The Centre for the New Midlands celebrates the successful delivery of its Connections for Prosperity: Beyond the Sport conference, held on 5 February 2026 at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham. The event brought together over 250 delegates — including leaders from sport, business, policy, infrastructure and community sectors — for a day of insightful discussions, bold ideas and meaningful connections around the theme of sports-led regeneration in the West Midlands.
Headline support from E.ON, with key sponsorship from Gleeds, Mott MacDonald and Gowling WLG, ensured a high-impact, full-day programme showcasing a range of perspectives on how sport can drive economic, social and place-making benefits across the region.
The conference programme featured a dynamic schedule of sessions, expertly curated by a steering group of sport and infrastructure practitioners. Highlights included:
- Opening session on sports-led regeneration, exploring why the West Midlands is uniquely positioned to harness sport as a catalyst for investment, civic pride and transformation.
- Winning Formulas: the Dos and Don’ts of Sports-Led Regeneration, where industry leaders unpacked best practices and lessons learned from major projects.
- A focused look at Aston Villa’s major regeneration project and how sporting excellence can accelerate broader urban renewal.
- A session on job creation and skills, assessing whether sport-driven investment delivers sustainable employment and upskilling opportunities for local communities.
- Political leadership in driving change, with insight into strategic planning and regional governance’s role in unlocking impact.
- Future-focused discussions on the region’s readiness to consistently win major events and what that means for infrastructure, tourism and legacy.
- Exploration of Birmingham’s new Sports Quarter project, spotlighting opportunities for collaboration between business, public agencies and community groups.
- A powerful closing session on the life-changing impact of sport, featuring personal testimonies and practical examples of sport strengthening social cohesion and wellbeing.
Commenting on the day’s success, Chris Smith, Founder and CEO of the Centre for the New Midlands, said:
“Connections for Prosperity: Beyond the Sport has reinforced the West Midlands as a living laboratory for ambitious and sustainable sport-led regeneration. The ideas exchanged, partnerships formed, and energy generated will continue to ripple through our region’s economic and social fabric.”
Delegates praised the depth of content, the quality of speakers, and the opportunity to engage with practitioners driving real-world impact. Feedback highlighted the value of bringing together voices from diverse sectors — from sport and infrastructure to skills, community development and policy — to collectively shape the future of the region.
With momentum building from this year’s discussions, the Centre for the New Midlands looks forward to continuing the conversation and supporting action that turns ambition into measurable outcomes for communities across the West Midlands. The expectation is for the Centre to host a similar event in February 2027 in which it intends to take stock of how business and communities have fared over the previous 12 months and if the ambitions set out in February 2026 came to fruition.
