Pictured: (l-r) Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council, Greg Clark MP and Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP Chair Andy Street in front of Baskerville House

Seven organisations across Birmingham will be sharing space at Baskerville House to form the Birmingham Business Hub - a single location that will provide integrated expertise and support for businesses based in the city or looking to move there.

The Hub brings together the following organisations: Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Marketing Birmingham, Finance Birmingham, Birmingham Forward, key elements of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group, Aston Reinvestment Trust and Birmingham City Council.

Andy Street, Chair of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP, said:

"It makes perfect sense for the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP to be co-located with other organisations in the city that are dedicated to the economic development of the area. The Hub is a tremendous step forward for the city, providing a front door for companies looking to invest and expand here."

Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council, added:

"Birmingham is truly raising its game in terms of economic promotion and business development, and it is formidable news that many of the organisations involved in our growth are now able to work much more closely together. The Hub will provide the right environment for collaboration, and sophisticated public-private sector working - enabling people from across Birmingham, and the City Region, to share their expertise for the benefit of the entire business community."

Said Neil Rami, Chief Executive of Marketing Birmingham:

"The Hub will help Marketing Birmingham, through its inward investment programme Business Birmingham, to promote the city as a highly attractive destination for companies considering investing in Birmingham. Working even more closely with the other organisations at the Hub will enable us to provide a streamlined and coordinated approach to investor development."

The Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP held its latest board meeting at Baskerville House today, which was attended by Greg Clark MP, Minister for Cities. Clark, who welcomed this development, said:

"Birmingham's new Business Hub is a great example of how different bodies can join forces to work most effectively for the city - helping to generate investment, growth and jobs. Birmingham and its neighbouring areas have the potential to make an enormous contribution to jobs and the prosperity of the whole country. I hope that this initiative will help reinforce the strength of everyone working locally to boost the economy."

David Waller, Chairman of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group, added:

"Baskerville House is the ideal base for the Hub. An impressive landmark building, it provides us with a cost-effective central location alongside Birmingham's business community, and accessible transport links.

"Key Chamber departments will move into the Hub, including elements of the Chief Executive's office, the Policy, Press and PR and International Trade teams. Otherwise, the Chamber will continue to operate from its existing Edgbaston headquarters. The move represents a tremendous opportunity for the Chamber to pursue independently the interests of private sector companies in the heart of a business support operation which involves key elements of the public sector. An immediate benefit to the Chamber is the opportunity to access the significant research and analytical resources held by Marketing Birmingham."

Philippa Pickavance, Head of Agency Midlands at Drivers Jonas Deloitte - which advised on the move to Baskerville House - commented:

"It is a pleasure to have advised on the Hub's creation at Baskerville House, and to have negotiated a cost effective deal for Marketing Birmingham. We look forward to seeing it up and running early next year when our project management colleagues will have completed overseeing the fit out works. It really is good to see the various City organisations working together as one from The Hub to promote the many benefits of this City."

The Birmingham Business Hub will be operated by Marketing Birmingham and occupy some 14,000 square feet on the ground floor of Baskerville House. Marketing Birmingham has already relocated from Millennium Point to Baskerville House, and the Hub will be fully operational from early January 2012. In total, up to 120 people from the seven organisations will be based at the Hub. The space will provide seven meeting rooms - including a conference room that can accommodate up to 35 people.