Record investment brings jobs to West Midlands

Hundreds of new jobs are heading to the West Midlands thanks to nearly £800 million in fresh investment, leaders announced at the first-ever Regional Investment Summit in Birmingham, the UK government announced. The event drew more than 350 business heads, investors, and mayors to the city, where major deals were signed to spark growth, innovation, and new opportunities across the region.

Big wins include £400 million from Hines and Woodbourne Group to back the £4 billion Birmingham Knowledge Quarter—poised to drive regeneration and jobs. Blackstone pledged £200 million for the National Exhibition Centre to keep it at the top of the UK’s live event scene. Food and jobs are on the menu too, with Freshways Dairy’s Indian parent company spending £25 million on a new processing plant in West Bromwich, hiring at least 200 new people.

The government also shared news of a £75 million skills package, aiming to train over 12,000 people for construction jobs, and £40 million set aside to speed up building 1,000 new social rent homes. Meanwhile, Sterling Pharmaceuticals will build a new center, adding nearly 50 jobs and boosting local production for the NHS.

Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, called the summit a “major vote of confidence” for the region. Mayor Richard Parker said the day showed how “world-class businesses” see the West Midlands as the place to invest and grow. This push comes hot on the heels of big trade agreements and Britain being picked as the most attractive global investment spot in a recent survey.