Driving impact with our new Birmingham HQ

We are incredibly proud of the Catapult’s reach in all nations and regions of the UK. We have world-class centres all around the country, with a presence in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This commitment to distributing growth and investment around the country is key to achieving the Government’s levelling up objectives and ensuring no areas are left behind. In September 2022, the HVM Catapult reiterated this commitment by moving its HQ to Birmingham’s leading digital and tech campus, Innovation Birmingham, part of the Bruntwood SciTech network.

The West Midlands has substantial potential. The wider manufacturing sector supports 317,000 direct jobs in the region – the second highest in the UK and the 50 biggest manufacturing enterprises in the West Midlands are globally competitive and account for £3.5bn of gross value added per year. The average economic contribution (GVA) per job of these companies is 48% above the UK average for the sector.

However, the GVA per job of the wider manufacturing base in the region is 10% below the UK average. By supporting smaller companies and enhancing regional supply chains through joint research and innovation – from simplifying production lines to developing more efficient technology – the HVM Catapult can help bridge that productivity gap. Reaching the national average would boost the regional economy by £1.5bn a year.