Blog Archives - Page 31 of 34

With the countdown to our 18th Birthday officially on, we take a look back on some of our key events and highlights over the years so far.

This week we are looking back at a festive celebration in 2004 and the opening of a unique attraction in 2005.

Hosting the Birmingham Christmas Lights Switch-On in 2004 proved that we had fully arrived in the eyes of Brummies across the city. Festive Switch-Ons are some of the biggest events in the calendar of any town or city and have a unique way of bringing the community together.

As a venue, our commitment to STEM has been at the backbone of all of our activity. Our offer to the city of Birmingham was boosted in 2005 with the introduction of the Planetarium at our tenants ThinkTank.

2004: Christmas Lights Switch-On

The 2004 Christmas Lights Switch-On took place on Sunday, November 21st 2004. Families from across the city came to Millennium Point for the festivities, which included a funfair and BRMB ‘Party at the Point’ concert (and that was just the warm-up!)

The then Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Mike Nangle, was given the responsibility of getting Christmas underway with the switch on of the evening as crowds gathered.

After the big-switch-on, synchronised images of the lights around the city were beamed onto giant screens at Millennium Point, while revellers stuck around to celebrate.

2005: Planetarium opens at ThinkTank

Birmingham’s first Planetarium – and the UK’s first digital planetarium – opened to the public on Saturday December 17th 2005 as the new centrepiece of a £2 million upgrade for the award-winning Thinktank science museum at Millennium Point.

With seating for up to 70 visitors per show, the new Planetarium boasted a projection dome measuring 10 metres in diameter and gave Brummies a chance to find out all about the Universe from their doorstep.

At the time of opening the Chief Executive of Millennium Point and Thinktank Dr Nick Winterbotham said local people had been waiting for this kind of initiative since the world’s first Planetarium opened in 1923.

The attraction has continued to be at the cutting edge of technology throughout the years, and the new 4K planetarium system has brighter and sharper images than ever before, as well as crystal clear surround-sound. It remains the only one of its kind in the West Midlands.

Special events held at the planetarium over the years have included evening astronomy talks, solar observing and even theatrical productions.

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.

Fill in our quick survey below and you will be helping us to shape how we continue to operate while keeping our friends, visitors and clients safe.

We don’t have to tell you that the spread of COVID-19 has changed the way all of us think and feel about social interaction, none more so than in events and hospitality.

We have created a quick and easy survey on the link below which we are now asking you to fill in. Your answers will help shape new processes and protocols which we will implement into our business.

TAKE THE SURVEY

These processes and protocols will allow us to protect the welfare of everyone who enters our building, while still delivering the same outstanding experience and service that has made us a multi-award-winning venue and landmark public building in Birmingham City Centre.

We thank you for your time.

Disclaimer: The content of these photos in this blog were taken in May 2019, for further information on our response to Covid-19 please see here.

Whether you’re a scruffy-looking nerf herder from Tatooine or emperor of a fascist galactic government, it’s important to know how to organise a (Star)killer of an event. To celebrate Star Wars Day, here are five ways you can use Millennium Point’s award-winning venue as demonstrated by the good, the bad and the bantha fodder of a galaxy far, far away.

But first, a quick tip for a warm, welcoming reception
In cooking, they say the first bite is with the eye, and in the events and hospitality business that’s no different. Your event begins the moment your first delegate steps over that threshold so it’s important to make sure you impress them with the first “bite”. Having someone at the door to greet guests is a great way to make them feel welcome right from the off. Speak to one of our events team for more advice on this and check out our numerous packages for receptions.

It also means you can sniff out any rebel scum who may be trying to enter without registering to blow up your superweapons.

FN-2476 (above) won “Best Smile” four years running at the Sith Academy Awards

Workshops, Training and Away Days
When you’re running a fascist dictatorship that spans an entire galaxy, it’s important to keep your staff engaged and motivated. Their wellbeing is key to a strong galactic empire, lose them and you might find them breaking out a TIE fighter and escaping with fugitives to join your rivals.

At Millennium Point we have several spaces perfect for workshops, training days and away days but our client favourite must be Connect on level 2 of our landmark venue. Connect has four interconnected spaces so can be opened or segmented to suit the needs of the day.

Connect 1 and 2 can be opened into a spacious boardroom for up to 24 delegates, perfect for a motivational workshop. This space comes with slick projection facilities that will make you feel on the cutting edge of workshop delivery.

DN-7421 named Employee of the Month in Connect (Boardroom style)

Event space is the largest room in Connect and has ample space for more activity-based training and development. Whether it’s conducting pivotal competitor analysis…

The Rebellion has been consistently praised for their equal opportunities and diversity ethic.

…or refining the accuracy of your Stormtroopers in the hope that one day they might shoot something.

No apples were harmed in this training session…

…unfortunately the same couldn’t be said for TK-447 though (left)

Concourse is a great break out space for secret plotting

Concourse, also on level 2, is great breakout space for when you’re having a break. It sits in a high footfall area and overlooks the future site of Curzon Street station opposite, the first international terminus to be built in the UK since the 19^th century!

“I thought we agreed it was you who would be bringing the biscuits” – Lord Vader

Party it up in Platform

Platform is our large open plan event space on level 1 of the building which sits underneath our giant auditorium. It’s a great versatile space that can cater for almost any event, from exhibitions to conferences, performances, quizzes and of course, parties!

His banter is also said to be top-notch after he’s knocked back a few Fuzzy Tauntauns

Lord Vader’s Wine & Cheese mixers are renowned throughout the galaxy.

Platform features multiple screens, optional staging and AV as well as a fully licenced bar which means an ideal setting if you’re missing those cantina vibes on Tatooine.

TN-217 makes a mean Death Star cocktail by the way

Sit back and watch the silver screen in Auditorium

Our 354-seat auditorium is equipped with dazzling AV and a giant 24m x 12m screen ideal for keynotes, presentations and big announcements.

It’s also a great space to treat your subordinates to a bit of downtown with a film featuring your best bits, a video game tournament or interactive games and performances.

Atrium makes the best backdrop for a photo

If there’s one thing the Galactic Empire can teach us, it’s the importance of looking good. Even when their plans are being consistently thwarted by a bunch of teenagers in a rust bucket, you can’t deny they look good failing.

Our Atrium on level 0 of our award-winning venue is not just a popular space for public exhibitions, galas and expos but also as a backdrop for the silver screen, the smaller screen and for photoshoots.

Acting as the central hive of activity in our landmark public building, Atrium has a fascinating open-air aesthetic that must be seen to be experienced.

1FN-117 was approached for a job by Louis Vuitton after this snap.

…and that concludes our list of five ways you can use Millennium Point’s event spaces! For more information on our 17 versatile venue spaces available head over to the venue section of the website.

Special thanks to Central Legion who joined us in 2019 to take these photos and delighted our visitors to the building on a very hot afternoon.

Stay safe, stay connected and May the 4^th be With You.

Note: This blog was written as a light-hearted article to commemorate Star Wars Day. Millennium Point does not condone the actions of the Galactic Empire nor has any affiliation with either side of the Galactic Civil War.

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.

With the countdown to our 18th Birthday officially on, we take a look back on some of our key events and highlights over the years so far.

This week we are looking back at our official opening ceremony and a visit from the only female speaker to ever serve in the House of Commons.

We are incredibly proud to have welcomed two of the most inspiring female figures in recent times, in the form of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second and Betty Boothroyd, to Millennium Point so early in our life.

These visits helped to set the tone for the years ahead, with more high-level visits to come and an ever-increasing focus on those people who really do make a difference.

2002: Official Opening & Unveiling by Her Majesty

Millennium Point was created as the regeneration of a 12-acre brownfield site and was designed by architects Nicholas Grimshaw and Partners, who also designed the redevelopment of London train stations; Euston and Waterloo.

It was originally developed in partnership between various public and private sector institutions, including Birmingham City Council and Birmingham City University and has now been England’s largest landmark millennium project outside of the capital since 1995.

Despite being in use since late September 2001, Millennium Point was officially unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday 2nd July 2002.

The Queen was visiting the West Midlands as part of her Golden Jubilee tour around Britain, and following the unveiling of Millennium Point, she expressed that she had no doubt Millennium Point would be used to ‘inspire the next generation who will shape the technology and industry of tomorrow’.

You can read her full speech here.

2003: Visited from Betty Boothroyd

We had the pleasure of hosting a visit from former West Bromwich MP, Betty Boothroyd, in 2003.

Affectionately known across the nation as ‘madame speaker’, Betty Boothroyd was one of the most successful upholders of standard in the House of Commons.

She is the only female to have served as a Speaker in the Commons as is one of only two living, former Speakers.

Betty visited Millennium Point after retiring from that role and being invited by the University Of The First Age, who arranged a televised link between Betty and children and young adults in South Africa, who she discussed politics with.

She then delivered a powerful speech encouraging young people in attendance at Millennium Point to think about politics and how it affects the world around them.

Betty received an Honorary Doctor of Civil Law award and was named the millennium’s first Life Peer before also being appointed the Order of Merit, which is one of Britain’s highest honours gifted by Her Majesty The Queen.

Her reputation of being tough yet very charming led to a more accessible parliament to the public and we are honoured to have hosted such a truly loved icon here at Millennium Point.

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.

Give your colleagues something to look forward with a Christmas party at Millennium Point. We have three packages available for up to 354 guests*, from exquisite fine dining to the private cinematic experience, there’s so much our award-winning venue can offer this festive season from as little as £35 per person!

Your party will come with your own private, fully licenced bar a dedicated events manager and welcoming staff to take care of things and keep the good vibes going while you sit back and enjoy.

Our Platform space on level 1 of our landmark venue is the stage for your winter wonderland, now all that’s left is you!

Get the VIP treatment with our Christmas Banquet package from £39.50 pp + VAT

Celebrate in style when you choose our Christmas Banquet package. Give your guests the VIP treatment with a red-carpet reception with a complimentary glass of fizz. You’ll then be seated ready to dine on an exquisite three-course banquet on tables adorned with centrepieces and novelties to keep you entertained. Round off your perfect evening with your own private DJ and dancefloor.

Get the Party vibes flowing with our Christmas Party package from £35.00 pp + VAT

Choose our Christmas Party package and amp up the feel-good festive vibes. You and your guests will again be treated to the VIP experience with a red-carpet reception and complimentary glass of fizz on arrival. You will then be treated to a succulent hot fork buffet while you mingle before we turn up the party vibes with your own private DJ and dancefloor.

Get Festive Cinematic Experience with our Festive Film Package from £37.50pp + VAT

Ditch the traditional Christmas crackers and paper hats and go for a festive party experience with a twist with our Festive Film and Food package exclusive to Millennium Point. Choose one of several festive favourites or bring your own for you and your guests to enjoy an exclusive cinematic experience on our giant screen. You and your guests will be treated to a glass of fizz on arrival and succulent bowl food served by our welcoming staff before heading up to our impressive auditorium.

Convenience and flexibility

Our multi-award-winning venue is conveniently located on the Eastside of Birmingham City centre and just a short walk from the most popular hotels, bars and clubs in the city.

All our packages are flexible to suit your needs. Our catering packages are suitable for any dietary requirements. Our award-winning events team have over 40 years’ experience in the business, which means a no-fuss, enjoyable event experience for you and your guests.

That’s not all, by booking your Christmas party with Millennium Point you are also widening your CSR by giving back to the local communities. A percentage of your booking will go towards the Millennium Point Charitable Trust who contribute over £5 million annually to the growth of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in the West Midlands.

Get in touch with our events team today for your no-strings quick quote today. Go on, give yourself something to look forward to!

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.

Students from the University of Birmingham spearheaded a fully online, people-focused hackathon, Hack Quarantine, which brought people together virtually from across the globe to use their skills to help combat the issues the world is facing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wait, what’s a hackathon?
It’s not about hacking into a system. A hackathon is an invention marathon bringing together people of all backgrounds and skill levels to build a project related to technology in a short space of time. It’s “hacking” a problem or a challenge together while learning from peers and the process itself.

Millennium Point has previously hosted several hackathons in our award-winning venue including HacktheMidlands, supported through our charitable trust.

HacktheMidlands opening ceremony in Millennium Point’s 354 seat Auditorium

What happened?
Taking place between 23^rd March and 16^th April, Hack Quarantine brought together more than 3,500 skilled learners and workers globally across science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). The event was organised by local computer science students primarily from the University of Birmingham. Participants signed up via the developer’s blog and received updates, socialised and mentored each other primarily through Discord, a popular voice and messaging platform (VoIP) initially designed for online multiplayer gaming.

Participants from 153 countries joined forces in groups of up to four to create a variety of projects from apps to software that tackled obstacles across four “tracks”:

Supporting people quarantined or at risk
Tech and Health
Remote working
Improving awareness and behaviour

More than 250 projects and 130 demo videos were submitted to the Hack Quarantine team who awarded the best in each track among other accolades.

In addition to the hack itself, the team also delivered over 70 talks, workshops, games and even a pose party over streaming platform Twitch to educate and entertain participants throughout the marathon event. Initially watched by over 45,000 people, all of this has been archived and can be viewed over on their YouTube.

Who was behind it?
The event was organised by Birmingham resident and Leeds undergraduate Jacklyn Biggin and a University of Birmingham second-year undergraduate Will Russell.

The event was organised by local Birmingham students Will Russell (Left) and Jacklyn Biggin (Right)

“It was an incredible experience”, comments Will Russell, co-event organiser.

“With in-person hackathons postponed all over the world, we wanted to create an online community for people to continue to learn, build and share during this pressing time. We recognised there were a lot of problems surrounding COVID-19 and wanted to help the community build solutions to tackle them.”

Jacklyn and Will were supported by a team comprised primarily of students including PhD student and founder of local hackathon, HacktheMidlands, Tom Goodman and fifth year undergraduate and regional coordinator for oSTEM incorporated, Avery Cunningham both of whom joined the team as Science Leads.

Additionally, the global event was developed and delivered in partnership with more than 50 STEM organisations from across the world.

Will comments: “It was an inexplicable feeling seeing people from all over the world come together for a common cause. We really didn’t know what to expect with very little time to plan but were overwhelmed by the response from people and organisations and the sheer quality of submissions – it was incredible!”

West Midlands is a hotbed for STEM talent

Birmingham and the West Midlands is a hotbed for STEM talent. A joint deep dive report by Birmingham City University and the Regional Observatory surmised that Digital Technology alone will bring £2.2 billion to the West Midlands economy by 2025. A figure supported in no small way by the growth of an emerging youth market like the budding talent behind Hack Quarantine.

Young people are the driving force behind digital tech in the West Midlands (Image Credit: HacktheMidlands)

“We received incredible support and participants from a number of organisations and institutions in the West Midlands.” Comments Science Lead at Hack Quarantine and PhD student Tom Goodman. “These included HackTheMidlands, the BCS (through the Birmingham Branch), and the University of Birmingham.”

“One of the huge challenges we faced was getting people in STEM (beyond technology) involved in the event – unlike standard hackathons, we quickly realised a significant need to engage with scientists from across the spectrum.”

Organisations like HacktheMidlands, BrumSciComm, oSTEM incorporated and University of Birmingham’s own Institute of Microbiology and Infection supported the Hack Quarantine team in recruitment and promotion in the wider scientific community.

“Through the support of these fantastic local organisations, we were able to mobilise a swathe of motivated and driven scientists, programmers, engineers, and others, to get involved with the event. We really wouldn’t have been able to do quite so much without the supportive and motivated STEM community here in the West Midlands.”

What happens now?
All submissions can be found on the devblog which is now being used as a platform for governments and frontline organisations worldwide to utilise.

Any organisations wishing to use or build-upon the projects submitted as part of the hackathon can contact the organisers or developers directly through the website.

This blog was written as part of Millennium Point’s charitable objectives we’re publishing stories to highlight individuals and organisations who support the growth of Science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in the region. If you have a story you would like us to cover, please get in touch.

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.

Over the last 12 months, we have visited numerous recipients of our Millennium Point Charitable Trust Small Grant programme to see how they are progressing with their respective projects.

Our visit to Montgomery Primary Academy school in Sparkbrook, Birmingham, proved particularly insightful and interesting.

The school welcomed grant recipients The Play House, a leading theatre-in-education charity making participatory drama for children and young people in the midlands.

Daughters of Invention

The Play House delivered their interactive theatre project “Daughters of Invention”, funded through a grant from the Millennium Point Charitable Trust in 2019.

“Daughters of Invention” is an educational performance based on engineering history. The project brings real-life engineers together with actors and storytelling, designed to raise young peoples aspirations and inspire interest in engineering.

Women in Engineering

In particular, the project seeks to inspire girls into engineering and elevate the work of female engineers. The Play House brings to life the nineteenth-century Birmingham-based engineer Sarah Guppy, who, alongside being a prolific inventor was also the first woman to patent a bridge.

A unique experience

This unique experience proved beneficial to the pupils, who enjoyed a different sort of lesson, thanks to the acting skills of Play House Head of Programmes Juliet Fry and her team.

Over £400,000 grant funding has been used across a variety of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) related activities, from creating dedicated resource rooms at schools, funding learning clubs, running activity programmes and organising careers fairs encouraging girls into STEM.

We would like to thank the staff at Montgomery Primary Academy for being so welcoming to Millennium Point and our Interim CEO Abbie Vlahakis.

We’ve asked our mums and dads in the Millennium Point team to share some easy ways to keep the kids entertained while in lockdown, and hopefully help reserve a bit more time for parents to wind down during all this chaos.

Now that the Easter holidays are over, the kids would usually be back at school. While teachers will have set school work, we appreciate it can be hard to keep them engaged. Let’s get started!

Worksheets

There are various websites offering online and printable worksheets for children of all ages, many are free of charge and can help make the most of time spent out of school. It could be helpful to allocate a certain area of your home as the ‘classroom’ to visit at the same time every day, perhaps after breakfast, and help establish a routine when doing these worksheets.

Here are some great ones we found-

Physical Activity:

If your children are especially energetic, worksheets might be the last thing you’ll want to try. At-home workout videos from YouTube could be a fun way to help get all their energy out without even needing to go outside. A simple game of “Duck Duck Goose” or “Simon Says” are great alternatives for younger children.

Arts & Crafts:

You can look up some easy DIY projects with the materials you have laying around at home, print out some colouring pages that align with your children’s interests or if you’re daring enough, bring out the acrylic paint. Collaging or making some quarantine couture jewellery with leftover yarn and beads are a great option too.

Games Nights

Games nights are great because you can tailor them to the age and interests of your children, be it puzzles and quizzes or themed treasure hunts. You could allocate the same night every week as games night to create some really nice memories and maybe even a post-lockdown tradition.

Cooking/Baking:

The internet is overflowing with child-friendly recipes, so it might be fun having a look to see what dishes your children might enjoy making and then working with them to create a little recipe book. Smoothies are a great example of simple and easy recipes to follow, or you could just buy ready-made fairy cakes and get creative with the decorating!

Here are some great recipe websites:

Gardening:

This one might not be for everyone, but it’s a great way to make the most of this lovely weather and it can be a lot easier than you think. Growing super easy plants like cress is perfect for younger children and Marigold flowers are a good option for slightly older children. Why not also start your own line of produce with some tomatoes or cucumbers?

Movies & Podcasts:

If all else fails or you just need a little more time to yourself, sticking on a movie (or entire franchise) never hurts. Preparing snacks or building a fort with bedsheets and sofa cushions might add a bit of excitement back into this activity if you’ve watched lots of movies together already. Podcasts and audiobooks are a great option too, and a nice addition in the background of a different activity.

Here are some great child-friendly podcasts:

We hope you’ve found these suggestions helpful as we understand how difficult it can be to stay resilient during such unprecedented times. You may be so busy looking after your family, that there’s little time left to take care of yourself. Remember that you are not alone and if you are struggling in any way, please be sure to keep in regular contact with friends and family online or over the phone.

Should you need any advice or guidance, you can find a support group near you by visiting https://covidmutualaid.org/local-groups/. You can also join the CovidAidUK Group on Facebook and for further support, visit www.mentalhealth.org.uk/coronavirusoutbreak or www.supportline.org.uk/coronavirus.

Stay home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.

250 students from 22 schools and colleges across the West Midlands descended on our landmark venue, Millennium Point, last month in Birmingham to take part in an eclectic festival of employment workshops and careers activities, designed to inspire interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) opportunities.

What is it?

Funded by our charitable trust and delivered by social enterprise Ahead Partnership; one of several recipients of the 2019/20 Millennium Point Charitable Trust’s Small Grants Programme, #STEMFestWM saw local businesses join forces to address the STEM skills deficit and help to maximise the sector’s potential to incite regional economic growth.

The second hugely successful festival was hosted in our multi-award-winning venue over 3 days and attracted an exceptional turnout of young people and employers, so much so that the festival was oversubscribed with requests from school and college to attend.

What happened?

Supported by numerous reputable businesses from across the West Midlands including PwC, InterCity Technology and Pinsent Masons, #STEMFestWM provided local employers with the opportunity to engage directly with secondary school and post-16 students, aiding their employees’ personal development whilst raising awareness of careers and opportunities within the STEM sector.

The first day of activity saw over 150 female Year 8 students come together at Millennium Point for the #GirlTechWM event to learn more about the Digital and Technology sectors across rotational mini-workshops run by a host of local employers.

The last day of activity proved most popular, with around 180 Year 9 and 10 students partaking in speed-networking style workshops and interactive careers panels. Post-16 students were also invited to visit PwC, InterCity Technology and Pinsent Masons offices throughout the week, to gain first-hand of experience of what it’s like to work for the organisations involved.

Addressing the regional skills gap

In a region where 89% of STEM businesses face difficulty recruiting the necessary talent, the extremely high demand from West Midlands schools demonstrated the appetite for careers activities focused on STEM roles amongst young people.

We’ve talked previously about the importance of addressing the STEM skills gap in the West Midlands and how we are facilitating change through supporting wonderful partners such as Ahead Partnership.

Following the first day of #STEMFestWM, 73% of students that attended agreed that they would now consider a career in the digital and tech sectors – which are projected to bring in more than £1.3bn alone to the West Midlands by 2025.

This 3-day festival follows in the wake of last year’s event — also funded and hosted by Millennium Point.

“A clear need for this type of initiative”

Stephanie Burras CBE, Chief Executive of Ahead Partnership, said: “We are very proud of the success of our second STEM festival in the West Midlands.”

“The growing scale of this event demonstrates a clear need for this type of initiative in the region, and it is our mission to equip young people with better awareness of and access to the fantastic opportunities available to them.”

“The STEM sector has significant potential to add huge value to the West Midlands economy, and with exciting milestones for the region approaching, such as the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the number of roles out there and the pressure to fulfil these is only going to increase. As such, we are proud to be supporting the region’s growing skills demand in a way that is inclusive and accessible to young people.”

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(Above) We catch up with Stephanie Burras, Chief Executive of Ahead Partnership for a closer look at what they do and the funding they received from us in 2019.

Abigail Vlahakis, CEO of Millennium Point, said: “2018/19 marked an incredibly successful first year for our Small Grants Programme and we are delighted to have been able to build on this activity in 2019/20, with a programme of STEM activities which is even bigger and more diverse in scope.

“Our region has great potential for growth in the STEM sector, but we are facing concerning difficulties in meeting the sector’s skills demand. Ahead Partnership’s work is aligned with our own ambitions to enhance STEM learning and career aspirations in the West Midlands, and we’re delighted to fund this hugely worthwhile project that has seen so many young people leave engaged and inspired.”

Katherine Bond, National Schools Engagement Manager at PwC, also added: “The STEM sector in the West Midlands is becoming one of our most important industries and this festival is a fantastic way for young people to become more aware of upcoming opportunities, whilst helping us to future-proof our own workforce pipeline.

“This event has grown in size and scale this year, along with the skills demand of our region, and so we’re proud to have worked with Millennium Point Charitable Trust, Ahead Partnership and the other businesses involved as part of this incredibly important initiative once again, which will not only benefit our sector, but more importantly, our young people.”

Footage from the festival was recorded by media students from South & City College and shared across social media. The festival forms part of a busy calendar of skills initiatives delivered by Ahead Partnership across the country that seek to raise young people’s career aspirations, help businesses acquire sector-fulfilling talent and develop young people’s social capital.

Any employers interested in finding out how they can support this work can find out more by contacting Ahead Partnership on 0300 124 0496.

What is thought to be the world’s oldest railway roundhouse has been unearthed by HS2 Ltd at the construction site of its Birmingham Curzon Street station, opposite Millennium Point.

What was found?

The discovery was made during archaeological investigations ahead of the construction of the station as part of HS2’s initial programme of trial trenching at Curzon Street. What was revealed was the remains of the station’s roundhouse, exposed toward the south-eastern corner of the site.

*Image of the roundhouse unearthed during archaeological excavations of the site. (image courtesy of HS2 ltd.)*

The surviving remains include evidence of the base of the central turntable, the exterior wall and the 3ft deep radial inspection pits which surrounded the turntable.

Further details on what was unearthed can be found here.

What’s a roundhouse?

The roundhouse, and specifically the turntable, was used to turn around the engines so locomotives could return down the line. Engines were also stored and serviced in these facilities. The railway’s 1847 roundhouse at the southern end of the line is now better known as the world-renowned Roundhouse music venue in London’s Camden.

A little history…

Built to a design by the 19th-century engineer Robert Stephenson, operational on 12 November 1837 –It was situated adjacent to the old Curzon Street station, which was the first railway terminus serving the centre of Birmingham and built during a period of great significance and growth for the city.

*Lithograph, drawn and lithographed by J C Bourne in 1838 showing Birmingham station on the London & Birmingham Railway.*

The 19th-century station at Curzon Street is among the very earliest examples of mainline railway termini. Initially providing passenger services, Curzon Street originally consisted of two station termini, servicing the London and Birmingham Railway (L&BR) and the Grand Junction Railway (GJR); before being converted to a single goods station (following the opening of Birmingham New Street Station in 1854), and which operated until the 1960s.

*A very rare image of Curzon Street from 1955 when it was used as a goods station. (Photo credit D J Norton)*

Beginning at Curzon Street Station, Birmingham, and finishing at Euston Station in London, the 112-mile long L&BR took 20,000 men nearly five years to build. It has been estimated that to build the railway, construction workers shifted more material than the ancient Egyptians did when they constructed the pyramids.

The L&BR terminus opened to passengers in 1838 and was fronted by the grand ‘Principal Building’ which survives in situ (as do elements of the GJR neo-classical screen wall). This Grade I listed building represents the world’s oldest surviving piece of monumental railway architecture. Various structures were demolished from 1860 to 1870 to allow for the expansion of the goods station, including the engine roundhouse.

What happens next?

The archaeology undertaken ahead of the construction of the new Curzon Street station will record the historical significance for the site and determine whether the remains can be preserved in situ.

Archaeological excavations are due to take place on the site between mid-February and mid-March, uncovering the roundhouse and other historic railway structures for the first time, including the remains of the Grand Junction Railway terminus.

Jon Millward, Historic Environment Advisor, HS2 Ltd, said: “HS2 is offering us the opportunity to unearth 1,000’s of years of British history along the route and learn about our past.”

“The discovery of what could be the world’s oldest railway roundhouse on the site of the new HS2 station in Birmingham City Centre is extraordinary and fitting as we build the next generation of Britain’s railways.”

HS2 will see the site become home to a new intercity terminus station, located directly opposite our landmark public building and conference venue – which too was the catalyst for regeneration in Eastside back in late 1998 – and will be the first built in Britain since the 19th century.

Birmingham Curzon Street station will be at the heart of the country’s new high-speed railway network, providing seven platforms, a new public space, and be integrated with an extended tram network.

*CGI view of the new Curzon Street Station from Millennium Point (Image courtesy of HS2 Ltd)*

For regular updates on project please visit the HS2 website here.