The judging panel for the Millennium Point Scholarship, which will award one student a fully funded degree at Birmingham City University, has been named.

The five-strong panel will be headed by Professor Hanifa Shah, Pro Vice-Chancellor & Executive Dean of the University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment (CEBE), which is to host the winning student on one of its 20+ undergraduate courses.

Prof Shah will be joined by Katie Burnell, Account Manager at consulting and infrastructure support services giant Amey Consulting PLC; Faye Pressly, Chief Operating Officer at technology contractor Vanti; Tim Kay, Sector Lead, technology and media at professional services firm KPMG; and Martino Giaquinto, Partner and specialists construction and engineering lawyer at legal firm, Mills & Reeve.

The panel will hear from five finalists, all of whom are vying for a life-changing scholarship, at a live event at Millennium Point, Curzon Street, on March 13.

The event will see each of the finalists presenting their insights on regional issues such as low-income housing, transport and safety online in a Dragons Den style pitch to judges before the panel selects a winner.

Abbie Vlahakis, Interim CEO at Millennium Point, said: “Following a record-breaking number of applications for the Millennium Point Scholarship this year, we have gathered a stellar judging panel to oversee the final stage.

“The strength of the members demonstrates the impact this scholarship can have, not just in terms of the free degree, but the contacts we will help our winner to make as they progress through university to the workplace.”

More than £5 million in profits from the commercial activity of the multi-award-winning Birmingham venue is invested by its Charitable Trust into projects, events and initiatives which support the growth and development of STEM initiatives in the West Midlands region.

The BCU Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment covers more than 20 different courses ranging from Civil Engineering to Computer Games Technology and Film Production Technology.

While the winner will enrol on an undergraduate course at BCU, the other four finalists will receive ongoing support towards their careers including coaching, mentoring and industry work experience provided through Millennium Point.

For tickets to the live final, visit this link.

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. 

Whilst the UK risk level of Coronavirus has been increased from low to moderate, the risk to individuals has not changed at this stage and it remains low. We continue to follow advice from the World Health Organisation and Public Health England, as well as that of Local Government. Precautionary measures are in place and we are monitoring the situation as it develops, but it currently remains business as usual and all events are going ahead as planned. Staff, delegates and other visitors are being encouraged to maintain good hand, respiratory and personal hygiene.

A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. For more information please visit the Governments guidance by clicking here.

What should I do to prevent catching and spreading the virus?

 

Are you looking for a large private event space in the heart of Birmingham city centre? Look no further than our award winning Auditorium event space at Millennium Point. Accommodating up to 354 delegates, our Auditorium is the perfect location for film screenings, award ceremonies, conferences, lectures, product launches and AGMs.

Make your event a double winner!
When booking Auditorium, why not benefit from our PLATFORM event space directly below, including an in-built bar and presentation facilities, connected by our central staircase is ideal for receptions and parties. Click here to read more about PLATFORM.

Don’t miss out this Easter!
We will also be organising a series of movie screenings and family activities this Easter. Treat the kids to a screening of Disney Pixar’s Finding Nemo (2003) followed by entertainment including fun-filled party games and a disco. For more information please click here.

Benefits and Features

For more information on all our event spaces please click here.

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. 

Between the dates of 6th April and the 1st June, a spectacular installation will allow visitors to Millennium Point a chance to see the Earth as it appears from space. Gaia, a touring artwork by artist Luke Jerram, will be in place at our landmark Curzon Street site where visitors can enjoy the breath-taking experience for free.

This is the only chance people in the West Midlands will have to see the unique installation, which features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s Surface on a globe measuring seven metres in diameter. The artwork is 1.8 million times smaller than the real Earth with each centimetre of the internally lit sculpture describing 18km of the Earth’s surface.

By standing 211m away from the artwork, visitors will be able to see the Earth as it appears from the moon. The installation creates a sense of the ‘Overview Effect’, which was first described by author Frank White in 1987. Common features of the experience for astronauts are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment.

We will also be organising a series of movie screenings and family activities around the installation. Treat the kids to a screening of Disney Pixar’s Finding Nemo (2003) in our giant screen auditorium, followed by entertainment including fun-filled party games and a disco. For more information please click here.

Millennium Point is just a 5-minute walk from Moor Street station, with an on-site multistory car park accessible from the A47 in the Eastside of Birmingham City centre.

For more information on our Gaia installation please click here.

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. 

On Thursday 12th March 2020, the Millennium Point team will take on the Acorns Firewalk challenge at the Black Country Living Museum. Interim CEO, Abigail Vlahakis, Commercial Director, Rebecca Delmore and Sales Manager Victoria Webb, will brave the heat and walk across hot coals to raise money for Acorns, the largest children’s hospice in the UK.

Acorns Children’s Hospice supports children and their families that have life-limiting and life-threatening conditions in the West Midlands. The charity puts in place a network of specialist palliative nursing care and support.

With your support, we really want to make a difference for this fantastic charity. Any donations big or small are hugely appreciated by the whole Millennium Point team.

To make a kind donation simply visit our just giving page by clicking here.

Global warming and the effects on the environment have been a big talking point of late with more urgency to do more to protect our environment. Public awareness is now at an all-time high and without action will be greater consequences.

At Millennium Point we are passionate about supporting the environment best we can and therefore have launched a new sustainability program with several systems in place to reduce our carbon and ecological footprints. We understand how the smallest of changes to the day to day running of the business can benefit and protect the environment.

Each week we will be posting a new blog to show the different ways we can make a difference so keep an eye out for that.

To support our sustainability program, we are delighted to announce that we have signed up to the #20percentless campaign with the Meetings Industry Association (MIA). The main objective of the #20percentless campaign is to eliminate single-use plastics from your organisation by 2025. You will find us on the MIA’s Pledge Wall.

We are passionate about doing our bit with the removal of plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery and using refillable glass bottles in our meeting rooms replacing the plastic ones. Our mission moving forward is to remove even more plastic from our organisation.

It’s important to be aware of how you can contribute to helping the environment with the removal of plastics. Please see below some of the actions you can take to make a difference in day to day living and in the workplace. We understand a full solution to the environment’s issues can’t be addressed overnight but we are pushing hard to make Millennium Point more greener and make a difference. We look forward to the journey ahead.

For more information or to join The Pledge please click here.

We are delighted to announce a NEW SPECIAL OFFER with 20% OFF* all room hire for events taking place between 1st January and the 31st March 2020.

Millennium Point is an award winning iconic landmark and a unique venue in the continuously developing city of Birmingham. Our city centre location is easily accessible with New Street Station and other city centre transport links only a short walk away. We also have an on-site multi-story car park available if you wish to drive to the venue.

With state-of-the-art facilities, a 354 seated giant screen auditorium and public & private event spaces, our goal is to make your event a winner with a number of packages to best suit your needs.

That’s not all – a percentage of your booking will fund our charitable work supporting science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) within the region.

For a detailed run through on each of our event spaces simply click below or call 0121 202 2200 to talk with the Millennium Point team.

 

Please note this offer will expire on the 31st December.

*T&C’s apply

A grant funding pot of more than £400,000 is now open to schools, charities and not-for-profit organisations across the West Midlands as part of a major Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) education initiative.

The Millennium Point Charitable Trust has opened its latest Small Grants Programme for applications, with up to £20,000 available for individual applicants.

Profits from the commercial activity of the multi-award winning Birmingham venue is invested by its Charitable Trust into projects, events and initiatives which support the growth and development of STEM initiatives in the West Midlands region.

Previous grant recipients have used the funding to create dedicated resource rooms, fund learning clubs, run activity programmes and organise careers fairs encouraging girls into STEM.

Applications are set to close on February 14th 2020 with bosses hoping to see applications increase from last year, when the Programme was introduced.

Abigail Vlahakis, Interim CEO at Millennium Point, said: “We had an extremely positive and successful debut year for our Small Grants Programme.

“STEM roles are the jobs of the future in the region and we are striving to play a key role in ensuring young people from the West Midlands will be in pole position to take those roles – most of which have yet to be conceived.

“The Grants Programme gives a chance for those young people with a passion for STEM learning the chance to take that further, opening up opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.

“We really want to open up STEM learning to groups who have typically been somewhat marginalised by these industries, so we want to see applications coming from far and wide.

“I would like to wish all applicants the best of luck and can’t wait to see the unique ideas they put forward.”

Over recent years, several reports have been published identifying Birmingham and the West Midlands as the centre for Science and Innovation outside of London, marking STEM as the key to economic growth in the region.

However, the nationwide STEM skills gap means that the region currently has a shortfall of 173,000 skilled workers as 89% of STEM businesses struggle to recruit with a majority of high skilled roles being left unfulfilled.

Until recently there was also a rapid decline in interest in STEM subjects at school, meaning less people would be entering training to eventually take up these jobs.

The Millennium Point Charitable Trust was recently awarded “Third Sector Organisation of the Year” at the Birmingham Post Business Awards and featured for their unique charitable business model in this years ‘Innovation 50” report produced annually by law firm Mills & Reeves.

To apply for a Millennium Point small grant, please click here.

 

The Millennium Point Charitable Trust will award £2,000 to one school or college in the West Midlands as part of our 2020 scholarship programme.

The school or college that provides the most applicants for our 2020 scholarship programme will be awarded £2,000 to enhance their science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) curriculum. The incentive forms part of a wider campaign to promote the initiative, which received a record number of applications in 2019.

Scholarship finalists in 2019 from left to right Jerome, Laura, Moses, Feargus and Caitlin.

How does it work?
All you have to do is encourage your students aged 17+ to apply for the scholarship programme. As part of the application, students will tell us what school or college they’re applying from and we’ll keep track of the number of applicants form each school or college in the West Midlands. Once the application window is over we’ll tally up the scores and award the school or college that provided the most applicants £2,000 to be spent on enhancing their STEM curriculum.

You can visit our resource page to learn more about the competition and download promotional material to share within your school or college. You can also request a promotional pack to be sent directly to you which contains posters and leaflets, or a visit from our team by getting in touch with us on [email protected]

What’s the scholarship?

Open now until 31st January 2020, the Millennium Point Scholarship pays for one young person’s undergraduate tuition fees at Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment. Now in its sixth year, the competition is open to young people aged 17+ in the West Midlands. It’s a two-stage competition designed to build confidence and showcase rising talent in the region, with a live final held at Millennium Point in March. Finalists are given skills development workshops to build their confidence, leadership and public speaking skills as part of the competition, as well as opportunities to meet employers and build their own networks in their chosen industry.  The competition was won in 2019 by, then 17-year-old, Laura Avis from Bourneville College. Laura is now in her first year at the faculty studying a BSc (Hons) Film Production Technology, and in a recent interview urged young people “Don’t be scared, just apply!”.

Whether you’re a teacher, parent or know a school or college, this is an opportunity not to be missed! Head on over to this page for more information and resources to get you started.

Students looking to apply can start their application today by visiting millenniumpoint.org/scholarship

We’re a landmark public building and award-winning events and conference 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 promote the growth of STEM and education within the West Midlands region of the United Kingdom. For more information on our charitable work, please visit our charity page. You can follow Millennium Point on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram with @millenniumpoint.

 

Singing sensations G4 are set to bring the festive spirit to Millennium Point with a free-to-attend set of Christmas classics.

Our first ever Christmas celebrations are being taken up a notch with the announcement that G4 will be giving a free performance at Millennium Point in Birmingham city centre.

The operatic four-piece, who rose to fame on the original series of X Factor, will perform in the ground floor atrium of our landmark public building under our 39-ft Christmas tree between midday and 2 pm on December 10th.

The group will take to the stage at Birmingham Town Hall for a highly anticipated show the same evening, with fans able to get a sneak preview as part of Millennium Point’s Christmas events schedule.

Fans of the group and lovers of all things Christmas are welcome to join us for an early afternoon treat, where they are sure to hear incredible renditions of festive classics.

Rebecca Delmore, Commercial Director for Millennium Point says “Our beautiful tree and decorations will add to the atmosphere for what should be a special event at Millennium Point.”

G4 reunited in 2014 after disbanding in 2007, with the release of their first post-reunion album ‘G4 Christmas’ followed by a Christmas tour, a tradition which has continued and grown in the years since.

The latest tour, including the Birmingham Town Hall show, takes in 28 shows across the country in the run-up to Christmas.

The multi-platinum selling group will be showcasing a new line-up at Millennium Point consisting of Jonathan Ansell, Mike Christie, Lewis Raines and new bass singer Duncan Sandilands.

Mike Christie, baritone singer, said: “It’s always wonderful to return to Birmingham, as the audiences are incredible.

“We can’t wait to join in with the celebrations at Millennium Point before heading to our Christmas show at the iconic Town Hall.”

Reserve your free ticket now by visiting this page, you can check out our full Christmas programme on our dedicated page. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram @millenniumpoint and share your Christmas photos at Millennium Point with #mpchristmas for a chance to win £50 in Amazon vouchers.

Millennium Point is an award-winning venue and landmark public building with commercial profits being invested back into the Millennium Point Charitable Trust which supports science, tech, engineering and maths (STEM) and education in the West Midlands.