The Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport paid a visit to Birmingham City University STEAMhouse to find out how the new creative innovation centre will support economic growth across the Midlands from next year.
The STEAMhouse is a £3.5m which includes the refurbishment of a former car dealership in Birmingham’s Digbeth area to house the new centre and maker space. By connecting Arts into STEM subject areas (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), STEAMhouse hopes to provide support to 200 sole traders, start-ups and local businesses with access to expertise and finance for growth.
Culture Secretary Karen Bradley said: “It was fantastic to meet the brilliant team behind the STEAMhouse project and hear all about the exciting plans to create a world-leading innovation centre.
“I was particularly impressed by the collaborative spirit of the project, which will help boost skills in the fields of arts, science, technology, engineering and maths.
“This will help make sure the creative talent in the West Midlands can go on to develop the innovative businesses of tomorrow.”
Due to open on Digbeth High Street in early 2018, STEAMhouse’s pilot phase plans to bring together academics, entrepreneurs, designers, makers, future talent and organisations to foster greater innovation, develop new products, and support economic growth with a programme of business support. It will house substantial new fabrication facilities with equipment and staffing to support production and making.
(picture shows, left to right, Professor Julian Beer, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Birmingham City University; The Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport; and Professor Julian Lloyd Webber, Principal, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham City University)
