Driving West Midlands manufacturing growth at European Parliament expo

The first ever exhibition of local design, manufacturing and innovation has taken flight to the European Parliament this week (22nd - 24th September) to showcase the West Midlands’ achievements to European stakeholders.

Hosted by Neena Gill i MEP with the support of Birmingham City Council, the Greater Birmingham and West Midlands Brussels office partnership, and key figures such as Sir Albert Bore, CoR member and Leader of Birmingham City Council; Lord Jonathan Hill, Commissioner; and Jerzy Buzek i, MEP, the exhibition in Brussels demonstrates how organisations from Birmingham and the West Midlands are working with businesses to drive innovation in the manufacturing industry.

Sir Bore, at the opening of the exhibition titled Greater Birmingham and the West Midlands: A European home of advanced manufacturing and innovation on Tuesday (22/09), said: “I am delighted that the Greater Birmingham and West Midlands Brussels office partnership is able to profile some of the expertise we have in the fields of product design, advanced manufacturing, and innovation to the European Parliament.

"The Midlands is a true engine for growth at the heart of the UK and Europe with manufacturing accounting for 13.9% of the region’s output, well above the UK average. ​

Gill, Labour Member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands, added: “I’m proud to be hosting this event to show a European audience what we in the West Midlands produce locally, in order to drive jobs, investment, and growth.

"We’re building on our well-known industrial strengths, but also presenting a fresh perspective of what innovation and manufacturing means for us in 2015 and beyond through these high tech, innovative displays.

“I’m so pleased to have planned this event alongside friends and colleagues in these important regional institutions, and to be welcoming such high level speakers, as it’s important that other countries recognise our region’s achievements. 

Between 2003 and 2013, nearly half of all West Midlands exports by value went to EU countries. The region has also been promised significant investment of over €900m from European Structural Investment Funds (ESIFs) via the six LEPs between 2014 - 2020.

Lord Hill, European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union since last November, said: “The exhibition is not only about celebrating manufacturing and innovation, but looking at how these talents are a bedrock for the region’s economy, growing alongside the region’s swiftly developing financial services sector. 

Exhibitors include; the University of Birmingham, the University of Warwick, Aston University, Birmingham City University (BCU), the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, Birmingham City Council and Climate KIC (Knowledge and Innovation Community) who are all partners of the Greater Birmingham and West Midlands Brussels office.

The visual centrepiece of the event is BCU’s Birmingham Made Me initiative, showcasing iconic products originating from Birmingham and the West Midlands including Pashley cycles, an AGA Rangemaster door, 3D printed jewellery prototypes from Weston Beamor, ACME whistles, Brooks saddles and a Westfield sports car nose cone.

Get involved with the event on Twitter and see photos via the hashtag #westMIDexpo