On Thursday 17th March, University of Birmingham hosted the latest Made in the MIdlands Breakfast Event at their expansive and transformational campus. Over 30 attendees attended their Breakfast Morning to discover how the University can provide crucial benefits to local industry.
Research Development Officer at the University, Luke Jones explained: We were founded as a civic university, our whole reason for existence is to support industry of Birmingham and that is the very same message that we tried to put out there today.
Representatives of the University delivered a fantastic presentation on how they can actively support the local manufacturing and engineering sector. The University has generated over £1 billion in additional spending in the West Midlands. During 2013, the University added £530 million of value-added contribution to the regions economy. Their contribution to the West Midlands economy is nearly double of the regions eight largest football teams.
The University prides itself on being a research entity that helps to enable the development of our local economy. The University revealed that they are actively helping SMEs to combat the potential financial cost of generating new ideas, technologies and processes required to help SMEs achieve a competitive advantage. The University can provide access to state-of-the-art equipment, testing and analysis, business accommodation, funding opportunities, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) and the recruitment of students to work for your company.
In turn, Jones was extremely satisfied to see the introduction of new businesses attending their Breakfast Networking Event. He stated: Were a huge organisation and part of the challenge is just letting businesses know that were open to collaborations and open to business. So any event like this to get people through the door, and get them asking what the University can do is a success in my book.
MIM Breakfast Networking Events are the ideal facilitator for new businesses to discuss how their companies can collaborate and boost the local economy with their success. Jones explained: I think there is a realisation that the more we work together and the more we engage and shout about the activities that are happening in the Midlands. That is only going to help us when we are trying to compete with the two competing areas of industry (the North and London) in the UK.
Our next Breakfast Networking Event will take place at Petford Tools Ltd, Dudley on 21st April at their premises on Peartree Lane. Our Breakfast Networking Event tickets are hugely popular amongst MIM members, as signified by Petford Tools Ltd as we have already sold 36 tickets of their 45 ticket capacity. To purchase your ticket please visit: Petford Tickets
Please visit our Events page to ensure that you dont miss any of our upcoming Breakfast Networking Events. Tickets to these events are usually limited, as members with prior experience of the events are aware of the potential value to their company. If you are interested in hosting a breakfast event of your own, please contact our Group Events Manager Iwona at: [email protected]