Jeremy Dale honoured for taking the club’s charitable arm to next level
The chief executive of Birmingham City FC has been named “Male Innovator of the Year” at the 2025 Innovation Awards for helping transform the impact of the club’s Foundation charity.
Jeremy Dale has expanded the Blues’ impact in the local community with new initiatives such as the Academy Schools and Blue Nose Day where 14,000 Christmas gifts are given to children in the city each year.
From helping 3,000 people a year to 34,000
Under his direction, the Club’s Foundation charity has gone from supporting 3,000 people a year to 34,000.
His prestigious accolade was announced, after a year-long process of voting and judging, at a finale awards dinner attended by 500 people at Eastside Rooms in Birmingham.
Expressing his “delight” on behalf of “so many people and the club and the [BCFC] Foundation,” Dale said: “I always think innovation is a team effort and everyone at the club and the Foundation has really pushed to transform the football club but also help to regenerate the city. That’s what we’re really proud about.
“When we first came in, Tom Wagner wrote an open letter to the fans on the very first day and he said we would be a positive force for good in the communities in which we operate, and we’ve been very focused on doing that.”
In the year before Knighthead took over, the BCFC Foundation helped 3,217 people, whereas “last year it helped over 34,000 people in the city, and this year our goal is 61,000,” said Dale.
£4bn investment bringing 14,000 long-term jobs in the new Sports Quarter
On the new Sports Quarter, the site of which is a stone’s throw from the Blues’ existing ground, St Andrew’s, Dale added: “This will be £4 billion of investment coming into the city. It will create 16,000 jobs during construction, 14,000 jobs afterwards, and it will lift the whole of the city.
“And that’s been possible because of the fabulous ambition and vision and investment from Wagner and the Knighthead board.”
Innovation Awards open to businesses, organisations and individuals across the UK
Dr Richard Fallon, CEO of the Technology Supply Chain (TSC) membership organisation, which runs the annual Innovation Awards, said: “Congratulations to Jeremy Dale, Birmingham City FC and the BCFC Foundation.
“We had more entries than ever before this year, and the competition for each category was stronger than it’s ever been.
“Each winner can be justifiably proud and can look forward to ongoing support from the 5,000-member TSC network as they chart their course to future success.”
The Innovation Awards recognise, celebrate and reward the businesses, organisations and individuals who are dedicated to innovation.
The awards are open to innovative individuals, businesses and organisations – including universities, local councils and catapults – based in the UK.
