous investments reinforce our region’s status as a destination of choice for ambitious companies across a wide range of sectors. What they all have in common is a commitment to nurturing innovation and a determination to drive business growth.
"My thanks to Version 1, Petalite, Novocomms Group, Aubay and Primacy for their vote of confidence in us. They will help the West Midlands to realise its potential to be a ‘science and technology superpower’ – equipping local people with the skills they need to succeed and generating the high quality jobs of the future in the months and years ahead.”
Neil Rami, Chief Executive at the West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC), said: “These investment wins come hot on the heels of record FDI figures for the West Midlands during 2022/23 – where WMGC also had its most successful year yet – and are testament to the market-leading support we provide to investors.
'We’re excited to be playing a leading role in the development of a brand-new international strategy for the region, which will enable us to attract a bigger share of the UK’s FDI while ensuring that that established investors have everything they need to continue growing and thriving here.”
Councillor John Cotton, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “This wave of investments is a reminder that Birmingham is still very much open for business, offering a stand-out innovation ecosystem and an extensive pool of talent from our world-class universities.
"Today’s event has provided an ideal platform to showcase these unique tech strengths to a global audience, as Birmingham continues to bolster its reputation as the place to be for companies shaping next generation technologies.”
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Tom O’Connor, Chief Executive Officer at Version 1, said: “We are very happy with our decision to increase our presence in Birmingham with the creation of another 500 jobs. Our work with organisations in the West Midlands area has grown considerably in recent years, so this local expansion will allow us to embed our presence and continue to service the evolving needs of both our current and future clients.
“The technology talent in this region is impressive and has been a key factor in our decision, along with the support provided by the West Midlands Growth Company, who provided dedicated account management and made valuable introductions to the WMCA to support our expansion.
"Our team here is exceptional and makes a significant contribution to the wider Version 1 business as we continue to grow throughout the world.”
