Tech entrepreneur donates further $2.75m to Birmingham City University

Birmingham City University (BCU) has received a transformational new $2.75 million donation from Cal Henderson - the British tech entrepreneur and co-founder of Slack - to scale up a major initiative tackling under-representation in the UK’s technology and engineering sectors.

The latest gift, made by Cal and his wife Rebecca through the Henderson Family Foundation, follows an initial $500,000 donation that funded a pilot scheme during the 2024/25 academic year.

That pilot supported nearly 150 students through scholarships, bursaries and awards - and has now been extended thanks to this significant new investment.

The expanded programme will continue to provide wide-ranging financial and practical support for 200 students from under-represented and socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds each year for the next three years, with a particular focus on widening access to computing, engineering and technology courses.

Professor Hanifa Shah, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, Enterprise, Engagement and STEAM at BCU said: “This gift is a game-changer. 

“It means we can build on the momentum of the pilot year and provide sustained support that helps more students stay, succeed and thrive - academically, professionally and personally.

“It’s not just about funding degrees, it’s about investing in potential.”

As part of the announcement, 12 new undergraduate students at BCU have just been awarded Henderson Scholarships, which will cover their full tuition fees for the duration of their degrees.

The extended programme will continue to include:

• Henderson Scholarships – Full tuition fee support for undergraduate students from under-represented backgrounds.
• Henderson Access Bursaries – Financial assistance to help with living costs in the first year of study.
• Henderson Awards – Incentives to reward academic progress and encourage year-on-year retention.
• Henderson Opportunity Fund – Small grants for students who need help covering essential costs like travel, equipment or placements.
• Henderson Innovation Seed Fund – Prizes for entrepreneurial projects showcased at BCU’s annual Innovation Fest.
• Outreach activities in local partner schools – raising aspirations and inspiring children and young people in the most disadvantaged communities.

Scholarship winner Samuel Guest, who is studying Mechanical Engineering, said it was big relief to have his tuition fees paid for.

He said: “I can just get started on my big plan…. degree, job, business.

“Whatever is to come, it’s just going to happen smoother now.”

 The Henderson Scholarship initiative was created to address persistent inequalities in UK STEM fields.

At BCU, less than 15 per cent of students in computing and engineering programmes are women, and nearly half come from the most deprived areas of the country.

A substantial proportion are first-generation university students, statistically more likely to face financial hardship and other barriers to success.

Professor David Mba, Vice-Chancellor of BCU, added: “We’re incredibly grateful to Cal and Rebecca Henderson for this continued support.

“This is a powerful endorsement of BCU’s mission to widen participation and drive social mobility. With their backing, we can ensure that opportunity in tech is truly open to all.”

The impact of the programme will continue to be measured through academic performance, startup creation, and the progression of recipients into industry and innovation roles.

Henderson, who was named BCU’s Alumnus of the Year in 2016 and awarded an Honorary Doctorate in 2019, helped launch the photo-sharing platform Flickr and later co-founded Slack, which went on to be acquired by Salesforce in a deal worth $27.7 billion.

His ongoing support aims to create a new generation of diverse leaders in technology and ensure that talent, not background, determines who gets to shape the future of the industry.

Pictured from left to right: BCU Scholarship winner Sam Guest with Professor Hanifa Shah