New AI education centre opens in Birmingham to expand skills training

The School of Coding & AI has launched a £2.5 million artificial intelligence lab in Birmingham, transforming the disused upper floor of its campus into a facility designed to increase accessibility and inclusiveness in higher education. The development comes as global companies such as Google and Microsoft announce major UK investments in AI.

The facility includes AI labs, an interactive AI avatar, game design facilities, a podcast room, an in-house research centre, and computing classrooms. It is described as the first of its kind in the country. The School of Coding & AI announced the campus in November 2024, and it has now opened.

The School of Coding & AI, which opened its Birmingham campus earlier this year in partnership with the University of Wolverhampton, began with 800 students enrolled. A further 500 students joined this month. The institution now has 13 lecturers across computer science, business management, and health and social care.

Manny Athwal, founder and CEO of the School of Coding & AI, said: “Our core belief is that education should be accessible, inclusive, and empowering. This isn’t just about technology for technology’s sake. We’ve built more than classrooms – this is a space where students can experiment, innovate, and be inspired.”

The opening was attended by Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, who has included AI skills development in his Growth Plan. His ambition is to make the West Midlands a centre for AI training, ensuring adults across the region can access free opportunities to learn how to use AI at home, work, or in the community.

Parker said: “As jobs become increasingly digital and data-driven, AI will become a core skill just like English or Maths that people use in their everyday lives, at work, home or in the community.

“I’m making AI skills training a priority and easily available to everyone, so no one is left behind. My goal is to make the West Midlands the UK leader for AI skills.”

Centre manager Jathin Babu Kante added: “Our priority is to change the lives of our students. We don’t want them to just sit there, learn and go away. We want them to feel like they’re part of something bigger.”

Many of the students at the Birmingham site are adults returning to education, some with limited digital literacy or confidence in classroom settings. Staff provide additional support to ensure learners can develop skills and progress in their studies.

Image source: School of Coding & AI