Blues and University of Birmingham form alliance ahead of major anniversaries

University of Birmingham and Birmingham City Football Club (BCFC) have announced an alliance, bringing together two of Birmingham’s most iconic institutions around a shared ambition for the city’s success.

The alliance, which comes as the university and BCFC celebrate their 125th and 150th anniversaries, will create opportunities in research, education and health, raise aspirations across Birmingham, and enhance the city’s reputation on the global stage. 

Ranked sixth in the QS World University Rankings for sport, the University will deliver performance gains from the BCFC Academy to the Women's and Men's First Teams.

Using expertise across data science, physical performance, medicine, coaching, psychology and rehabilitation, the alliance will drive forward new and smarter ways of working.

Alongside this, the University community of 40,000 students and 8,000 staff will have access to a local football club, providing internships, job opportunities and entertainment in a collaborative way.

The alliance will also focus on health inequalities, enabling trusted reach into under-served Birmingham neighbourhoods, where life expectancy is currently among the lowest in the country.

The work of the University’s experts, aligned with Birmingham Health Partners and the government’s new priorities for the NHS, will focus on early detection of ill health and unlocking access to clinical trials, alongside learning from the local community how its healthcare needs are best addressed.

University of Birmingham vice-chancellor, Professor Adam Tickell, said: “With long-established roots in Birmingham allied to a global outlook and reach, we see strong connections and opportunities with BCFC.

“We will work together, using our expertise to help the club advance its mission to become a ‘beacon of excellence for Birmingham’ on the global stage.”

BCFC’s Academy will benefit from a sophisticated character education programme, developed by the university, to ensure that a pipeline of young, talented footballers are prepared to cope with the psychological demands of elite-level sport.

This same programme will be applied through the club’s foundation and implemented in the work it does in the city’s schools.

The university and BCFC will also partner in the areas of media and storytelling, expanding the narrative of what makes Birmingham great and taking this story to a larger global audience.

Students studying for degrees in digital media and communications and in creative industries will have the opportunity to work with the football club on a range of projects.

To commemorate the start of the alliance, the Birmingham City Women’s team Championship match versus Sheffield United on 16 February has been designated ‘University of Birmingham Day’.

All university staff and students are invited to attend the game as guests of BCFC.

Jeremy Dale, interim chief executive officer at Birmingham City said: “The University of Birmingham is recognised as one of the leading institutions of knowledge and research.

“To tap into that incredible organisation and work with them to make us smarter and accelerate our progression is so very exciting.

“When you are transforming a city through a football club, you need transformative partnerships, and this is certainly one.

“Together we can raise the profile of Birmingham on the global stage and do so in a way that will benefit the city. It is another example of Birmingham on the rise.”

Based on data from the 2021-22 academic year, the University’s total economic and social impact is £4.4 billion, supporting nearly 20,000 FTE jobs in the UK.

More than 13,000 of those are in the West Midlands, with one in 50 jobs in Birmingham being directly provided by the University.

Pictured from left to right: Jonty Castle (chief commercial and operations officer); Amy Merricks (women's head coach, Birmingham City FC); Professor Adam Tickell (vice-chancellor, University of Birmingham); Chris Davies (men's first team manager, Birmingham City FC); Professor Deborah Longworth (pro-vice-chancellor, Education), and John Clarke (chief fan experience officer).