Punjabi Sikh Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Sikhism was born in Punjab in the 15th century, and almost all Sikh families in Birmingham have roots in the Punjab. Many came in the 1950s and 1960s to work in foundries and factories, and others arrived from East Africa in the late 1960s and 1970s.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 10,594 residents whose main language is Punjabi gave their religion as Sikh; and 33,126 residents gave their religion as Sikh. Most Sikh Brummies speak English as their main language, so the Sikh figure gives the fuller picture.

Working for Birmingham

From the factory floor, Punjabi Sikhs moved into every profession. Sikh doctors, dentists, pharmacists, engineers, lawyers, police officers, teachers and business owners serve the whole city, and Sikh builders and tradespeople have built and repaired homes in every neighbourhood.

Healthcare, education and the skilled trades are three of the pillars of the city's economy. The NHS is one of Birmingham's biggest employers, its universities teach tens of thousands of students, and there is steady demand for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, decorators and handymen in every neighbourhood, alongside business, transport, hospitality, retail and the city's growing digital and creative industries. People from every background keep these sectors running, and the Punjabi Sikh community shares in that effort.

Culture and community life

Vaisakhi brings tens of thousands of people to Handsworth Park each spring, following a colourful procession. Langar, the free kitchen in every gurdwara, serves anyone in need, and Sikh volunteers have fed people across the city in hard times. Bhangra and Punjabi music fill every celebration.

The story of the Punjabi Sikh community in Birmingham is still being written, by students, workers, parents and pensioners who call the city home. It is a story of hard work, friendship and quiet pride, and Birmingham is richer for it.