We are thrilled to announce the launch of our charity’s brand-new brochure. Inside you will find information about our landmark £40 million in STEM donations and activities, and how this has benefited the West Midlands.

Be the first to read by clicking below –

Starting off with a note from our CEO, Abbie Vlahakis

‘The Millennium Point Charitable Trust prides itself on offering fantastic STEM-related initiatives, awarding more than £40 million to charities, schools, and community groups to champion science, technology, engineering, and maths projects across the West Midlands region.

Our STEM Grants scheme forms a core part of our strategy to end STEM poverty and enhance education.

In addition to this our annual Scholarship funds an undergraduate degree at Birmingham City University’.

A biplane, STEM gardens, adventures through the stars and MORE!

On average, we provide £411.3k in grants each year. To date we have provided £3.7 million in funding via grants, to over 160 groups in the region.

You can find out more information about our previous grant recipients here.

Celebrating 10 years of Scholarship success

Annually, we provide funding for a Scholarship for an undergraduate degree, in partnership with Birmingham City University. The Scholarship programme is aimed at students who are looking to start a career in the Built Environment, Computing, Digital Technology or Engineering industries.

Find out more about our previous Scholarship winners here.

Community minded, working together for the future of the West Midlands

Being an award-winning venue in the middle of Birmingham has allowed us to support the community and other charities in additional ways, including using our own building to host their events.

From STEM festivals to the STEM Roundtable, you’ll find it all in our brochure.

Support Millennium Point today!

Our mission is simple, to advance education for the public benefit. We invest more than £4.8 million each year towards furthering STEM education in the West Midlands. We’ve already funded over 100 grants projects and inspired over 3,000 people with our activities.

Learn how you can support Millennium Point on our website.

 

We have launched our new and improved venue brochure, brimming with all the information you need to make your event first class. We review our event offer on a regular basis to ensure our multi-award-winning event service remains current and competitive. Read on for what’s new below, and get in touch with our team to see why you should make your next event a Millennium Point event.

Want to have a first look? Click below to be the first to see our new brochure!

All your event needs in one place

Our new and improved venue brochure has all your event needs in one place. Learn about all 19 of our flexible event spaces, suitable for almost any event, from purpose-built meeting suites to a newly upgraded giant screen Auditorium perfect for conferences right through to esports tournaments. The brochure gives you an overview of each space, their capabilities, and special features. The brochure also includes eye catching photography, giving you a real sense of what our award-winning venue is all about.

It now includes our latest event space, Station!

Due to increased demand and customer needs, we have opened a new event space Station. With multiple rooms including a main room that is perfect for engaging with audiences and multiple boardroom that can be used as offices, speaker green rooms or quiet spaces, Station offers flexibility and can be tailored to individual needs with a choice of seven possible layouts.

Elevate your next event with Millennium Point

Once you have picked your perfect event space, why not really make it a great event?

When booking Millennium Point for 1st May to 31st August 2024, bookers can pick from multiple FREE upgrades including complimentary pastries, an additional room or a drinks reception!

Learn more about our exciting offering here.

Help support STEM in the region by booking with us

Help support STEM in the region and widen your CSR just by booking an event at Millennium Point. Commercial profits from our multi-award-winning events business and landmark public building go towards our charitable trust. The Millennium Point Charitable Trust reached a landmark £40 million in STEM support to organisations across the West Midlands over the last seven years.

Want to learn more? Let’s talk events!

If you want to find out more about our venue, please get in touch with our friendly events team by emailing [email protected] or calling 0121 202 2200.

While Birmingham city centre is the prime choice for an unforgettable night out, Eastside is often overlooked. However, whether you’re looking to have a boozy night out or a day surrounded by creativity and fun activities, Eastside has loads to offer. It’s an excellent location for everyone’s night out, whether you’re a student, celebrating with friends or spending time with family. So here are a few reasons why your next night out should be spent in Eastside.

1. It’s close to transport links 

Eastside is located near a range of transport links, making it easy for you and your family and friends to travel in and out of Birmingham. This is perfect if you can’t find a designated driver and it allows you to get home safely after a night of drinking. Transport links include:

2. It’s close to Birmingham city centre 

Eastside is also just a short walk from Birmingham city centre, placing you close to a range of bars and restaurants. This allows you to explore different bars, restaurants and activities to make your night unforgettable. 

Being in close proximity to the city centre means you can forgo expensive taxis and Ubers when travelling to different venues, helping you save money that can be spent on things that make your night extra special. 

2. A range of student accommodation is close by

Eastside’s proximity to Birmingham City University and Aston University’s student accommodations provides the perfect setting for an exciting yet affordable night out. Pubs located within Eastside tend to have student deals like happy hour or discounts giving students the opportunity to do more with their night on the town. This also offers excellent opportunities to meet new people and make more friends.   

Birmingham City University’s Student Union is also located nearby, providing great opportunities for students to get involved in a range of activities. This could include things like:

There’s also a range of pubs situated in Eastside, including Gosta Green and Eagle & Ball. These both host excellent social events and student offers, making them a fun and affordable night out. You can expect events like:

Millennium Point is in the heart of Eastside 

Millennium Point is positioned in the heart of Eastside making it a great venue to centre your next evening out around. We host a range of exciting events throughout the year and have some excellent upcoming events, including:

Dirty Dancing bottomless brunch 

Date: 25th May 2024 

Time: 1PM

Price: £35pp (plus booking fee)

Dance the day away with our Dirty Dancing bottomless brunch. Enjoy 90 minutes of unlimited prosecco and fabulous food in our fully licensed bar. You can choose from a beef, chicken or vegan burger and add your desired toppings, salad and chips at our build-your-own-burger station. If you’re still wanting more, you can purchase further food and drinks throughout!

Loki summer wine & spirits fair

Date: 6th July 2024 

Loki has spent the last couple of months travelling the world, tasting different wines to find the most exciting and interesting ones for you to take home! 

They’ve gathered their favourite producers, trusted suppliers and newly made wines from friends around the world to share their best bottles with you! Over 30 tables will showcase delicious wines, gins, whiskies, cognacs and liquors for you to taste test. 

Over 250 beverages will be available to try including sparkling and dessert wines allowing you to experience a vast tasting selection.   

An assortment of artisan cheeses from Anderson and Hill will also be available to buy throughout the day, as well as Laghis deli who will be serving delicious pizza and sweet treats. 

If you’re looking to have your next night out in Eastside, explore our range of events.

Want to hear more about Millennium Point? Why not sign up to our mailing list?


Looking for a Christmas party venue in Birmingham? Hosting your Christmas party has never been easier with Millennium Point. Get in the Christmas spirit by exploring our Christmas party packages below. If you’re looking for a more tailored Christmas party night get in touch.

Christmas Party Packages: 

Exclusive Party Night package 

Our Christmas party package boasts a three-course banqueting menu, stylish centrepieces, a private fully licensed bar and a DJ and dancefloor. So grab your dancing shoes and party the night away. 

 The price is just £49.95 + VAT per person.

The package also includes:

A minimum of 100 attendees are required with a maximum of 200. 

If you have over 200 guests, there’s no need to worry as we can work with you to create a bespoke package for your perfect Christmas party in Birmingham. Get in touch for more information.

 

Ultimate 80s Christmas Party 

Join us at our ultimate 80s Christmas party, perfect for small businesses and friendship groups. You’ll feast on a delicious festive three course meal that includes a Christmas Yorkshire Pudding Wrap and an Eton Mess Cheesecake with seasonal berries for dessert. The night will also include an 80s live band and stylish house centrepieces, what more could you want?

Book your festive night to remember for just £44.95 per person.

Our Christmas Tree makes the perfect selfie backdrop

We boast one of the largest indoor Christmas trees in Birmingham at 12 metres tall. It’s also accompanied by two nutcrackers giving visitors lots of opportunities to snap a festive selfie.

Our Christmas tree is put together by Christmas experts ‘The Christmas Decorators’. It takes a team of 5 installers and 7 decorators, to prepare the branches and baubles. The Christmas tree takes around 10 hours to complete. With good reason too as there are over 21,000 lights and 1,500 baubles to set up!

Book your Christmas party with Millennium Point 

Make Millennium Point your place to go this Christmas. By booking our Christmas party venue, you’ll receive first-class hospitality, hassle-free planning, and high-quality service when you book with us. 

If you have something in mind our friendly events team is happy to help. Get in contact for any questions you may have with our team.

Where to find us

Millennium Point is situated in the heart of Birmingham city centre, close to various transportation options. It is:

Here at Millennium Point, we’re Eastside’s largest events hub. We have a diverse selection of spaces available and are here to assist you in hosting exceptional gatherings. 

We understand that no matter what you’re hosting, the space you choose is critical to holding an incredible event.

So why choose to host an event at Millennium Point.

The benefits of hiring an events space at Millennium Point

Here at Millennium Point, our events spaces have an array of benefits, such as:

Fully flexible spaces 

We have multiple spaces available that are suitable for almost any event. Some spaces boast meeting spaces, auditorium stages and a giant screen.

Outstanding services and add-ons 

Alongside your functions, we offer bespoke catering and hybrid and virtual packages all delivered with excellent quality service.  

Right in the centre of Birmingham 

Due to us being located in the centre of Birmingham, you’ll be close to transport links like train and bus routes, and with HS2 currently being built it’ll be quicker and easier for people to attend. 

We’re also close to local restaurants, bars and hotels, giving you the opportunity to socialise afterwards, giving attendees the opportunity to stay overnight if they need to.

Our event spaces 

Atrium

Located on the ground floor, the Atrium is a large, open plan public space ideal for exhibitions, banquets, expos, performances and more. 

The space benefits from:

Our space also boasts exhibition stands, standing and banquet areas and has even been used as a film set for major TV programmes. 

Auditorium 

Previously the Auditorium was the very first IMAX in Birmingham and is now equipped with everything a business needs to engage its audience. The space features a 30m² stage beneath a giant 14m x 8m screen. Other advantages include:

Concourse

Located on level 2, this area has high footfall due to it being placed between Birmingham City’s entrance and ThinkTank, helping you attract more people. 

Concourse is perfect for exhibitions, displaying products, performances and receptions and has stunning views of Eastside Park and the development of the new HS2 Curzon Street Station. 

The space also benefits from:

Connect 1-3

Our rooms Connect 1,2 and 3 have retractable walls allowing you to create the ideal space for you, whether that’s one large boardroom or 3 small meeting rooms. 

The room also boasts:

Ingress

Ingress is a small outdoor space perfect for intimate gatherings like product launches, exhibits, parties and food festivals.

It benefits from:

Intercity

Intercity can hold board meetings, training and workshops and has access to fantastic presentation facilities and high-speed Wi-Fi. It also provides:

Platform 

Platform is an open plan, semi-private space on level 1 of Millennium Point. It benefits from:

Promenade  

This outside space is great for small and intimate outdoor functions like product launches, brand activation or even a dramatic entrance to your event!

Promenade provides a:

So if you’re looking to hold an exceptional event, get in touch with us today to see how we can help. 

At Millennium Point, giving back to the community is massively important to us, which is why we have our Millennium Point Charitable Trust where we invest funding to help further STEM education in the West Midlands. 

This blog will explore how we’ve helped people and schools around the West Midlands gain better STEM opportunities. 

Millennium Point’s charitable mission

Our mission is to advance education for public benefit. We have a special emphasis on, but not limited to, the industrial and technological processes that have not only shaped the modern world but will also play a pivotal role in shaping the future.

Flagship initiatives 

We have three exciting flagship initiatives built for improving educational opportunities. These include:

Grant funding 

This provides funding for not-for-profit organisations, schools and colleges across the West Midlands Combined Authority area. Applicants can apply for up to £20,000 to fund a STEM-related project, as long as it meets eligibility requirements. Their idea will also need to showcase the measurable impact it will have on STEM education and/or a STEM career choice. 

We have awarded over £2,100,706 to charities, not-for-profit (NFPO’s) organisations, community groups and schools over the last 5 years. 

To learn more about how our grant funding works, take a look at our page.  

The scholarship programme

We’ve partnered with Birmingham City University to provide a fully funded undergraduate degree at their Faculty of Computing, Engineering and The Built Environment.

Applications are currently closed for 2023, but you can keep an eye out for next year’s applications opening here.

The STEM Roundtable 

The STEM Roundtable brings together leaders from STEM industries, primary and secondary schools, further education, higher education and NFPO’s in STEM sectors. 

The Roundtable aims to:

Key objectives 

We have a few key objectives we’re aiming to meet, as we support others in their STEM journey. These goals include:

Case studies 

Over the years we’ve supported many schools and organisations in the West Midlands, as well as those looking to pursue a career in STEM. So here are a few examples of people and organisations we’ve helped.

St Edmund’s Campion RC School

We’ve worked with St Edmund’s Campion RC School to create a STEM club that provides chances for children to explore topics that aren’t in the curriculum and work on large-scale projects.

This has been introduced, due to the school having a high level of disadvantaged students and many of them feeling as though an academic future and/or STEM career is out of their reach.

The school received the grant as it was important that their afterschool program delivered excellent quality lessons and gave children the opportunity to learn about STEM subjects just like other children do. 

You can learn more about how we helped the school on our website.

Aston Villa Foundation – STEM Stars

The Aston Villa Foundation’s mission is to work together to enrich lives, which is why they deliver Aston Villa Football Club’s community and social responsibility work. 

STEM Stars developed a new STEM programme for six schools within a three-mile radius of Villa Park. The grant funding will purchase a Sphero robot package (this includes robots and a small pitch) which will use football to get children engaged in coding. 

Due to the area around Villa Park being highly deprived in terms of income and education, it was important that the grant went to something helping to give children better opportunities within the STEM industry, in this case focusing on coding. 

You can learn more about STEM Stars here.

Safa Bibi secures scholarship glory  

Last year our winner, Safa Bibi, used the scholarship to undertake a degree in computer science at Birmingham City University. 

Safa is the ninth winner of the scholarship, meaning we’ve already funded eight fantastic winners in their STEM career.  

If you’re interested in learning more about how the scholarship works and how you can apply, take a look at our scholarship page. 

We’ve been giving back to the community for the past 20 years and would love for you to get involved. If you’re interested, get in touch with us today!

Meetings are essential for running a business smoothly. But we’ve all been in a meeting where we’ve felt uninspired or unmotivated. 

With meetings paving opportunities for brainstorming, problem-solving, and clear communication among employees and clients it’s critical that they’re optimised for productivity. After all 50% of higher management’s time is taken up in meetings.

So here are a few ways you can boost productivity within your meetings.

Create time

When planning a meeting it’s important to consider what everyone else’s schedule is like or if it will cause any stress to employees that may already be struggling with their workload. Aligning it with everyone’s schedule is crucial to helping improve productivity and avoiding burnout. 

It’s also important to stress to staff that they can talk to you about any calendar conflicts and step out of a meeting if required. If the employee must attend the conference, you should work with them to help with any overwhelming workload they may have. 

Only plan meetings if they’re necessary

You should really aim to only have meetings when absolutely necessary. We’ve all been in meetings at some point where they could have been an email instead. This can help your team feel as though their time is valued and can help them organise and complete their tasks effectively without any non-essential tasks getting in the way. 

Create a meeting agenda and try and stick to it

Creating an agenda can help you keep your meeting as short as possible. Make sure it’s detailed so that you have the opportunity to cover everything you need to talk about on the day. 

You should think about the purpose of the meeting and who’s attending to help guests prepare for the meeting and prevent any unexpected surprises that could increase stress levels and decrease productivity and motivation.

An agenda can also help you keep the topic on track and ensure you don’t overrun.  

Invite as few people as possible 

35% of employees from different professions agree that having a smaller number of people in a meeting improves productivity.

Limiting the number of people in a meeting stops participants from getting confused about what’s happening. It will also help you stick to your meeting agenda, as there won’t be too many people projecting ideas and asking questions.

It can also help you gear the meeting more effectively to your desired outcome by having a small number of people in the meeting that understand the goals and requirements. 

Ensure you’re meeting room has optimal space

The best way to improve productivity is to ensure your meeting room has optimal space and the facilities you need. 

Whether you already have a room in your office or you’re looking to hire one, you want to ensure you get it right as it can have a negative effect on their mood and motivation. 

Technical difficulties and working in a cramped space can lead to frustrations and a lack of focus, preventing you from gathering the information you need. 

Aim for a change in scenery 

Changing the scenery of your typical working day can help to significantly boost productivity. Trying a new space can keep attendees alert and aware of their settings, helping to increase motivation and improve mood. This in turn can lead to a better quality of information and conversations being had during your meeting, helping you smash through your agenda and get the ideal outcome. 

Another way to change the scenery is to include walking meetings, as this moves people away from their desks and closed spaces and into the open where they can get some fresh air and sunlight. This can reduce stress, improve mood and ultimately boost productivity and engagement.

Keep meetings short and concise

Keeping meetings short and concise can help avoid scheduling issues and encourage people to stick to the agenda as they only have a short period of time to get through everything that needs to be discussed. This can therefore improve engagement and productivity as you’re more likely to achieve everything you set out to during your meeting.

Recap the meeting

When the meeting has finished, it’s a good idea to recap everything that’s been covered and what everyone’s next steps are to ensure all attendees are on the same page and that nothing has been missed. This should encourage those in the meeting to complete any additional tasks after it has ended.

If you’re looking for a meeting room, our office spaces could be perfect for you. With some spaces boasting their own meeting rooms, they could be perfect for your business to complete its day-to-day tasks in the main office while conducting conferences in your very own meeting space. 

To learn more about what office space could be the right one for you, get in touch with us today.

Millennium Point has launched ‘Curzon View’, its new premium office space which is now available to rent. Situated on the fourth floor of the iconic Birmingham landmark, Curzon View overlooks the HS2 development on Curzon Street and offers a prime city-centre location for innovative businesses.

Curzon View already welcomes strong transport links being near New Street, Moor Street and Snow Hill stations, and having the Millennium Point car park on site. Situated in Birmingham’s thriving Knowledge Quarter, the offices neighbour Birmingham City University, Aston University and Birmingham’s science museum, Thinktank.

Curzon View offers 1,496m2 of flexible office space with numerous benefits such as natural daylight, air conditioning, AV equipment, LED lighting, and wi-fi. It is equipped for multiple uses to suit different business needs and includes a reception space, kitchen and shower room. Millennium Point also provides tenants with 24-hour security and an on-site support team.

Profits from the rental will support STEM education in the region through Millennium Point’s charitable trust. The trust has donated over £40 million to support schools and not-for-profit organisations.

The offices were previously used for filming of the first series of the BBC crime drama Line of Duty as the offices of the principal characters.

To enquire about Curzon View, call 0121 202 2200 or email [email protected].

It’s easy to assume that when you own a business you should purchase your commercial property, however renting is a great option too.

Renting has various benefits, such as providing more flexibility and reducing your responsibility of maintaining a property. 

In this blog we’ll explore the benefits of renting a commercial property to help you decide whether this is the best option for you and your business.

So what are the benefits?

It provides flexibility

Renting provides more flexibility compared to buying a property, as short term contracts give you the opportunity to move into new buildings as your business grows and develops. 

Along with the rising cost of living crisis and the impact that Covid-19 has had on businesses’ outlooks on running their company, renting has become a more popular option when it comes to commercial spaces. This is due to giving business owners the opportunity to move around when it suits them best, giving them the ability to navigate the current financial climate in a way that works for them.

It can have financial benefits

Renting is generally cheaper than buying a property, due to rent usually costing less than monthly mortgage payments. When renting you’re likely to pay a refundable deposit once the lease is signed and in some cases you may need to pay a premium to buy the lease. Even with these costs, it is likely that you will pay significantly less than if you were to purchase a property, giving you the financial freedom to use the money you’ve saved on other important parts of your business, like furnishing the property and paying for staff salaries. 

Renting also means you’re not exposed to interest rates as much, but you may be subject to rent increases, making it important that you check how rent is reviewed before you sign your lease. 

You won’t necessarily have any maintenance responsibilities

Depending on the terms in your rental agreement, you’re likely to have less maintenance responsibilities if you opt for renting. For example, as a tenant you may be responsible for making internal repairs, but external ones are left to the landlord to rectify. 

You may also need to pay a service charge as a part of your agreement in relation to the maintenance of a shared property.

Reduced risk

Opting to rent a commercial property poses less risk in comparison to purchasing a building as you’re less likely to face certain financial risks. These can include things like an increase in mortgage payments due to a rise in interest rates. 

Location

Renting could give you more of an opportunity to be in a prime location, as there may be more properties available if you choose to rent. This can help attract clients, customers and new employees, as our location will put you exactly where you need to be.

How can Millennium Point help you rent a commercial property?

Here at Millennium Point we have multiple spaces available that could be perfect for your next commercial property. Our spaces also come with various benefits such as ongoing support throughout your lease.

We’re also in a great location in the centre of Birmingham where you can easily access transport links like the motorway, multiple bus routes and all Birmingham train stations. This allows your staff, clients and customers to visit you with ease.

To discover more about the properties we have available and how they could work for you, get in touch with us today.

Whether you’re a start up or your business is well established, leasing a commercial property is a big decision and can help you expand and establish your company further. 

While leasing a property has many benefits, it can be a complicated process, which is why this blog will explore everything you need to look for when leasing a commercial property.

For example, when looking at a building you should ask yourself questions like:

Where do I want to be located?

Location has a huge impact on the success of your business. So when you’re looking for a property you may want to search for something that’s easily accessible. This can be done through watching out for factors like whether it’s close to transport links, how close you are to your target market and whether there are adequate parking spaces. 

You should also consider whether it’s near any other features like restaurants, shops and other businesses that could complement your own, as this will make your business more attractive.

How much space do I need?

When looking for a new property it’s important to consider how big of a space you need. This means you should look at whether the square footage will meet your requirements and if it has any of the features you need, such as:

Have I got my agreement or offer in writing?

When it comes to lease agreements it’s important that you get them in writing. This means you have proof of any promises made by the landlord, giving you the opportunity to ask questions and avoid any difficult situations.

You should also pay attention to your lease duration, rent escalation clauses and any renewal options included within your contract. This will help you understand what’s included within your agreement so that there are no surprises along the way.

How long is the lease agreement?

When looking for a commercial property, you’ll want to think about whether you want a long or short term agreement. Short term leases may be better if you’re unsure if you’ll need to be in the same location for a prolonged period of time or not. 

We’ve also seen that Covid-19 has caused many businesses to opt for shorter agreements to give them the flexibility they need within these uncertain times, especially as the cost of living rises. 

Can I end the lease early?

Having a break clause within your agreement can help you get out of your lease early. However, there are a few things that could prevent you from using your clause, such as not being up to date with your rent and having caused any damages to the building.

Are there any service charges?

When renting there are usually service charges included, but it could be useful to ask the landlord what service charges are included within the contract. You’ll also want to know if you’re required to make contributions or fully pay for things like:

Some contracts state that the occupier is required to put the building in better condition than it was previously in. If you’re looking for a simple, fuss free office space then this option isn’t recommended. 

It’s also important to make note of any existing damages or marks within the property when you view it so that you don’t need to take responsibility for fixing them. 

Is there potential to grow within the property?

This ultimately depends on the position your company is in and whether you’re looking to expand within this building. 

The great thing about leasing is that it gives you room to find something else if you do need more room to grow, giving you the flexibility you need.

How can Millennium Point help you lease a commercial property? 

Here at Millennium Point we have a variety of properties available that could be perfect for you. 

Our properties come with a range of benefits like, flexible ownership and ongoing support throughout your lease.

They’re also close to Birmingham city centre, meaning you’ll be on the doorstep of many restaurants and businesses, giving you great opportunities to explore the city and network. 

Being close to the city centre means you’ll also benefit from being close to motorway connections, bus routes and Moor Street, Snowhill and New Street station. 

To learn more about the properties we have available, get in touch with us today.