US company Knighthead has invested £100 million into East
Birmingham, showing how the Government's Plan for Change is
boosting jobs and opportunities in the West Midlands.
The new site is estimated to create 8,400 new jobs annually in
Birmingham while also supporting the wider city and West
Midlands. The investment will pave the way for a new
60,000-seater stadium alongside a sports campus of training
facilities, a new academy, and community pitches. Beyond sport,
the campus plans also include leisure, commercial, and
residential development.
Business Secretary will visit the site and
learn about how the new Sports Quarter and surrounding area is
projected to provide £370 million in growth each year.
Securing investment is central to the government's
mission to deliver economic growth which will create jobs,
improve living standards, and make communities and families
across the country better off as part of our Plan for Change.
Business and Trade Secretary said:
The West Midlands is a powerhouse for investment, and this
project will not only play a vital role in bringing thousands of
new jobs into the area but will put more money into the pockets
of the local community here in East Birmingham.
Seeing global investors put billions in the UK economy shows the
Plan for Change is working, with more and more companies choosing
Britain. This is another vote of confidence in our plans to
deliver growth that supports skilled jobs and raises living
standards across the country.
This is the latest in a series of investment projects into the
West Midlands, as the region continues to be a powerhouse for
investment. The West Midlands attracted over 130 Foreign Direct
Investment Projects in 2024, creating 7,581 jobs.
Unleashing the full potential of the UK's cities and regions is a
core objective of the government's Industrial Strategy.
Facilitating investments like this is central to achieving this
goal.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said:
The Birmingham Sports Quarter is an exciting venture that
highlights how sport can be an important driver for regeneration
and growth.
Across the divisions, our professional football clubs are vital
community assets at the heart of towns and cities around the
country, so it is fantastic to see investment directly benefiting
residents of Birmingham and the wider region.
Investment continues to flow into the UK sports sector on an
unprecedented level. The UK is an appealing destination for
investors aiming to capitalise on diverse revenue streams and
long-term growth prospects.
The commercial attractiveness of the UK sports sector is
underpinned by both legacy and heritage and its position at the
cutting edge of innovative subsectors such as sports-tech and
women's sports.
The Business Secretary's visit comes after Birmingham City
Football Club's Chairman Tom Wagner's meeting with Minister for
Investment OBE at One Goal, the
government's annual sports investment conference. The Department
for Business and Trade continues to support transformational
institutional investment into UK sport and local communities.
Co-founder of Knighthead & Chairman of Birmingham
City Football Club Tom Wagner said:
Birmingham and the West Midlands have huge untapped potential for
growth, and we intend to seize that opportunity. With the support
of government, the Sports Quarter can be a catalyst for
regeneration, transforming the prospects for people in of one of
the poorest parts of the UK and crowding in interest and
investment from around the globe.
, Mayor of the West
Midlands, said:
This investment is a huge vote of confidence in Birmingham and
the West Midlands. It was made possible by strong partnerships
with Knighthead and others committed to our region's growth.
We've worked to create the perfect conditions to attract
investment, and this will bring thousands of jobs, new
opportunities, and a major economic boost.
Working with Tom Wagner and Knighthead, we'll unlock our region's
full potential - delivering the Sports Quarter and lasting change
for the region.
The announcement comes after the Chancellor vowed to go further
and faster to kickstart economic growth last week, as the
government wants to help put more money in people's pockets.
The Budget in the Autumn fixed the foundations of the UK's
economy by putting in place measures to support economic and
fiscal stability and long-term investment in national
infrastructure.
Securing investment is central to the government's
mission to deliver economic growth which will create jobs,
improve living standards, and make communities and families
across the country better off as part of our Plan for Change.
The government's new modern Industrial Strategy will deliver
long-term, sustainable, inclusive growth right across the UK by
driving investment into the economy and hardwire
stability for investors, giving them the confidence to plan not
just for the next year, but for the next 10 years and beyond.
Notes to editors
- Today's announcement comes off the back of Knighthead
announcing its £3 billion regeneration project last March and
also follows the company's acquisition of Birmingham City
Football Club in 2023.
