Construction work has started on the second phase of a major expansion at Innovation Birmingham Campus.

The new Universities Centre, which is being built on the car park in front of Faraday Wharf, will provide a new hub designed at improving collaboration between small companies and Birmingham's universities.

Stourport-based Thomas Vale Construction is leading the construction project.

The centre will have 5,812 sq ft of space, over half of which will be dedicated to flexible co-working, with the remainder to be used for training sessions and events.

It will also feature communications equipment, with all five universities in Birmingham benefiting from high-definition video conferencing suites as part of the project.

The first phase of the revamp of the campus next to Aston University was the £8 million iCentrum building which opened last month.

Innovation Birmingham's chief executive David Hardman said: "The Universities Centre will be a significant addition to our expanding campus and will help support existing and new initiatives that Birmingham’s five universities already have in place to promote active engagement between innovators and educators in the city."