Brindleyplace launch partnership with Birmingham City University

Brindleyplace is strengthening its ties with the Birmingham community by partnering with Birmingham City University (BCU) for a series of projects to promote the city.

The partnership comes after the success of a fashion show collaboration in Oozells Square last summer.

The partnership will focus on four main areas:

• Activations and events, which include student fashion shows;
• Educational courses linked to Brindleyplace, focusing on such subjects as urban regeneration and the built environment;
• Occupier engagement to include mentoring and sponsorship opportunities for BCU students;
• A programme for schools that allows both Brindleyplace and BCU to share its knowledge and expertise with pupils from across the West Midlands.

Professor Harris Beider, BCU’s pro vice-chancellor for engagement, enterprise and innovation, said: “The fashion show highlighted the value of working together to raise Birmingham’s profile and provide opportunities for our local businesses and creative industries.

“As a result, we’ve formalised our partnership because we feel we can do more.”

Matt Long, senior asset manager for Praxis at Brindleyplace, said it made perfect sense to partner with BCU to explore joint opportunities, especially around urban regeneration.

He said: “Brindleyplace has stood the test of time and remains a fine example of mixed-use development, but this year will see the start of several regeneration projects and major investment in our buildings.

“It is the ideal time for us to cement our relationship with a best-in-class university offering urban regeneration courses locally.

“Brindleyplace prides itself on offering a variety of placemaking activities for our tenants and public - and we look forward to BCU’s involvement in many of these”.

Professor Beider added: “Working with Brindleyplace will allow us to not only help shape the city’s future but also enable the University to achieve its goal to power prosperity in the region.

“Our 2030 strategy document, Rooted in Birmingham, Reaching Beyond, sets out our vision to be an exemplar anchor institution as well as our mission to create and share knowledge for a better and more inclusive society.”

BCU Presents: 1000 Threads fashion showcase, held in Oozells Square with both the historic Ikon Gallery and the gleaming glass façade of the award-winning X Brindleyplace prominent throughout will return again in 2025.

Pictured: From left-  Lee Lapthorne, head of college for jewellery, fashion and textiles, Matt long, senior asset manager Brindleyplace, and Prof. Harris Beider