Delegates from across the UK headed to Millennium Point last week for the PA Forum Learning & Development Conference 2024. The multi-award-winning events venue hosted 280 business representatives for a full day of inspirational talks and sessions on 5 June.

The PA Forum curated an incredible line-up of business talent to share insights and inspire guests to transform their work in the latter half of the year. Professor Corinne Hoisington delighted delegates with an insight in harnessing the power of AI. There were tips on public speaking from inspirational speaker Nick Elston, and GuruYou founder Rebecca Mander gave valuable career coaching.

With its easily accessible location, large choice of flexible event spaces and breath-taking Auditorium, Millennium Point was the perfect setting for the conference. Guest speakers were able to make a big impression utilising the Auditorium’s giant screen – famed for being Birmingham’s biggest screen. The space also offered perfect sight lines from its 354 tiered seats alongside stunning 4k projection.

The PA Forum was able to take advantage of Millennium Point’s incredible choice of breakout spaces. Delegates enjoyed workshops surrounded by Station’s beautiful natural daylight and the Curzon Suite’s stunning views. The Express and Connect spaces offered multiple breakout spaces alongside touch-screen coffee machines offering delicious Italian-style beverages. The venue’s striking Atrium provided a stunning backdrop for speed networking. Delegates were also able to sample Millennium Point’s fantastic menu with delicious dishes being served including charcoal grilled butterfly chicken breast, Mediterranean pasta with a lemon basil dressing, and a chocolate truffle torte.

The conference also utilised Millennium Point’s unparalleled AV support with multiple cameras across the conference capturing a recording for future reference, alongside live streaming for those who couldn’t make the event in person. With in-house AV support staff, conference organisers could relax to concentrate on their event without any added technical issues.

Victoria Webb, Millennium Point Sales Manager, enjoyed hosting the event stating: “It was a pleasure to work with Daniel Skermer of the PA Forum and to helping him to realise his fantastic vision for the Learning & Development Conference 2024.

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:

Building on the success of our SciSeries events which saw 2,000 students visit Millennium Point. We are excited to announce our next event – the SciTECH Showcase on 10th June!

Last year, we welcomed students from over 20 schools across the region to SciMED where they participated in a range of thrilling activities, workshops, and talks delivered by organisations and personalities from the world of STEM and medicine.

To get an idea what’s in store, watch below how SciMED went –

The SciTECH Showcase is open to upper primary (years 5 and 6) and lower secondary (years 7 and 8). To confirm your place book here – www.elevationx.uk/scitech-event

SciTECH – Showcasing the importance of STEM in the Technology industry

The SciTECH event that takes place Monday 10th June 2024, seeks to inspire the next generation of STEM students with all things technology – from the traditional careers of Programmers, Analysts and Designers, through to the wider STEM related sectors such as IT Service Management, App Developers and Business Analysts, whilst showcasing technology and engineering advances in all associated sectors.

Students will be able to explore:

– Interactive workshops

– Digital activities

– Technological advancements

Sign up to book your school’s place and discover all things STEM and Tech!

Get your company involved

There is still time for your team to get involved with SciMED. Promote your company and showcase your innovations to young people from schools across the region. With lots of exciting organisations already joining us, now is the time to book your place to ensure you get the chance to connect with the future of your industry. Email our event partners Elevation X to secure your spot – [email protected] or call 07379769722.

This is just one of the ways we’re supporting STEM in the region

Our multi-award-winning Charitable Trust invests more than £4.5m each year towards furthering STEM education within the West Midlands.

Over the years we have provided funding to Scholarships, Grants, and projects that benefit the region. Find our more about our Trust and how we can work together for a better future.

Hosting a charity event is exciting, but it does require a lot of thought to get it right.  There are so many worthy causes out there and with the ease of donating online, you need to show guests why they should attend your event. As a result you need to make sure it’s engaging. You can do this by:

Showcasing how guest’s donations will make a difference 

Showing donors where their money is going and the positive impact it’ll have on your cause will make them feel as though they’re making a difference and encourage further donations. You can do this by:

Highlighting how attendees’ donations are making a difference will leave guests inspired and encourage them to make contributions outside of the event. 

Providing opportunities for guests to get involved with the cause beyond the event 

While it’s important to meet your event donation goal, you also want to foster long-term connections with your donors to help you raise money outside the event. You can do this by:

Incorporating fun ways for people to get involved with donating 

Incorporating fun ways to raise money will encourage more people to donate. You can implement things like:

By adding creative ways to donate you can further incentivise giving while making it fun, helping you leave lasting memories and encourage future contributions.   

Providing photo opportunities 

Photos are a great way to create user-generated content that raises brand awareness. By providing opportunities for photos through implementing things like photo booths you can inspire them to capture memories and post them on social media. This can help you reach a wider audience and encourage further engagement, helping you reach donation targets and make a real difference for your cause. 

Hosting a charity event at Millennium Point

At Millennium Point we have a wide range of event spaces perfect for your next charity event, no matter how big or small. Some of our spaces include:

The Auditorium 

This space is perfect for larger events and our newly refurbished stage and screen allows you to host an exceptional charity event. With 354 tiered seats and the ability to host a hybrid event, you can reach your desired number of guests, helping you increase contributions and support for your charity. 

Platform 

Platform can hold up to 350 delegates and has a built-in bar, helping you create the celebratory atmosphere you want. This can be incorporated with outdoor space, helping you create more interactive donation opportunities and better engage guests.

Station

For those looking to host a smaller event, Station can hold up to 150 delegates and has multiple rooms, allowing you to create a range of interactive activities. It can also adhere to a range of layouts, such as:

This allows you to create the ideal layout for your charity event. 

So what are you waiting for? Host your next charity event at Millennium Point!

Millennium Point Events presents a bottomless brunch and a special screening of the romantic drama, Dirty Dancing. You’ll have the time of your life at the event, which will include a delicious brunch, 90 minutes of bottomless prosecco and a screening of the film all for £35.00 per person (plus fees). The event will be taking place on Saturday 25th May and starts at 1pm.

Hosted in our giant screen Auditorium, guests can see the iconic romantic drama on Birmingham’s BIGGEST screen.

Purchase your tickets here before they sell out!

‘Nobody puts baby in the corner’

Head back to Kellerman’s Holiday Resort, this time with bottomless prosecco! Join Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman as she develops hungry eyes for the resort’s hot dancer, Johnny Castle. And cheer on Baby and Johnny as they attempt *that* dance lift.

‘This is my dance space. This is your dance space.’ (You after drinking prosecco probably.)

Tickets are priced at £35.00 (plus fees) and you’ll get more than just a screening!

Guests can expect to enjoy 90 minutes of bottomless prosecco, accompanied by a delicious brunch of burgers, wedges and coleslaw.

After you have had your fill, head up to our Auditorium, one of the biggest screens in Birmingham to watch the film.

Our bottomless prosecco brunch events are not to be missed!

Check out our recent Love Actually Bottomless Brunch. Guests got to enjoy the festive favourite, bottomless prosecco and a fantastic brunch overlooking our spectacular 39ft Christmas tree.

Getting to Millennium Point

Millennium Point is in the Eastside of Birmingham City Centre just 5 minutes’ walk from Moor Street and 15 minutes’ walk from Grand Central and the tram. There is also limited parking onsite parking which means we’re easy to get to regardless of how you travel. For more information, please click here.

Millennium Point is delighted to support the Engineering Inclusive Futures scheme spearheaded by Birmingham Open Media (BOM). This initiative brings an extraordinary opportunity for 20 Special Educational Needs (SEN) learners to immerse themselves in engineering, gaming, and virtual reality, showcasing the power of inclusivity in technology. The Millennium Point Charitable Trust’s funding enables a series of workshops designed to bring technology closer to the students. 

The project kicked off with a workshop at Aston University, where SEN students from Birmingham’s Wilson Stuart School explored the Rock Mobility Climber wheelchair, presented by Rock Engineering. This not only allowed the children to voice their thoughts on the design but also served as a bridge between them and the world of product development. Timothy Whitehead, a Product Design lecturer at the university, delivered a thought-provoking seminar which was then followed by an exciting virtual reality workshop. 

Chloe Lawson, Director of Learning & Inclusion at BOM, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled that Millennium Point is supporting us. We’re working with top-notch engineering organisations and helping them realise that the relationship between them and young beta testers is really important for the future of inclusive technologies.” 

Abbie Vlahakis, CEO of Millennium Point, expressed her enthusiasm for the project: “We are incredibly proud to support Engineering Inclusive Futures. By providing these young minds with the opportunity to interact with cutting-edge technology at some of the world’s most innovative organisations, we’re not just educating them – we’re empowering them to become the problem-solvers of tomorrow.” 

Engineering Inclusive Futures represents a huge leap towards realising a future where every child has the opportunity to explore, learn, and thrive in the STEM fields. 

STEM grant funding is a great way to encourage children to get into the STEM industry. Funding can help schools or businesses provide opportunities and remove barriers in the way of children exploring STEM activities or a career within a STEM-related subject like science, technology, engineering and maths. 

In this blog we’ll delve into the various benefits of STEM grant funding and how it can shape children’s futures.

What is STEM grant funding?

STEM grant funding is where organisations, institutions, government agencies or foundations provide financial support for individuals, not-for-profit organisations or educational institutions, within Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths.

Grant funding aims to promote and advance STEM education, research, innovation and workforce development by providing funding, resources and opportunities that align with STEM-related goals. 

The benefits of STEM grant funding 

It helps provide equal opportunities for all children 

STEM grant funding plays a crucial role in providing equal opportunities for all children. Funding often helps to support schools, children and businesses in underserved areas to help bridge the opportunity gap within the STEM industry. 

Funding can also provide STEM materials, teacher training and extracurricular activities that encourage students to explore various opportunities within the STEM industry. This can play a huge part in creating a more diverse and inclusive society by levelling the playing field for all children, no matter their background. 

It encourages innovation 

STEM grants can act as a catalyst for innovation. By providing financial support to researchers, entrepreneurs and organisations it allows them to undertake groundbreaking projects. Grants can fuel innovation by enabling the exploration of new ideas and technology and allows individuals and teams to take risks, push boundaries and turn concepts into reality. 

Ultimately STEM grant funding allows complex challenges to be tackled that reshape industries and society.  

It helps to support STEM career development 

Grant funding can go a long way toward supporting STEM career development by offering financial assistance that can be used to create scholarships, internships and educational opportunities. This can help to remove financial barriers that prevent students from pursuing a career in STEM. 

STEM grants often promote mentorship and networking, helping students interact with like-minded people. Mentors can also help guide them through their journey in the STEM industry, helping to create a stronger, more diverse and talented workforce. 

It helps to strengthen the workforce

Grant funding helps to strengthen the workforce by supporting educational initiatives, training programmes and skill development activities that equip individuals for the skills needed to work in the STEM industry. As a result, the workforce is more adept at dealing with challenges and driving innovation. This helps to strengthen the workforce as a variety of industries will gain access to highly skilled and adaptable talent. 

Encourages collaboration

The financial incentives of STEM grant funding encourage various stakeholders in the STEM industry to work together. For example, partnerships between educational institutions, research organisations, businesses and not-for-profit organisations can be formed to tackle complex issues and challenges. 

This can help to spread awareness of the STEM industry, encourage more people to undertake an education and career in the industry and improve society by solving various problems with the latest technology. Ultimately, encouraging collaboration within the STEM industry can have huge positive effects on both the industry and the planet as a whole. 

STEM grant funding at Millennium Point

The Millennium Point Charitable Trust provides funding to not-for-profit organisations, schools and colleges across the West Midlands Combined Authority yearly. The grant provides up to £20,000 to applicants for their STEM related project, subject to meeting eligibility requirements. We also welcome smaller grant applications of £1,000. 

We accept applications from:

We don’t accept applications from:

STEM scholarship

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

To apply for our scholarship you’ll need to meet the following criteria: