Plans are being drawn up for a new enterprise zone to replicate the success of London’s Tech City in Birmingham.
The digital cluster known as the Silicon Roundabout, in Shoreditch, is the third largest collection of tech start-ups in the world, bringing big hitters like Amazon, Google and BT together with cutting edge digital developers.
But Birmingham’s Labour leadership wants a similar zone here to focus on a merger of developing digital technology with more traditional engineering like car-making, rather than new media.
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The proposal is being worked up for the Labour Party’s local election manifesto by Hodge Hill MP Liam Byrne – who is acting in both his role as a Birmingham Labour group policy adviser and shadow minister for universities, science and skills.
The city council will work closely with Aston University and the business community on the bid for university enterprise zone status and the creation of Birmingham Tech City.
Mr Byrne said: “We are going to put the full force of the city behind this. If we want to become Britain’s capital of enterprise, we need to invest in the jobs of the future.
“A new Tech City will bring together business and science in a new alliance to boost quality jobs. Birmingham was built by entrepreneurs who invented the future. Its time to reclaim that mantle once again.”
He explained that Birmingham’s Tech City would build on links with the automotive industry and manufacturing, which will set it apart from other digital start up initiatives.
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“What we have got at the science park in Birmingham is a number of successful tech business and some good successes with digital development and video gaming. But now we want to broaden that out by looking at the fusion between digital and the automotive industry.
“If you look at the next generation of Jaguar motors it is a fact that the digital systems are worth more than the engines.”
He said the aim is for Birmingham to be at the forefront of these developments, “to create high-skill and high-pay jobs”. A key driver of this would be that pay rates in knowledge-intensive industries are 40 per cent higher than the national average.
Mr Byrne recently met with the chief executive of London Tech City Gerard Grech to learn about the organisation and its success.
A small group of 15 internet and digital developers based around the Old Street Roundabout in Shoreditch in 2008, quickly swelled to 85 when Tech City was launched in 2010 and now stands at more than 200.
“In Birmingham we will put our own spin on it,” Mr Byrne said, “This could be a niche for Birmingham in the global market.”
The theme for the Labour manifesto is jobs and growth, with the creation of Birmingham Apprenticeship Agency central to ensuring the jobs benefit from Tech City and other initiatives filter to all parts of the city.
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Mr Byrne said securing Birmingham’s position as enterprise capital of the 海角视频 was a key aim, with attracting investment from London in particular a target.
Proposals include pitching Birmingham as Canary Wharf’s back office – offering businesses a more reasonably priced alternative to the city as “overheating London throttles growth”.
There are also plans for “a promotion campaign around the London Underground Zone 4 label” and a proposed renaming of Birmingham International Station.