Tech giant Microsoft has thrown its weight behind the potential economic legacy of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The US company has announced a new joint initiative with the West Midlands Combined Authority which will focus on delivering digital skills in the region and the financial investment to support it.
The multi-year initiative will build on both the legacy of the Commonwealth Games, the combined authority’s regional digital skills bootcamps and Microsoft’s nationwide ‘On’ campaign to help 1.5 million people in the UK build a career in technology. It comes as property hosting platform Airbnb promised £500,000 to support community-led tourism projects across the West Midlands in the wake of the quadrennial games which finished on Monday.
The partnerships were revealed on Legacy Day as part of the ongoing Business and Tourism Programme, an initiative established to boost the local economic impact of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The three-year programme is designed to boost tourism, investment, events and exports into and across the region. It has so far held more than 300 events and developed 28 new tourism products.
Among the events secured for the region are the International Ceramics Conference 2028 and International Working Group World Conference on Women & Sport 2026, said to be the world’s largest gathering of experts on gender equality in sport and physical activity.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: “This summer’s spectacular Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games must represent a starting point and not a finish line in the rebirth of our region if we are to make the most of this moment of collective celebration.
“I want to see these games go on to deliver a lasting legacy for the people of the West Midlands for generations to come. The Business and Tourism Programme was always an integral part of that agenda and I’m delighted that it has been a resounding success in terms of major events held, media coverage secured and investments won.
“We have seen a three times increase in our pipeline of business and inward investment leads. Now, we must build on this momentum to maximise the economic impact of the games in the weeks, months and years ahead.”
