In Industry Last updated 02 July
Cisco, a worldwide leader in networking and security, has announced an investment in the West Midlands with a new working environment in STEAMhouse, Birmingham City University's flagship £70 million innovation centre.
The announcement underscores Cisco’s commitment to expanding its regional presence with capacity for 60 employees on-site and recognises the strength of the West Midlands as one of the UK’s fastest-growing hubs for innovation and STEM talent.
Situated in Birmingham’s Knowledge Quarter and located within the West Midlands Investment Zone - a distinctive and inclusive city-centre innovation quarter focused on life sciences and digital technologies - the new Cisco office is expected to open in Summer 2025.
Cisco’s new presence in the West Midlands coincides with the company marking its 40th year of innovation and its continued commitment in driving transformative technologies to UK organisations including AI, networking and cybersecurity. STEAMhouse will serve as a regional hub for collaboration across Cisco teams, customers and partners and reinforces its focus on building connected communities and driving technological advancements throughout the UK.
In recent years, the West Midlands has emerged as a leading destination for foreign direct investment and business growth. Through the launch of its new Birmingham facility, Cisco joins the West Midlands’ £15bn tech sector* - the fastest growing tech cluster in the UK.
Adele Every, Managing Director, Public Sector of Cisco UK and Ireland said:
"All technology companies should be represented regionally, and in these competitive times, it's vital to identify the best hubs for talent, innovation, and collaboration. The West Midlands has long demonstrated its strengths in these areas, and this new space reflects our confidence in the region’s important role in driving future growth.
This is more than an office presence – it's a commitment to the future of the West Midlands. Cisco’s new space at STEAMhouse is part of our continued expansion of regional presence and recognises that innovation, talent and our ecosystem spans across all four corners of the UK.”
Professor David Mba, Vice-Chancellor of BCU welcomed the announcement, adding:
“As an anchor institution for the West Midlands, BCU strives to bring the world to Birmingham through amplifying the region’s status as a leading centre for technological talent and business growth.
Having a global brand like Cisco invest in our region is a major display of confidence in the future of our city, which will also offer our graduates more opportunities to develop their careers locally.”
Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, said:
“Cisco’s investment in the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter is a big win for our region and a clear vote of confidence in my plan to get our economy growing again. The world's top companies are choosing to come here because of the exceptional talent and cutting-edge innovation we can offer them.
“The West Midlands has always been at the forefront of technological innovation, and it is still the case today. We are home to a £15 billion tech sector and the fasting growing cluster in the UK. It is businesses like Cisco that mean we can keep going from strength to strength.”
Councillor John Cotton, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said:
“Cisco’s decision to base its new state-of-the-art facility in Birmingham reinforces the unique, once-in-a-generation investment opportunity presented by Birmingham Knowledge Quarter. Positioning Cisco at the heart of one of the UK’s most transformational innovation districts, the business will be perfectly placed to develop globally significant technological advancements while further strengthening our city’s burgeoning tech sector.”
Cisco and BCU have a long-standing relationship as part of the Cisco Networking Academy, of which BCU leads one of its Academy Support Centres and Instructor Training Centres. BCU recently celebrated 25 years of partnership with the Cisco Networking Academy and has been recognised as a Premier+ Partner, an accolade awarded to the top 5% of Partners globally.
BCU plays a crucial role in Cisco Networking Academy’s ecosystem, supporting over 80 Academies and working directly with students to develop technology skills across AI, cyber-security, networking and much more.