Charity events are a great way to raise money for important causes. But this can be a little daunting. That’s why we’ve created a step-by-step guide to help you effectively plan a charity event that gains donors and attendees and achieves your fundraising goals. 

Here are a few steps you should follow:

Step 1: Determine the goal of your event 

Like any event, it’s important to determine what you want to get out of it. Determining goals allows you to track and measure the success of your charity event. For example, it’s a good idea to set a goal on how much money you want to raise. This will encourage larger donations from attendees as they’ll want to help you reach your desired amount.

Other goals may include:

Set a budget 

For a charity event to be successful it’s important to remember that significant money and time may need to be invested. To ensure you keep on top of costs, raise as much money as possible and deliver an engaging event, it’s a good idea to create a detailed budget before you start spending money. Your budget should include costs for things like:

Choose the type of event you want to hold 

When planning your charity event, it’s important to define the type of event or theme you want to use. When deciding this you should consider what will resonate more with your guests and encourage better engagement. To get a better understanding of this there are a few questions you can ask yourself:

These questions will allow you to narrow down the type of charity event you hold and any set themes. For example, some types of charity events include:

Research and book a venue

Choosing the right venue is crucial to having a successful charity event. You’ll want to make sure your venue fits your theme, accommodates your cause and is easy to get to for your audience.

Venues are usually the biggest cost and while you want to create an excellent event, you don’t want to overspend or significantly underspend your budget. When looking for a venue you can ask yourself a few questions, such as:

Promote the event, send invites and sell tickets

After spending numerous hours planning the perfect charity event, you don’t want to neglect to promote the event, send invites or sell tickets.

Marketing your event helps you reach a wider audience and encourage people to buy tickets, helping you to sell out your event and reach your fundraising goal. 

Social media is a great way to promote your event as it’s often free and helps you reach an already acquired audience. It also allows you to post regular updates and photos taken during the event for guests to easily access and keep up with any changes or updates. 

You can also send out invitations to those you want to attend helping you curate the perfect set of donors and attendees. This can also encourage others to buy tickets as influential people relating to your cause may influence ticket purchases and conversations about your event. 

Set up the event 

It’s the big day! That means it’s time to start putting all of the finishing touches in place. This may include:

To ensure the day runs smoothly it may be a good idea to create a clear and thorough schedule for the day. This could also include information on dress codes and the times different team members need to arrive. Creating these should, in theory, mean that everyone is on the same page and understands their requirements and the overall plan. 

Get in touch with attendees after the event 

Getting in touch with your attendees after the event makes them feel valued and like they’ve played an integral part in something special. 

Sending thank you notes and updating guests on how much was fundraised lets them know the impact the event has had on the cause. This also helps you build strong relationships that lead to returning guests and donors helping you make significant contributions to your cause in the long-term.  

Hosting a charity event at Millennium Point

We have extensive experience in hosting a whole range of events, including charity events and our spaces benefit from:

Many of our spaces also come with tables and chairs allowing you to create your desired seating plan if required. Our Auditorium is also perfect for a range of events like awards shows and auctions due to our giant screen and stage. 

Formerly known as the first IMAX, the Auditorium has comfortable tiered seating where up to 354 delegates can be seated. It’s also equipped with Datavideo PTC-280 cameras giving you the opportunity to live stream your event. 

If you’re looking to host an exceptional charity event, explore our range of event spaces and their benefits.

We have launched our new and improved catering brochure! Our new menu is brimming with delicious choices to make your event first class!

We review our offer on a regular basis, to ensure our multi-award-winning event service remains current and competitive, and are thrilled to present our latest update. Whether you’re looking to host your film premiere with canapes, or a 3-course meal for your next awards, you can expect an unforgettable experience!

View the menu here.

Our most sustainable menu yet

We are excited to launch our new catering menu which is full of tasty choices perfect for your next event. Our mission is to make our catering options as sustainable as possible without compromising on choice for our clients. With more locally sourced ingredients and wider range of vegan options, it’s our most sustainable menu yet.

Victoria Webb, Event Sales Manager says ‘Millennium Point’s new catering menu is the newest upgrade we have made to continue to provide our guests with the best experience. This update reflects our commitment to providing environmentally conscious options while enhancing the overall event experience for our clients’.

Keep up to date with Millennium Point

Upgrading our menu is just one of the ways we continually develop Millennium Point to give the best experience to our guests, tenants, and customers. With a lot planned for 2024, keep up to date with the latest here.

Millennium Point has announced an exclusive screening of acclaimed docudrama LOVE?, with live introduction from writer and actress Samantha Beckinsale, on 8 March.

Born out of lived experiences and the creative vision of Samantha, award-winning director and editor Jason Figgis, producer Simon W. Golding, and composer Scott Buckley, LOVE? is a feature-length docudrama depicting coercive control, which is one of the least recognised forms of domestic abuse.

The film has already welcomed incredible early reviews with Domestic Abuse Specialist Nicky Brindley MBE describing it as “a true masterpiece”, and Domestic Abuse Advocate Dorothy Zimmerman hailing it as a “revelation to start a revolution.” West Midlands audiences will now be able to experience it at an exclusive free screening on Millennium Point’s giant screen on Friday 8 March.

Writer and star, Samantha Beckinsale will be joining the event to introduce the film. Samantha said: “I’m over the moon that Millennium Point and all the sponsors have supported this LOVE? Project event and am very much looking forward to introducing LOVE? to West Midlands audiences. Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, be perpetrated by anyone, and has common patterns across the world. By spreading this message via our film, we hope to help people recognise the signs and effect of domestic abuse and the tactics used by perpetrators of these crimes. Coercive control kills and without a fist being raised.”

Samantha will be joined by multi-award-winning family lawyer and Domestic Abuse Advocate Richard Port MBE, family barrister Rachel Bloxwich from 3PB Chambers, and representatives from Our Family Wizard, who are proud sponsors of this event. There will also be an opportunity to enjoy drinks and networking after the screening.

Rebecca Delmore, Commercial Director at Millennium Point, said: “We are honoured to be able to amplify the reach of this incredibly important and powerful film on Millennium Point’s giant screen. I hope that audience members will feel empowered to further spread the film’s important message.”

Tickets can be booked here.

Millennium Point has been awarded the Excellence in Hospitality, Retail & Events Award at the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Awards 2024. The Awards are the region’s biggest celebration of business and were hosted by broadcaster and comedienne Noreen Khan. The award winners were announced on 15 February in front of more than 1,000 people at the ICC in Birmingham city centre.

The Excellence in Hospitality, Retail & Events category was highly competitive. The judges singled out Millennium Point’s dedication to sustainability which has resulted in a more ethically and locally sourced catering menu, enhanced recycling practices, energy efficient initiatives, and hybrid event solutions. The judges were also impressed with Millennium Point’s charitable work supporting young people in the area through STEM education, which has included an investment of £4.3 million in the last year.

Rebecca Delmore, Millennium Point Commercial Director, said: “We are thrilled to have won the Excellence in Hospitality, Retail & Events Award. The award reflects the dedication of the Millennium Point Team to deliver the best experience for our clients. We are delighted to be recognised for this.”

What’s new?

We have officially opened the doors to Station – the latest addition to our award-winning venue.

In addition to 16 popular event spaces, including the Auditorium, Connect and Express, Station brings a brand-new opportunity to the mix for businesses, charities and beyond.

Why choose Station?

With multiple rooms, including a main room that is perfect for engaging with audiences and multiple boardrooms 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.

Whether opting for the room to be laid out in theatre style for a big presentation or classroom style for teaching and learning, Station can be adapted quickly and easily to suit diverse and wide-ranging needs. Alternatively, the space can enjoy a standing layout, boardroom set up, an exhibition stands format, a banquet style or cabaret – all in one space!

Plus, with a maximum capacity of up to 150 delegates, the space is ideal for team activities, workshops, or networking, alongside further presentation opportunities, and catering.

The space also has high-speed Wi-Fi and access to an on-site AV technician as standard, ensuring that each and every event runs smoothly and without hassle.

How do I book Station?

Offering unbeatable flexibility, could Station be the perfect space for your next event? If so, simply fill out our enquiry form and we will be in touch.

Additionally, with multiple flexible venue spaces to choose from, we have what you need to put your event on the map. If Station isn’t right for you, you can discover more about our other event spaces here.

 

Providing training for staff is critical to a business’ success and can help improve employee retention. In some industries training and qualifications are mandatory and therefore helping your staff achieve them can help boost your company’s reputation and staff retention. 

Furthermore, as a result of the pandemic many businesses have adopted a hybrid working model, making training rooms more popular as they can hold larger numbers of people, are affordable to rent for a day or so and aren’t needed very regularly. The pandemic increased the popularity of training rooms as many businesses downsized their offices due to more people working remotely even after the lockdowns ended.

When planning a training event, the venue is crucial for success. With Birmingham’s thriving business community, great transport links and rich history, it’s a great place to hold your next training event. As a result, this blog will explore why you should hire a training room in Birmingham. 

The benefits of hiring a training room

For advice on choosing the right training room, read our blog.

Why choose a training room in Birmingham?

Birmingham showcases many benefits for hiring a training room, including:

It’s excellent transport links

Birmingham’s central location makes it a convenient location for everyone in the UK to get to, especially due to it having major railway routes, Birmingham Airport being close by and it having great access to motorway links. These transport links make it easy for everyone to attend the event, as they have multiple travel options. 

It has an amazing cultural and social hub

Birmingham is known for having lots of great restaurants and activities throughout the city. With Birmingham boasting an array of museums and galleries, excellent dining options and great nightlife, it provides a great place to undertake team bonding activities after the training has been provided. This gives you the opportunity to boost your team’s skills while socialising and getting to know each other better.

It has a range of affordable accommodation

Another great thing about Birmingham is its great range of accommodation. This is perfect for those travelling far for the training event or if you’re holding a training event that lasts for more than a day. 

You can also benefit from staying at more affordable hotels or opting for more expensive slightly more luxury hotels depending on what you or your staff prefer. 

Training venues tend to have modern facilities 

Many training venues in Birmingham have modern facilities helping your event run smoothly. For example many venues are equipped with audio-visual technology, high speed WI-FI and climate control systems. 

On top of this, many venues offer catering options, perfect for longer training events. 

It has a fantastic business community

Birmingham is the home of many businesses both big and small, making it a great place to hold a training event, as it may provide opportunities for networking and discovering new clientele.

Why choose Millennium Point for your next training event? 

Millennium Point is perfect for your next training event as we have a range of rooms that are great for both big and small events. With us being located in Birmingham City centre we are close to Moor Street, New Street and Snow Hill station, as well as being close to Birmingham International airport and bus routes.

We also have a range of training rooms that could be perfect for your next event, including:

Curzon Rooms

Our Curzon Rooms are great for training and can hold up to 60 people. They also benefit from:

To discover more about our Curzon Rooms, visit our website.

Curzon Suite

The Curzon Suite is a part of the Curzon Rooms, but has a few extra benefits, such as:

To learn more about our Curzon Suite, visit our website.

If you’re looking for a place to host an event, look no further than Millennium Point. We offer a diverse selection of spaces perfect for almost any type of gathering. That’s why we’ve put together a few tips to help you host an unforgettable event.

Choose the right space

One of the most important aspects of hosting a phenomenal event is to find the right space. When doing this you need to consider your necessities and nice to haves. For example your necessities could include:

Nice to haves could include:

Here at Millennium Point, our facilities can accommodate a variety of occasions, such as expeditions, parties and performances making it a versatile venue that’s ideal for creating your dream event.

Customise your guests experiences 

Adding customisations to your event, no matter how small, can make guests feel valued and excited about attending. For example, personalising invitations and table places can make attendees feel as though a lot of thought has been put into the planning of the event. 

At Millennium Point, we’re here to help you through every part of your journey ensuring all your queries are addressed to guarantee a seamless experience. 

Consider the location

Location can make or break an event. If you hold it in a place that’s difficult to get to you may see a drop in the number of guests attending. For example, if you’re hosting a social gathering for employees and clients that involves alcoholic beverages, you’ll want to consider somewhere with a variety of great transport links. This will give guests the opportunity to take alternative transport so that they can join everyone else in the celebrations.

That’s why Millennium Point is the perfect place to host your next unforgettable event! We’re in the centre of Birmingham, putting you close to bus, train and motorway links, amazing restaurants and bars and affordable hotels, helping you hold the best event possible.

Invest in quality catering

Depending on the duration of your event, you may want to consider choosing a catered option. Providing high quality food and drink can be a talking point, for a lot of attendees, helping you boost word of mouth conversations about your business and your brand reputation. While food and drink isn’t the main thing you want your guests to be discussing (unless you’re hosting an event relating to the hospitality industry), it is a great opportunity to encourage conversations.  

At Millennium Point we offer sustainable catering options that can take your event to the next level. Whether you want to keep it simple by providing teas, coffees and biscuits in your meetings or you want to step it up with a fine dining experience we’ve got you covered. 

Utilise lighting

Lighting is a great way to set the tone of your event. For example, you’ll want to use bright lighting if you’re holding a formal corporate event or meeting, as this promotes focus and enhances communication. 

But if you’re wanting to hold a more intimate and less formal event, designed to break down corporate barriers and encourage more personal relationships to be built, you’ll want to use warmer and dimmer lighting.  

Millennium Point’s event spaces  

So if you’re looking to host an exceptional event, take a look at our array of spaces:

Atrium

Atrium is a large open-planned space on the ground floor of Millennium Point that’s perfect for exhibitions and banquets. It also benefits from high speed Wi-Fi and catering options and has even been utilised as a film set for major TV programmes.

Auditorium 

The Auditorium was previously known as the very first IMAX in Birmingham. The space features a 30m² stage underneath a giant 14m x 8m screen and has everything a business needs to entertain an audience. 

The space also features:

Concourse 

Concourse is placed between the entrance of Birmingham City University and Thinktank giving you more footfall, helping you attract more people. This is great if you’re hosting an event that’s open to everyone, such as an exhibition, performance or reception.

The space also benefits from:

Connect 1-3

Our rooms Connect 1,2 and 3 allow you to create an ideal space for you with their retractable walls. Whether you want to use one large boardroom or 3 small meeting rooms, Connect gives you the opportunity to really tailor your event space.  

The room also has:

Ingress

Ingress is a small outdoor space that’s great for intimate gatherings such as product launches, exhibits, parties and food festivals.

The space also boasts:

Intercity

This has excellent presentation facilities and high-speed Wi-Fi that’s perfect for holding board meetings, training and workshops. Intercity also has:

Platform 

Platform is located on the first level of Millennium Point and is an open plan, semi-private space. The area also benefits from:

Promenade  

Promenade is an outside space great for small and intimate functions. This could include things like product launches, brand activation or even a dramatic entrance to your event!

The space provides a:

So if you’re looking to host an incredible event, get in touch with Millennium Point to see how we can help you.

Looking for a memorable and enchanting experience for your children this Christmas season? Then look no further! Millennium Point is hosting a special screening of the beloved festive film, The Polar Express!

Families will be able to enjoy hot chocolate, gifts, and a special visit from the man himself, Santa. Christmas jumpers and hats are encouraged for this wonderful festive event!

Tickets cost £20 for children, £10 for adults (plus fees) and takes place on Sunday 3rd December, this event is sure to be popular, so grab your train tickets and jump aboard the Polar Express here.

‘Why, to the North Pole, of course! This is the Polar Express!’

This magical movie follows a young boy’s adventure of a lifetime when a mysterious train appears outside his home on Christmas eve. As he hurdles towards the North Pole and a meeting with Santa, he discovers what Christmas is all about.

Shown on Birmingham’s biggest screen, families will get much more than just a screening

Millennium Point has everything you need to create an enchanting and unforgettable experience for your family. Join us for a magical afternoon with a screening of The Polar Express, a visit from Santa Claus, delicious hot chocolate, and even presents for your little ones. And the fun doesn’t end there – we’ll keep the excitement going with a festive disco after the film. Believe in magic again and give your family a Christmas to remember this year.

Take a photo by Millennium Point’s spectacular 39ft Christmas Tree

The tree, put together by Christmas experts The Christmas Decorators, takes a team of 5 installers and a team of 7 decorators to prepare the branches and baubles. The Christmas tree takes around 10 hours to complete. With good reason too as there is over 23,000 lights and 1,500 baubles to set up.

Where do you even get a 39ft tree from you ask? We’ll let you in on a secret, it’s not actually a real tree! The Christmas tree is made up of a metal frame with each individual branch attached separately each with their own power source.

As far as we know we have the biggest indoor tree in Birmingham at 12 metres tall. The tree is accompanied by two nutcrackers, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to snap a festive selfie.

At Millennium Point, there’s always something going on!

This festive season, Millennium Point has created a jam-packed event programme that will delight even the Grinch himself, but let’s not hope he doesn’t try to steal the tree!

Guests can enjoy four delicious cocktails and a special screening of Elf the big screen on 10th December. Expect in-jokes, cheeky banter and movie trivia all hosted by Tony and his team of elves at The Wine and Events Company.

Or if dancing is more your thing, why not join us on the dancefloor at our Festive Silent Disco! Back by popular demand, our Silent Disco night will be a night to remember! Millennium Point have teamed up with Silent Noize so you can experience three DJs battle it out to give you the best music throughout the night! Plus, there will be all your favourite Christmas songs too.

Hosting a business event is a great way to build relationships with your staff and clients. It’s the perfect opportunity for networking, building relationships and discussing important topics and projects. 

Here at Millennium Point, we’ve had a lot of experience in hosting various types of events, which is why we’ve put together a list of dos and don’ts to help you host the most effective business event. 

Do

Consider the location of event spaces

One of the most important things to do when planning a business event is to consider where it’s situated. For example, the ideal venue would be near multiple transport links and have adequate parking. If you choose to hold an event in a poor location it can discourage people from attending.   

With the increase in hybrid working, it’s essential that you hold your business event at an easy place for guests to get to. While London is often the first place people think of to hold a corporate event, it can be quite expensive when it comes to both booking the venue and travel costs for those attending. 

So if you’re looking for a more affordable event space, with excellent surroundings that give you the opportunity to interact with guests after the event has finished, Birmingham is the place to go. 

At Millennium Point we’re in a prime location in the centre of Birmingham. We’re close to motorway and bus routes as well as three main train stations, making it easy for you and your attendees to make it to the event.

We’re also close to lots of hotels that are perfect for varying budgets, making it simple for those travelling further to enjoy the event and make their experience as great as possible. 

Create a list of goals you want the event to achieve

It’s essential that you make note of what you want to achieve from this event. This can help you create an agenda or event plan that aligns well with the goals you want to meet. 

These could include things like:

This will also make it easier for you to decide who needs to attend, the dress code and the type of venue you need.

Create a checklist

Creating a checklist can help you keep on top of everything you need to complete before, during and after the event to make it run as smoothly as possible. For example, your checklist could include things like:

It’s also a good idea to make note of any emergency contacts or details required if you have any technical issues like poor audio or the presenting facilities failing. 

Don’t

Skip viewing the venue 

Viewing the venue before making your final decision can help you really understand if it’s the right fit for your event. For example, it can help you see if the venue is big enough to hold your desired amount of attendees and if it has the right facilities, such as presenting and audio abilities. 

This also allows you to ask any questions in person making it easy for you to understand how the venue works and what they can offer you. This gives you the opportunity to make any necessary negotiations with the events space. 

Invite attendees at too late notice

You want to avoid inviting your attendees too late as this will prevent you from getting a good turnout. You may think that sending out invitations months early is too far ahead of time but it allows guests to plan around both their work and home plans, making it more likely for people to be able to attend. 

It’s also a good idea to send out reminders on the run up to the event, such as ‘2 weeks to go!’ or ‘1 week to go!’ with information on transport links, parking and hotels to make it really easy for people to attend the event. 

Be afraid of making your event a little less formal

We all know that some corporate business events can be extremely formal, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But it’s also okay to make your event friendly. This gives people the opportunity to make real connections without the pressure of needing to maintain an overly professional persona. 

It can also help employees and clients see a more personal side to you, which is becoming more and more impactful when it comes to winning and retaining new business.

How Millennium Point can help you host your next corporate event

Here at Millennium Point, we have an array of venues perfect for your next corporate event.

Our spaces benefit from:

To learn more about how our event spaces could be perfect for your next corporate business event, get in touch with Millennium Point today. 

Millennium Point is on a roll! After a tremendously successful award season, we are now celebrating being shortlisted for not just one, but three Famtastic awards! The national awards celebrate excellence in the Hospitality industry, showcasing the best agents, hotels, and venues.

The Awards include:

– Conference Centre of the Year

– Independent Hotel or Venue of the Year

– Unique Venue of the Year

The award ceremony will be held at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel on 27th October. The nominations alone are a great achievement and continues our achievements already for 2023 including Millennium Point’s first national win at the Conference & Events Awards.

Famtastic is a central resource for the latest industry diary dates and unmissable fabulous networking events that take place across the country.

Taking pride in everything we do

Over the past couple of years, we have reinvested into our building to expand our venue spaces that align with our client demands. Including the recent investment into our Auditorium and hybrid and live streaming technologies. We invested over £400,000 into upgrading equipment and refurbishing the space. Having this means our clients can reach their clients globally.

Our fantastic team of 16 have over 150 years combined experience within the industry. We treat each event with the same level of passion, enthusiasm, and customer service regardless of whether it is a small meeting or a 5-day convention. We provide advice guidance, and support to ensure the best result.

Along with all of this, at Millennium Point we also do our own events. Including a 7m diameter giant Earth exhibition, Gaia which welcomed over 80,000 visitors into our building. Throughout the year guests can also enjoy our fun and interactive movie and drink events from Dirty Dancing to Elf!

Versatile, spacious, and styled with the latest event technology

As we eagerly await the results of these Famtastic Awards, we remain committed to providing exceptional experiences for all who visit Millennium Point.

With over 19 event spaces available, from our showstopping 354-seater Auditorium to our tucked away training Curzon Spaces on Level 4. There is a space for everyone at Millennium Point. Get in contact with our friendly team to find out more!