Spanish Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Spain lies on the Iberian Peninsula in south-west Europe and is famous for its cities, beaches, art and food. Spanish is one of the world's most widely spoken languages. Many Spaniards came to Britain after 2008, and Spanish nurses were recruited to work in the NHS. Spaniards in Birmingham include professionals, students and families.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 3,336 people living in the city had been born in Spain; and 1,065 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Spanish.

Working for Birmingham

Spanish nurses, doctors and healthcare workers serve patients in Birmingham's hospitals, and Spanish teachers, academics, engineers and hospitality professionals work across the city. Spanish restaurants and tapas bars have become popular, and Spanish language skills are in demand.

Birmingham is one of the youngest and most diverse cities in Europe, and its progress has always depended on people who chose to make it home. Its hospitals, schools and universities, its building sites, workshops, warehouses and kitchens all rely on skills brought from around the world. The Spanish community adds its own share to that effort, and takes pride in giving back to the city that welcomed it.

Culture and community life

Spanish food, from tapas and paella to churros and jamon, is loved in Birmingham. Christmas, with its Twelfth Night celebration on 6 January, and Easter are important festivals, and flamenco music and dance are admired worldwide. Football is a national passion.

In a city where scores of languages are spoken, the Spanish community adds another voice to the conversation. Its members, old and new, are helping to make Birmingham the confident, outward-looking city it wants to be.