Office space is being offered for investors at the heart of the city’s creative quarter as part of a public scheme backed by businesses across the city.
The Business Catalyst programme, run by Business Birmingham, offers discounted or free services and accommodation for eligible investors in Digbeth for an initial six-month period to help them set up and create jobs.
It is part of a wider support programme that also includes recruitment services, PR support, and legal, banking and accountancy advice offered by city firms.
Chris Loughran, senior partner at Deloitte in the Midlands, who sits on the board of Marketing Birmingham and chairs its inward investment committee, said: “Birmingham must continue to develop its offer for job-creating investors, and ensure that it remains competitive internationally, not just in the UK. By offering tangible incentives that will help investing businesses to locate and grow quickly, I am confident that Business Birmingham’s Catalyst programme will make the city an even more attractive choice.”
Deloitte is among the firms offering products and services towards the initiative, alongside Auctus Management Group, Birmingham Research Park, Bridgestreet, Bruntwood, Custard Factory, DLA Piper, Grad Central, Hays, Innovation Birmingham Campus, KPMG, Lloyds TSB, PwC, Royal Bank of Scotland, RSM Tenon, Squire Sanders, Winning Pitch and Winning Moves.
Wouter Schuitemaker, of Business Birmingham, said that the programme had been designed to help both investors looking for new locations and local companies access new clients.
He said: “Rather than move entire teams to a new location, the economic climate has led to more businesses setting up satellite offices as an initial step into a new market. Making this first stage easy and successful can lead to sustainable expansion and more jobs.”
The Business Catalyst space comprises two units of office accommodation at the Custard Factory in Digbeth. It is next to the offices of global fashion retailer ASOS, which moved to the city in March this year. The space is part of Zellig – the £10 million, 100,000 sq ft restoration of an original Bird’s Custard factory.
Custard Factory owner, Lucan Gray, added: “It is vital for the local economy that schemes aimed at attracting and supporting growing businesses are backed by the business community. The Custard Factory provides a unique space for investors – with a vibrant, creative business community and flexible office space. We hope some of the companies supported will realise the benefits of being based here and expand into bigger space.”
