admin, Author at Millennium Point

We are delighted to announce that Asima Adnan from Dudley has been named the winner of this year’s life-changing Millennium Point Charitable Trust Scholarship, earning a fully-funded degree at Birmingham City University (BCU). This degree is joint funded by Millennium Point Charitable Trust in Partnership with Birmingham City University.

Asima’s journey to Scholarship victory

The 37-year-old mum of five is currently studying Social Science and Humanities at Dudley College, with future plans to study a degree in planning.

All the finalists attended an assessment day at Millennium Point, where they each presented to a panel of five judges, Asima impressed the panel and was selected as the lucky winner of the Scholarship, which has already helped launch the careers of six outstanding STEM students.

Pictured left to right: Abbie Vlahakis, CEO of Millennium Point and Scholarship winner Asima Adnan.

The Scholarship winner said “Being told I had won felt amazing – I was shocked and got quite emotional; I couldn’t believe that someone would do something like this for me.

“I feel very lucky, knowing how hard everyone has worked to raise this money and then helped me with it, makes me want to work even harder and do well. I know I have the potential to do well, I just needed the opportunity and support.

“I am so excited and looking forward to the next chapter of my life. I hope I can be an inspiration to everyone who thinks that they can’t do it, because if I can do it, you can too.”

A few words from the CEO

Abbie Vlahakis, CEO of Millennium Point added: “We were really impressed by the quality of all the finalists; their passion, drive and knowledge of not only their own chosen subject but STEM in general.

“Asima embodies everything about the Millennium Point Trust Scholarship, which is here to support individuals with true grit and determination to succeed, and through their studies aim to have a positive influence on society in the West Midlands. Asima will be an excellent ambassador for Millennium Point Trust, proving that we can all achieve our dreams, no matter what life throws in our way. Asima will also be an excellent role model for women in STEM.”

“The scholarship is the flagship initiative from the Millennium Point Charitable Trust and exemplifies our commitment to supporting STEM; in 2020 alone, the Trust invested more than £560,000 in STEM-related organisations, projects and initiatives, based in the West Midlands.”

Identifying STEM talent

Now approaching it’s ninth year, the Millennium Point Trust Scholarship has already changed the lives of eight people from the region through their degrees, including 2017 Sagal Qodah, who has since gone on to graduate with a First Class Honours degree in Civil Engineering.

Apply for the 2022 Scholarship

Each year, the Millennium Point Charitable Trust jointly funds an undergraduate degree in partnership with Birmingham City University at their Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, which covers over 20 different courses across computing, digital technology, engineering and the built environment. We’re helping people across the region unlock their future in STEM. For more information on how to apply or get involved in the 2022 Scholarship program please, visit www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/scholarship.

Find more interesting content from Millennium Point over at our news section, or follow us for daily updates on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn with @MillenniumPoint. Millennium Point is a landmark public building and multi-award-winning events venue in the Eastside of Birmingham City centre. Profits from our commercial activity are invested by the Millennium Point Charitable Trust into projects, events and initiatives which support the growth of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and education in the West Midlands.

After six successful coding Bootcamps including full-time, part-time and fully remote courses, the School of Code is back again this summer with a free coding boot camp for people in the West Midlands.

Starting on 26th July 2021, the Bootcamp will be full-time, intensive, and 100% FREE to all residents in the West Midlands. There are no prerequisites and no previous experience required – those applying for the course don’t even need to have seen a line of code before. School of Code takes a learner from beginner to software developer in just 16 weeks before helping them find their first role in tech.

Future proofing local tech talent

With rising automation, a changing job landscape, and the economic crisis caused by COVID-19, technology will be the engine driving the recovery of our regional economy. Dr Chris Meah, Founder of the School of Code states ‘Technology will be the engine of recovery for the country, but we need to make sure everyone is on board to benefit. At the School of Code we are open to everyone to help more and different types of people take advantage of the opportunities technology gives, and to future proof their skills and career.

These free coding bootcamps offer a short, intensive, immersive and transformational learning sprint to a new career. Bootcamps change lives and power growth by giving participants the right skills to be immediately useful to employers on day one and, most crucially, helps people to also learn how to learn.

Working together to drive success in STEM

With 125,000 unfilled tech jobs in the UK every year, our friends at the School of Code aim to equip its recruits with the skills that industry needs, as well as helping them find exciting career opportunities afterwards. School of Code’s cohorts had an enviable 75%-95% employment rate even during the COVID-19 pandemic. The course prides itself on being open to anyone, with a 50:50 gender split, age-range of 18-60, and demographics matching those of Birmingham. Previous graduates have successfully secured roles at The Economist, Bravissimo, Santander, Wise, VoxPopMe, Dunelm, and many more great companies in the region.

Like the mission of the Millennium Point Charitable Trust, The School of Code hopes to challenge existing stereotypes of the tech sector and encourage diversity in the workplace by making it more accessible for everyone to enter and benefit from this thriving industry.

A Partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority

The School of Code is focused on providing a free route into tech, and is supported by the West Midlands Combined Authority through Mayor Andy Street’s “Beat the Bots” fund as well as through employers who hire through the course. They aim to continue to show more people that learning to code is fun, sociable, team-based and for everyone.

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “In the face of the coronavirus pandemic, sadly many people are going to fall out of work, but re-training or improving your current skills is a great way of finding employment again quickly. The Coding Bootcamp being offered by School of Code will help do exactly that.

“I would urge everyone of any age to look into the option of coding, and the success of people like Clare Streets, who went from being a stay-at-home mum to now running B13 Technologies, shows just what a difference it can make.”

Applications are open now for Bootcamp 7. You can enrol now by visiting: www.schoolofcode.co.uk

Talking Point: The Future of Events was our well received free, two-hour hybrid conference which took place both online and in person inside Millennium Point’s newly refurbished Auditorium on Wednesday 26^th May, from 2pm – 4pm.

The conference perspectives from across the events sector, as well as provide valuable insights and a platform to debate the road to recovery, current trends, sustainability, and the impact of Covid-19 on customers’ relationships to events and hospitality. The event also gave the public and clients first look at our auditorium since it’s refurbishment which now features a larger stage, lighting and enhanced AV technology alongside the launch of our hybrid and virtual packages. You can watch the replay of the event below:

The first panel, Events & Hospitality: Roadmap to Recovery (2pm-3pm), discussed key trends, innovations and roadblocks to consider over the next 18 months. Panellists include Rebecca Delmore, Commercial Director at Millennium Point alongside Chris Peacock, Head of Events at Conference Care, Jo Parkin, Executive Assistant to the CEO of Alpro and Paul Colston, Managing Editor of the International Portfolio at Mash Media (Exhibition World and Conference & Meetings World).

During the second panel, Going Green: The Importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (3pm-4pm), guests will hear a range of views on the growing demand for sustainable events, the challenges and opportunities of hybrid events and the impact of green initiatives such as clean air zones. Panellists include Victoria Webb, Sales Manager at Millennium Point, Andrew Perolls, CEO of Greengage Solutions, Anne Shaw and Chris Peacock, Head of Events at Conference Care.

The event was hosted by events industry veteran Neil Thompson, Founder of popular event professionals network The Delegate Wranglers.

Our virtual and hybrid packages are now live. For any enquiries or for a personalised tour of our venue by a member of our friendly events team, please call 0121 202 2200 or use the online enquiry form here.

Film fans rejoice! We’re back once again with a series of much-loved movie classics in our new and improved giant screen auditorium this summer, complete with special movie-themed cocktails, wine and trivia by our friends and resident film geeks at The Wine & Events Company.

Our Auditorium (formerly the first IMAX cinema in Birmingham), will reopen and screen three classic films this summer – starting with Steven Spielberg’s definitive 80’s classic, Back to the Future on Friday 4th June. Millennium Point events has teamed up with innovative event specialists The Wine Events Company, who will pause the films to provide movie trivia and themed cocktails or wine during the screenings to movie-lovers.

Kicking off we have the 80s sci-fi favourite Back to the Future on Friday 4 June. Cinema-goers can immerse themselves in the time travelling action, as well as indulge in five movie-themed wines. On Saturday 17 July, guests will have the time of their lives, as they watch Dirty Dancing on the big screen, whilst enjoying four themed cocktails. The final screening at our iconic city centre venue will take place on Sunday 8 August, as film-lovers can enjoy the 70s Spielberg classic Jaws and dive into four delicious themed cocktails.

Keeping Movie-Goers Safe

Our multi-award-winning events team at Millennium Point has introduced several hygiene and safety measures to ensure that the screenings are safe for all film fans to enjoy. These include reduced capacity in the Auditorium with allocated seating, hand sanitising stations throughout the venue, a cashless and contactless experience, as well as social distancing measures and PPE for all staff.

Tickets for Back to the Future are priced at £31.95 per person (plus fees) and include five glasses of themed wine. Tickets for Dirty Dancing and Jaws are priced at £35.95 per person (plus fees) and include four delicious film-themed cocktails, which will be served to visitors throughout the film. Tickets can only be bought in groups of two or more to ensure groups don’t mix.

To book tickets for the Millennium Point cinema screenings, please visit:

Back to the Future: millenniumpoint.org.uk/back-to-the-future/
Dirty Dancing: millenniumpoint.org.uk/millennium-point-presents-dirty-dancing-with-cocktails/
Jaws:millenniumpoint.org.uk/millennium-point-presents-jaws-1975-with-cocktails/

We’re very excited to announce our latest partnership with the Wine Events Company, and can’t wait to welcome movie-lovers from across the region back to our big screen this summer to enjoy a truly memorable and immersive experience.

The Auditorium is also available for hire as an events space. For all enquiries, please contact [email protected] or call 0121 202 2200.

There’s only a few days remaining before we bring together a panel of experts to debate the future of events in a post lockdown world.

Talking Point: The Future of Events is a free, two-hour hybrid conference taking place both online and in person at Millennium Point’s newly refurbished Auditorium on Wednesday 26^th May, from 2pm – 4pm.

The conference will feature perspectives from across the sector, as well as provide valuable insights and a platform to debate the road to recovery, current trends, sustainability, and the impact of Covid-19 on customers’ relationships to events and hospitality. It will also give the public a first look at our auditorium since it’s £350,000 refurbishment which now features a larger stage, lighting and enhanced AV technology alongside the launch of our hybrid and virtual packages.

The first panel, Events & Hospitality: Roadmap to Recovery (2pm-3pm), will discuss key trends, innovations and roadblocks to consider over the next 18 months. Panellists include Rebecca Delmore, Commercial Director at Millennium Point alongside Chris Peacock, Head of Events at Conference Care, Jo Parkin, Executive Assistant to the CEO of Alpro and Paul Colston, Managing Editor of the International Portfolio at Mash Media (Exhibition World and Conference & Meetings World), and Holly Andrews, Head of Producers at DRP Group.

During the second panel, Going Green: The Importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (3pm-4pm), guests will hear a range of views on the growing demand for sustainable events, the challenges and opportunities of hybrid events and the impact of green initiatives such as clean air zones. Panellists include Victoria Webb, Sales Manager at Millennium Point, Andrew Perolls, CEO of Greengage Solutions, Anne Shaw, and Chris Peacock, Head of Events at Conference Care.

We’ve reached a pivotal moment for the events industry, as venues are finally able to reopen, and the government’s pilot events for larger audiences are underway.

Our conference will provide the opportunity for guests from across the events sector to come together, both in person and virtually, to share insight on the challenges and opportunities that lie in store over the year ahead. We’ve had a fantastic response so far and we’re looking forward to what promises to be a lively and engaging series of debates.

Tickets to Talking Point: The Future of Events are free and available for either physical attendance or viewing online via a live stream. To find out more and book tickets, visit www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/talking-point/.

The Millennium Point Scholarship is an annual competition in partnership with Birmingham City University which awards a fully funded undergraduate degree at the faculty of Computing, Engineering, and the Built Environment. Now in its seventh year, we look at the STEM leaders behind this year’s judging panel.

Hanifa is Pro Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment at Birmingham City University.

She is a firm advocate of the Millennium Point Trust Scholarship, and has been involved in the competition for several years on behalf of the university:

“From our point of view, and for our partners at Millennium Point Trust, it’s really important that we create opportunities in STEM-related subjects for people from a diverse range of backgrounds, and that’s why we’re committed to doing this. We think it’s incumbent on us to create these opportunities and be part of that ecosystem that drives opportunities for people who might not consider going into STEM and STEM-related careers.”

She adds: “I think the second part of this is really from the point of view of the students themselves – the scholarship is a fantastic opportunity to go into a STEM-related subject to develop the professional capabilities that will launch them into a great career.

“Following on from the global pandemic, there’s going to be changes that are technological, economic and societal, and these are going to require a response from STEM-related industries, and as a result of this there are going to be new jobs created, new types of jobs and new opportunities.

“With the focus on things like sustainable living, the electrification of vehicles and artificial intelligence, these are very much reliant on STEM,” says Hanifa. “Therefore, we need to develop the skills in the region if we’re going to drive the opportunities.

“STEM-related jobs are growing at a faster pace than non-STEM-related jobs – a huge opportunity area for the region and anybody who’s developing skills and capabilities in this field. In addition, STEM graduates are known to earn more than non-STEM graduates – a lot of people don’t realise that.”

“Studying for a STEM subject means not only will they become a professional in an area that’s really important, but they’ll also develop more general, transferrable skills around creativity, problem solving, designing, developing, making and becoming self-organised and efficient.”

Hanifa has a clear view on what she wants from the scholarship finalists:

“I’m looking for someone that demonstrates real passion for their subject, and I’d like to see that evidence through them being able to show a broader understanding of the importance of key aspects of their subject, alongside some important details as well,” she explains.

“Have they thought of really important questions? Have they made us think when they’ve talked to us about their subject with passion? Have they shown us that they’ll be someone who will make the most of this life-changing opportunity?”

For more information on the scholarship competition, or how to apply, please visit www.millenniumpoint.org.uk

Abbie is CEO of Millennium Point, and head judge for the Millennium Point Trust Scholarship 2021. Abbie has been instrumental to the project since her appointment as CEO in 2018, ensuring that the impact of the project remains significant and in line with overall objective of the Millennium Point Trust to grow STEM education and opportunities in Birmingham and the wider region.

“I think STEM is important to the region because it’s the careers of today and it’s also the careers of the future,” she says.

“The scholarship is incredibly important – it’s about showcasing STEM and supporting people, because if you change a child’s life then you change a family’s life and their future and that’s everything that we want to do. STEM is about creating things, solving problems, and these issues will never go away, and so STEM careers will always be there,” she adds.

“They’re also beginning to underpin lots of the traditional careers – so whether you’re a lawyer, an accountant or in medicine, STEM is behind all of that. There’s also a huge skills gap in STEM at the moment, and if we can get more and more people into STEM careers, that will be great for the economy and great for the region.

Abbie continues: “The scholarship is really important to Millennium Point, and it is one of our flagship initiatives; it’s about creating an opportunity for young people in the region that they may never have.

“It’s wider than winning the scholarship, it’s bigger than that – it’s the journey you go on from the minute you become a finalist and the exposure to different industries and key people in the region. If you do go on to win, you become an ambassador for Millennium Point Trust and that will take you on a journey where you’ll meet lots of different people.

“What am I looking for from the candidates? For me, it’s about someone who’s really invested in what they want to do with their chosen subject; over the years of doing the scholarship, it always amazes me at such a young age they can look at what they want to do with their subject and how they can make a difference in the world.”

What I’m looking from the candidate is ‘this is what I’m going to do, this is how I’ll make a difference to the region with what I choose to do’ – so someone who’s incredibly focused on that they know it’s going to change their lives and they’re going to make their lives better with that career.

“We really love the Millennium Point Scholarship; it’s really important, and it’s having a great impact on people; we’re already seeing the benefits of the scholarship on the people that came through seven years ago, and they’re doing exactly what they wanted to do, so we really want people to apply for the 2022 Scholarship. STEM is still really important – it’s the careers of the future and we want to help you to get where you want to be without that financial burden. We can support you.”

For more information on the scholarship competition, or how to apply, please visit www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/scholarship

Mike is Head of Business Development and education at Learn By Design, working in over 1,500 schools every year in outreach education: drop-down days and activities such as after-school clubs, with the vast majority having a STEM feel.

Mike is himself a STEM graduate (Chemistry and Sport Science) and has worked in STEM outreach and STEM education for around 20 years; he is also a qualified secondary science teacher.

He says: “I believe STEM’s really important to the region, both Birmingham and the Midlands as a whole; so much industry in the region has a STEM feel, from aeronautical to automotive, to new and emerging industries such as AI and gaming.

“There are so may jobs in STEM, that I believe it’s crucial for the prosperity and growth of both Birmingham and the Midlands, and it also offers so much opportunity to young people to have great careers, well-paid jobs and to travel; it’s the backbone of innovation which will drive our economy forward.”

He adds: “I think the scholarship is absolutely fantastic; it gives someone the opportunity to perhaps follow an education in STEM at graduate level which they may not otherwise have been able to do; there are, unfortunately, barriers to getting into higher education, and one of those is funding and being able to afford it. The scholarship offers someone the chance to pursue a lifelong passion and to have a fantastic career out of the back end of it.

“There is such a great need for promoting careers in STEM, and this plugs one small hole, but at least it gives someone the opportunity who might not have had it before.”

In terms of what he’s looking for from the finalists, Mike wants to see pure enthusiasm and a passion for STEM; a level of understanding and commitment: “I want to be sure that they’re actually going to see the course through,” he explains.

“I also want to learn more about the candidates in terms of what they hope to give back to the wider STEM community – do they do any outreach work, any volunteering, or do they have plans to – and I’d be really interested to know their future career ambitions – whether they want to go into the likes of research, engineering, innovation, AI.

“As much as we can as judges, I’d like to get to know them as people; what drives them, and why they’ve chosen a STEM subject, and why they needed or wanted to apply for the scholarship.”

For more information on the scholarship competition, or how to apply, please visit www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/scholarship

The Millennium Point Scholarship is an annual competition in partnership with Birmingham City University which awards a fully funded undergraduate degree at the faculty of Computing, Engineering, and the Built Environment. Now in its seventh year, we look at some of the finalists in this year’s competition.

Asima, 37, is currently studying Social Science and Humanities at Dudley College, with the aim to read for a degree in Planning at Birmingham City University (BCU).

“I want to go into this area because I worked for 12 years in planning, and I was inspired by the planning officers and senior planners,” she explains. The amount of work they do and what they bring to the community – from putting it on paper to going out into the community and seeing it all come to life, and the people you meet, the local businesses and neighbours you talk to, it’s amazing. I’m inspired.”

She adds: “Winning the scholarship would mean a helping hand towards my career, and my future.

“If, however, I was not to win, it was an experience, an opportunity to go out there and express myself and be noticed and be known, so whether I win or not, it’s still a great opportunity to be here.

“After I finish my degree, I want to start looking for work and once I look for work, I don’t want to stop there – I want to carry on; do my post graduate, do my master’s and go as high as I can. Planning has many opportunities; during my time in planning I’ve noticed there are many opportunities and there’s a long way to go – this is just the start. I’m a fighter, I carry on, so it will be hard but I’m not going to stop.”

“People should apply for the 2022 scholarship because it’s an opportunity; it’s very rare that you get a helping hand like this. If somebody is offering to help you and the opportunity is there, why not?”

For more information on the scholarship competition, or how to apply, please visit www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/scholarship

Kari is a young entrepreneur who started her first business at the age of 13, in AI consultancy and development. She now runs an AI youth programme, Youth4Code, working with thousands of young people across the region and beyond, helping them to understand AI and look to careers in STEM.

“STEM is so important to the region because it is so intrinsically linked to everything we do,” she says.

“Literally every day you’re doing something with STEM, and it’s so important especially when we have such a massive skills gap in the region and beyond. We need to firstly understand where we’re using STEM and be able to innovate and create for the future. I think the scholarship is so important, to provide opportunity for everyone to be able to study STEM; it’s something that I am really passionate about – providing that diversity of thought within STEM careers and having that opportunity for everyone to apply and be able to get that degree and learn about STEM.”

“I think for me I’m looking to the candidates for a genuine passion for STEM and technology, a real dedication and interest for the subject beyond what they’ve learned at school, and real proactivity – someone who wants to pursue STEM and really has that passion, dedication and interest.”

For more information on the scholarship competition, or how to apply, please visit www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/scholarship