 Shinnie's goalscoring form dipped as the season wore on – he produced only three goals in the 17 matches after the League Cup Final, compared with thirteen from 28 before it.– but his general form earned him a place on the four-man shortlist for the 2012–13 SPFA Players' Player of the Year Award and a place in the PFA Scotland SPL Team of the Year

In April, Shinnie signed a pre-contract agreement to join English Football League Championship club Birmingham City when his Inverness contract expired at the end of the season.He stated the move was "a difficult decision", but that "a three-year deal in a good league like the Championship was the right decision."