Severn Trent has today announced a major £4m investment in Birmingham, rejuvenating its existing Edgbaston water site and transforming it into a flagship building in the Midlands - with new jobs being created.

Known for its heritage, the Edgbaston site is home to the famous Grade II listed Water Tower. The building, first designed in 1870, and nearby Perrott’s Folly are widely thought to be the inspiration for the Two Towers in J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.

The Edgbaston site is now set for investment and transformation and will soon be welcoming hundreds of Severn Trent colleagues to the city, whilst also creating a pipeline of future jobs and opportunities – establishing Edgbaston as a major hub for the Midlands based FTSE 100 company.

As well as moving existing teams to Birmingham, Severn Trent also expects to create entry-level roles over the coming months, as the company continues to grow ahead of delivering a £15 billion investment across the Midlands over the next five years – one of the biggest in the sectors.

The announcement of the Edgbaston makeover comes on the same week as Severn Trent’s Big Boost for Brum jobs fair, taking place on 5th June at St Andrew’s Stadium, where over 39 local employers will be offering jobs and training opportunities—confirming Severn Trent’s commitment to investing in Birmingham’s future and those living here.

Neil Morrison, HR Director at Severn Trent, said: “Birmingham is the biggest city in our region and the UK’s second city—so investing in new office space, creating a major midlands hub and growing our teams here was a no-brainer.

“While the site currently supports our water network teams, this investment will bring up to 300 additional employees to the location—utilising our spaces and bringing more people, teams, and opportunities to Brum.

“As we kick off our biggest investment programme ever, we’re committed to creating more jobs and growing as a business. So we’re excited to be able to announce a number of entry-level roles right here in Edgbaston coming up in the new few weeks.”

Preet Gill, MP for Edgbaston, added:  “It’s great to see businesses investing in new facilities that support a future pipeline of opportunities and skills right here in Edgbaston.

“Birmingham is a brilliant place for businesses to grow, and giving local people access to good jobs on their doorstep is really exciting. We have a very young city, and new opportunities will generate hope for young people in my constituency.

“I look forward to seeing the transformation at Edgbaston and more people kickstarting their careers with Severn Trent.”

Work on the Edgbaston refurbishment site has started and full completion of work will take up to 18 months. The company expects to be able to welcome new teams as it upsizes as early as Autumn 2025.

This investment builds on Severn Trent’s wider commitment to Birmingham. In 2022, the company pledged to support 100,000 people by tackling the root causes of poverty, including long-term unemployment.

Birmingham currently has one of the highest unemployment rates in the UK at 7.2%, compared to the national average of 4.3%. That said, 70% of investors are optimistic about the city’s growth over the next five years.

Severn Trent is committed to creating opportunities and removing barriers to work as the company has hosted three major jobs fairs in the city, collaborated with hundreds of top employers, partnered with local schools, and launched a programme to support care leavers with work experience.

Its fourth Big Boost for Brum jobs fair takes place on 5th June at St Andrew’s Stadium, where over 39 employers will be in attendance with hundreds of jobs and opportunities on offer.

Neil added: “We know from our work in Birmingham that the city is full of diversity and potential. We’re excited to grow here, relocate teams to Edgbaston, and create new jobs that help boost the regional economy and be part of a positive move in Birmingham.”

Severn Trent will ensure that upcoming roles at the new Edgbaston site are accessible, with many entry-level positions designed to help more people in Birmingham into work.

To find more details about tomorrow’s Big Boost event, where people can hear more about current jobs at Severn Trent – people can register their interest here: Severn Trent's Big Boost for Brum Jobs Fair Tickets, Thu, Jun 5, 2025 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite