The West Midlands Business Festival, held from March 3rd to 14th, 2025, proved successful, celebrating innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration. With 97 events and thousands of attendees, it showcased the region’s thriving business ecosystem.
Central to this success was the West Midlands Combined Universities (WMCU) partnership—Birmingham City University, Coventry University, and the University of Wolverhampton—demonstrating the pivotal role of academia in driving regional economic growth. “The festival has been a testament to the collaborative spirit of our WMCU Partnership and our region. By uniting academia, public sector and industry, we’ve set the stage for continued economic growth and innovation. I look forward to seeing this festival flourish in the coming years.”
Highlights of WMCU’s Contributions
1. Steering Small Businesses: Leadership in the West Midlands
Hosted by the WMCU, this event addressed leadership challenges faced by small businesses, focusing on integrating AI, sustainability, and resilience into business models. It featured industry experts, academics, and entrepreneurs discussing strategies to navigate these challenges.
2. Coventry University: Driving Business Growth
- Drive Business Growth Workshop – This workshop provided businesses with strategies to leverage innovation for profitability and market expansion, attracting key business leaders and SMEs looking to scale operations.
3. Birmingham City University & STEAMhouse: Innovation in Business
- “Unstoppable: Lessons from Women Who Built Their Dream” – A celebration of female entrepreneurship, this event featured inspiring speakers sharing their business journeys.
- Business Innovation Workshops (STEAMhouse) These hands-on sessions provided practical strategies for integrating innovation into business models, focusing on digital transformation and creativity.
4. University of Wolverhampton: Skills & Economic Development
- Regional Skills for Growth Panel Discussion Led by the University of Wolverhampton, this panel discussed bridging the skills gap, featuring industry experts on workforce development and employability trends.
- “The Future of Work” Seminar This seminar explored how AI, automation, and digital transformation are reshaping industries and the skills businesses need to succeed.
Wayne Langford, Director of the WMCU Partnership and a steering committee member for the festival, emphasized the universities’ contributions:
“The festival has been a testament to the collaborative spirit of our WMCU Partnership and our region. By uniting academia, public sector and industry, we’ve set the stage for continued economic growth and innovation. I look forward to seeing this festival flourish in the coming years.”