Office space is being offered for investors at the heart of the city’s creative quarter in Digbeth 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 for an initial six-month period to help them set up and create jobs in the city.
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, investment director at Business Birmingham, explained 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.”
