New entrepreneurs forged in Birmingham and the Black Country

New enterprise will provide training and investment.

Over 70 people from across Birmingham and the Black Country will come together today to begin work on the Civic Foundry. Ranging in age from 19 to 70, and from Dudley to Sparkbrook, they are all united in their wish to transform where they live and work.

The Civic Foundry will develop and support their ideas for improving their communities and local structures across Birmingham and the Black Country. Over the course of 20 weeks the programme will take participants from early idea stage to having investment-ready ventures, with over £375,000 available at the end of the programme to the ventures evolving out of it.

At Saturday’s day long kick-off event in the new Hub Birmingham space, participants will be getting to know each other, and what they all care most about in Birmingham and the Black Country. In the weeks that follow they will be forming teams, deciding missions and designing and prototyping new ventures and businesses together.

Jez Monk-Hawksworth Civic Foundry participant and founder of Black Country Make says “”Knowing you’re not alone and amongst other people who understand and care helps us in the marathon task to deliver the Black Country Make project. We’ve been talking to a lot of people and showing them what we do, but for the first time, Civic Foundry have turned that conversation to commitment. Believing in us at an early stage, when we need it the most, it gives us the confidence boost we need to realise our full potential.”

Anisa Haghdadi, another Civic Foundry participant, and director of Beatfreeks, added, “I am most excited about the opportunity to learn through a programme that will accelerate thinking, stretch ideas and nurture potential. The Civic Foundry is an exceptional offering and one which is much needed in a time of innovation and growth in Birmingham.”

Imandeep Kaur from the Civic Foundry team said “Over 120 people applied to take part in this first stage of the Civic Foundry, and the chosen participants range in age from 19 to 70. We’re very proud of the amazing quality, not to mention diversity and full gender balance of our cohort, and can’t wait to see what they create together over the course of the programme.”

The Civic Foundry is delivered by Civic Systems Lab and Solve, and funded by the Cabinet Office and the Accord Group. Dr Chris Handy, Accord Group Chief Executive, commented “We are delighted to be investing further in the future of Birmingham and the Black Country. It is a privilege to work with great people through the Civic Foundry to make their neighbourhoods, their communities and their city an even more vibrant place to live and work for generations to come.”