Aston University has unveiled a new million-pound, AI-enabled business hub in Birmingham, strengthening the city’s innovation and enterprise ecosystem and providing a new base for entrepreneurs, start-ups and scale-up businesses.
The Aston Business Hub, located on Woodcock Street, forms part of a wider investment by the university to support business growth through advanced technology, academic expertise and practical, hands-on support.
AI at the Heart of Business Growth
Central to the new hub is an AI-led growth engine designed to help businesses move from early-stage ideas to sustainable, scalable operations. The system combines structured business diagnostics with expert guidance, enabling founders and leadership teams to identify opportunities, prioritise investment and develop clear, AI-informed growth roadmaps.
The approach is designed to demystify artificial intelligence for businesses, helping them embed AI into decision-making, strategy and operations in a way that delivers tangible commercial impact.
Flexible Workspace for Growing Companies
The Aston Business Hub offers modern, adaptable workspace tailored to the needs of early-stage and high-growth firms. Facilities include hot desks, meeting rooms and collaborative areas designed to encourage innovation, knowledge sharing and partnership working.
By providing flexible space alongside targeted business support, the hub aims to create an environment where companies can grow without the constraints often associated with traditional office models.
Access to Academic Expertise and Talent
Businesses based at the hub will benefit from close links to Aston University’s academic community. Through initiatives such as the PhD+ Programme and research-led projects, companies can collaborate with researchers and doctoral students, gaining access to advanced expertise and fresh perspectives.
The hub also offers a direct pipeline to industry-ready students and graduates seeking placements, internships and employment opportunities — helping businesses access talent while supporting graduate retention in Birmingham.
Proven SME Growth Support
Business support at the hub is delivered by the Aston Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (ACEE) Grow team, which specialises in externally focused growth programmes for small and medium-sized enterprises.
These initiatives are rooted in academic research but designed for real-world application. They include the nationally recognised “Help to Grow: Management” programme, co-developed by Aston Business School, which has supported more than 10,000 SME leaders across the UK, with the vast majority reporting improvements in leadership and management capability.
Experienced Leadership Driving AI Innovation
The hub’s Entrepreneur in Residence is Yiannis Maos MBE, a well-known figure in the region’s technology sector. With a track record of scaling successful tech ventures — including an AI business that exited for £55 million — Maos brings both strategic insight and practical experience to the role.
He will work closely with businesses at the hub to support AI-driven growth, offering specialist advice, consultations and regular drop-in sessions. His appointment also reinforces Birmingham’s ambition to build on its position as one of the UK’s fastest-growing tech regions.
Part of Birmingham’s Innovation Future
The opening of the Aston Business Hub aligns with the wider Birmingham Innovation Precinct, which aims to bring together research, enterprise and knowledge exchange across the Midlands. The initiative reflects a growing focus on place-based innovation, where universities, businesses and public partners collaborate to drive economic growth.
Senior leaders at Aston University say the hub represents a long-term commitment to supporting Birmingham’s entrepreneurial community, providing the tools, expertise and environment needed for businesses to thrive in a rapidly changing, AI-driven economy.
As the hub opens its doors, it adds another important piece to Birmingham’s innovation infrastructure — one designed to help local businesses not only start up, but scale up and succeed.
