In light of our recent scholarship launch, we understand that finding the motivation to apply can be challenging. However, let these stories of these talented professionals serve as inspiration for you to embark into the world of STEM and push yourself to achieve new heights.

Annie Easley – The Human Computer

At the time, Easley was looking for a job after relocating when she discovered an article about two sisters who were “human computers” at the Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory in Cleveland, Ohio. Two weeks later, after the reading the article, Easley began her career that spanned across 34 years, contributing to numerous programs as a computer scientist.

Easley’s career involved analysing problems and solving complexed mathematical calculations by hand, awarding her with the title of human computer. Easley would go on to break barriers for women and people of colour, inspiring them to pursue STEM opportunities.

Gitanjali Rao – American’s Top Youngest Scientist 2017

Inspired by the Flint Michigan water crisis, Rao invented a life-changing device that can detect lead in water at the age of 11. Rao’s dedication to her work earned her a place in the 2019 Forbes 30 under 30. In recent years, Rao has been taking part in the research of cell biology at the University of Colorado, using the latest genetic engineering to find a solution to prescription opioid addiction epidemic.

Rao is an active STEM ambassador, inspiring young people by promoting STEM-based activities in schools and the community. Rao continues to affect students globally by sharing her knowledge, tools, and encouragement.

Morris Mbetsa – Africa’s First Flying Taxi

Morris, a self-taught engineer, created an innovative solution to Africa’s traffic and poor road infrastructure issues. At the age of 28, Morris manufactured Africa’s first flying taxi. This drone transports passengers for around 25 minutes, and at speeds of up to 120km an hour. The young entrepreneur uses his talents to generate easy-to-use, inexpensive technological solutions that are accessible to his community.

At the young age of 6, Morris discovered his passion for technology, as he has stated on The Kenyan network K24, “Technology is my life. I never watched football while growing up. My room was full of electronics and wires.”

Ronjon Nag – Smartphone Pioneer

Shortly after becoming a newly graduate, Nag invented breakthrough technology for smart devices such as handwriting recognition, predictive text, application of speech recognition and touch screens for mobile devices. He later went on to become the founder of R42 institute, a US and UK-based company that invents and invests in AI and Biotech.

Nag has gone to work with big names such as Apple, BlackBerry, and Motorola after becoming a technological pioneer. As well as becoming a ground-breaking entrepreneur, Nag was also a professor in Genetics at the Stanford School of Medicine, committed to providing inclusive and accessible education.

Jocelyn Bell Burnell – Beyond the Stars

Whilst studying at the University of Glasgow, Burnell discovered pulsars, the cosmic sources of peculiar radio pulses. After graduating, she frequently worked in gamma ray, X-ray, infrared and millimetre wavelength astronomy. In 2015, Burnell was awarded a Royal Medal by the Royal Society and became the first female President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

After winning a breakthrough prize, Burnell donated all the proceedings to the institute of Physics to set up scholarships for graduates and those in under-represented communities to have access to study physics.

Are you Interested in a Career in STEM?

We hope these stories have truly inspired you and encourage you to achieve greatness. If you have any questions about our Scholarship scheme, you can contact our friendly Trust team.

Where we started 

Opening on the 29th of September 2001 and officially being opened by Her Majesty on July 2nd 2002, the Millennium Point project was originally developed in partnership with a number of public and private sector institutions. 

Millennium Point was spearheaded by Birmingham City Council, Birmingham City University (formerly known as the University of Central England) and the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce.  

What we’ve achieved 

We’ve achieved a lot in a short period of time. For starters, we’re home to some of the city’s leading institutions, like Birmingham City University, Birmingham Metropolitan College, Think Tank and Marketing Birmingham that have either been based in or continue to operate in our facilities. 

We’re also the lead funder for the Science Park based in ThinkTank and have funded various other projects in the West Midlands area, such as the Ark Trindal Primary School’s science area.

At the end of the day, we here at Millennium Point aim to give back to our community by providing opportunities in STEM, helping to host fantastic events and acting as an excellent landlord for thriving businesses in the Midlands.

Millennium Point’s Charitable Trust 

Our award-winning charitable trust invests over £4.8 million a year towards furthering STEM education in the West Midlands. 

Our mission

At Millennium point we aim to advance education for public benefit. We look at the industrial and technological processes that have shaped the modern world and that will shape the future. 

Our flagship initiatives 

Our vision

Ultimately we want to be recognised as a leader in the promotion of STEM education and careers. We aim to do this  by meeting these goals:

To discover more about the work our Charitable Trust does, visit our charity page here.

Exceptional events spaces 

Millennium Point is Eastsides largest events hub, where we have a variety of spaces, including our giant screen auditorium, perfect for any event. 

Our spaces benefit from:

Why choose to host your event at Millennium Point?

Hosting your event with us increases your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), while giving back to the West Midlands. 

All commercial profits from our events business and landmark public building go to our award-winning Charitable Trust. The Trust has invested over £25 million back into the West Midlands across the last six years to help support the growth of STEM education. 

When you hold your event at Millennium Point your money makes change happen! For example your money could go toward some of our projects like:

To discover which space could be best for your event, try out our Events Space Matcherator and one of our team will be in touch. 

Perfect properties 

Here at Millennium Point we have a range of properties that could make a perfect home for your business. 

So what makes us different from other properties?

To discover more about the properties we have to offer, get in touch with us today.

While we’re only 22 years old, our rich history has set us up for a lifetime of providing support to Birmingham and the West Midlands, helping them thrive and build a brighter future for those wanting to pursue a career in STEM. 

While we have already achieved some amazing things, we’re not going to stop here. Whether you’re looking to host an event or find a new home for your business, just know that your money is helping us provide a better future for our younger generations.   

This year’s scholarship applications are now open for applicants to embark on a new educational journey into the world of STEM. In partnership with Birmingham City University (BCU), each year Millennium Point Trust fund an undergraduate degree at the Faculty of Computing, Engineering, and the Built Environment facility.

Our scholarship programme has over 20 courses to choose from. Applications are now open, with a deadline of Friday 8th March 2024 at 5pm, allowing you plenty of time to complete your application.

Meet Safa Bibi, last year’s Scholarship winner

Safa Bibi from Small Health was studying Applied Science at South and City College, Birmingham and is now studying a degree in Computer Science at Birmingham City University as of September 2023. Safa’s passion for computer science and inspiration drawn from women in STEM encouraged her to apply for our scholarship program. With the support of Millennium Point Trust, Safa now studies the subject she is deeply passionate about.

Safa states, “Winning the scholarship has made me feel seen and heard by more than just my community of family and friends, so I feel like I can do more and achieve more. I hope that me winning the scholarship empowers other women and ethnic minorities to start applying for scholarships and these roles in STEM.”

Applying is easy and simple

The competition is open to you if you are 18 by, and looking to start an undergraduate degree in September 2024 and live within the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Read the application form carefully and start to answer each question. Think about why you want to study your chosen degree and what you want to do in the future. Also discuss any personal attributes and skills that could help you be the next winner of the Scholarship.

The application has two-stages, with the final stage being an assessment day in May. Finalists will be invited to participate in developmental workshops that will focus on supporting our personal development and professionalism in both interview and presentation skills.

We are here to help you every step of the way

We want everyone to have the best chance of success when applying for our scholarship scheme, so it is important to be confident when writing your application. That’s why we have created a helpful guide to aid throughout your application. Keep an eye out on our social media channels as well as our website for blogs, videos for additional resources to further assist you.

You can always contact our friendly Trust team for any other enquires you may have.

Apply today for a life-changing opportunity

Our applications are now open with the deadline on Friday 15th March 2024 at 5pm, so apply now and start your journey into the world of STEM.

6 Steps to Plan the Ultimate Office Christmas Party

Everyone looks forward to the festive season and for businesses, there’s one thing staff are looking forward to – the Christmas party! That’s why we’ve put together a list of steps you should follow to ensure you host the very best Christmas party.

Start planning early

Have you ever tried to plan a Christmas party with only a few weeks to spare? It takes a surprising amount of time to plan and leaves you saying that you’ll prepare it well in advance the following year, but you never do. Well, this year is the year!

Venues tend to get booked up early so it’s a good idea to start planning around July or August. During this time you can figure out your budget, ideate the venue and think about the activities you want to complete.

Manage your budget effectively 

It’s important to effectively manage your budget so that you can make the most of the money you have available to create the very best Christmas party. When looking at your budget you should:

When you plan your Christmas party early you’ll have the opportunity to shop around for the best priced party packages or venues. This will allow you to make the most of your budget.

Pick a venue 

Choosing a venue that suits what everyone wants can be difficult and a little overwhelming. But with a little planning and getting staff involved in the decision making you may find it simpler to find a venue. During your research, you should:

When choosing a venue you’ll want to consider how close it is to the office and how long it’ll take for employees to get to and from the location. At the end of the day, you don’t want to book somewhere that’ll take the majority of attendees too long to get to. This could cause a lot of people to decline your invitation.

Plan activities 

Depending on the type of Christmas party you’re holding, it can be fun to complete some activities. This could be as simple as a Secret Santa or best Christmas outfit award. For those looking for more extravagant activities, you could go bowling, book an escape room or go go-karting.

Consider catering and food options

Once you’ve chosen your venue you can start to think about catering options. If you’re hosting your party at a restaurant or bar this may not be something you need to think about. However, they may offer you the choice of their normal menu or set Christmas menu.

If you’re holding your party at a venue that doesn’t offer food options, you might want to look for a caterer. When doing your research you should:

Invite staff

It sounds obvious but it’s important to remember to invite your staff. This can be done through online or mailed invites or by adding it to their calendars. After all, you want to ensure everyone attends after you’ve put so much hard work into planning the party.

Hosting a Christmas party at Millennium Point

Here at Millennium Point, we have extensive experience in hosting and planning events and parties. We offer two party packages that could be perfect for your business:

Shared party night 

Our shared party package is £44.95 per person plus VAT and is perfect for smaller businesses looking for that big party experience, without spending a fortune. The package includes a three-course meal and our Platform dancefloor where you can dance the night away to our DJ playing festive hits. The menu includes:

Starters

Main Course

All mains served with seasonal greens

Dessert

Exclusive Party Night 

This package is £49.95 per person plus VAT. You’ll have the choice of a two or three course meal and will have the opportunity to dance on the dancefloor and have access to a private fully licensed bar. The menu includes:

Starters

Main Course

All mains served with seasonal greens

Dessert

Take a look at our Christmas party packages page to discover more about what we have to offer.

3 Reasons to Book a Conference Room With Millennium Point

Create a great first impression, through using a conference room for your meetings, staff onboarding and training sessions.  However, these shouldn’t just be used to win over new clients. Using a conference room during regular client meetings also shows that you value your client’s time, helping you build lasting relationships.

At Millennium Point, we understand the importance of creating strong relationships with your clients and staff. That’s why this blog will explore 3 reasons why you should book a conference room with us.

1. Location

Book a conference room at Millennium Point, and let our location enhance your event experience. We provide not only the perfect conference room but also the best backdrop for a successful and convenient meeting. 

After the day’s business is concluded, why not take advantage of our prime location to build personal relationships and connections? Being located in the centre of Birmingham means you’re only moments away from a range of bars and venues where you can unwind and connect with your staff and clients.

2. Added benefits 

Some of our office spaces come with their very own conference rooms that are equipped to help you host the very best meetings or training sessions. Our rooms benefit from:

3. Networking opportunities 

A range of companies rent out our properties and conference rooms giving you the opportunity to meet new people and build potential client relationships. 

Our conference rooms aren’t just for meetings, they’re here to encourage networking opportunities. Through providing a dedicated professional setting, attendees feel comfortable to share ideas, collaborate and build relationships. When you have the right atmosphere you can truly connect with your staff and customers. 

Properties with a conference room 

We have a range of excellent conference rooms perfect for any small or large meeting. Available rooms include:

H3: Station

Station is our  larger space , it combines one main room with multiple boardrooms that can be utilised for speaker green rooms, quiet spaces or offices. You can have a maximum capacity of 112 delegates if you opt for a theatre-style layout or 72 delegates if you choose a cabaret style. This flexibility makes it perfect for team activities, workshops or networking.  

This venue also benefits from:

H3: Express

Express is an all-in-one space with one main room and 3 small rooms that can be used as speaker green rooms, quiet spaces or offices. If you opt for a theatre style layout you can have a maximum of 100 delegates or 48 attendees when you choose a cabaret layout. This makes the space ideal for team activities, workshops, presentation opportunities and catering.   

The space also benefits from:

H3: Curzon rooms

Curzon rooms are perfect for training staff. They offer easy access and provide presentation facilities along with high-speed Wi-Fi. 

The space also benefits from:

H3: Curzon Suite

Curzon Suite is also a great place to undertake employee training. This space is surrounded by natural light helping to stimulate learning and innovation and also benefits from:

So if you’re looking to book a conference room at Millennium Point you can explore our range of conference rooms using our events space matcherator. 

St Basils are back planning the oldest and biggest sleepout in the UK in Birmingham. On Friday 1st December, St Basils will host their annual big sleepout at Millennium Point in Birmingham to raise vital funds to support young people experiencing homelessness in the West Midlands.

This year our own Millennium Point team member Liam will also be taking part to help raise important funding for the amazing work St Basils do.

St Basils are a homelessness charity based in the West Midlands that have been supporting young people in in fear of losing their home since 1972.

St Basils are not charging for this event, it is FREE! But get involved and raise as much as you can by having people sponsor you. Free vegan curry and hot drinks will also be served by Langar Aid on the night! The atmosphere will be set by a Christmas Brass Band before the challenge ahead of keeping warm on a cold winter’s evening.

Before heading outside, participants will watch a presentation inside Millennium Point, where St Basils will share heart-warming stories from young people.

You can register for the event here.

Homelessness shouldn’t be part of growing up

St Basils work with young people ages 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, to enable them to find and keep a home, grow their confidence, develop their skills, increase opportunities, and prevent homelessness.

Abbie Vlahakis, CEO of Millennium point, said: “We are pleased to offer our venue, for the third year, to support the brilliant work St Basils does. Their commitment to improving the lives of young people aligns with our own charitable mission here at Millennium Point. We urge as many people and businesses as possible to sign up and join us at the sleepout. Together we can raise funds so St Basils can continue to provide life changing support to young people in dire need throughout our community”.

Challenge yourself and make a difference

The Big Sleepout sees hundreds of people from companies, families and groups taking part by challenging themselves, raising money and having fun; particularly in the much coveted ‘creative shelter competition’.

Can’t make it to Millennium Point, you can still make a difference

St Basils will also be running ‘The Big Sleepout from Home’ at the same time. So, if you can’t make it to Millennium Point, you can still get involved in your back garden, office, community hall or ‘sofa surfing’ at home.

You can find out more and apply for your Big Sleepout pack by emailing [email protected].

Supporters can also make one off donations here, it costs £9 a day to support a young person and keep them at a St Basils project.

Want to book an event space with Millennium Point?

The multi-award-winning Millennium Point has over 20 versatile event spaces to choose from and an experienced events team to help you with your event.  

For further information about the event, charity, or venue you can get in contact with our team.

Thinking About Hosting an Exhibition in Birmingham? Here’s Why You Should Choose Millennium Point

Choosing the right location for your exhibition is paramount for its success. Nestled in the heart of Birmingham, Millennium Point is the ideal place for exhibitions where art, culture and innovation meet. That’s why this blog will explore the benefits of hosting an exhibition at Millennium Point. Benefits include:

Transport routes

Whether you and your guests are travelling by train, bus, car or even plane, we’re just minutes away from a multitude of transport options. This helps ensure as many people as possible can attend your exhibition no matter where they’re travelling from.

Hotels and hospitality

As a result of our excellent location, we’re positioned near several hotels, suitable for any budget. If you’ve got attendees travelling afar or you want to celebrate a successful exhibition in Birmingham, a hotel is a great option to help people make the most of your event.

Some great hotels include:

Our spaces:

We have a range of spaces perfect for your next exhibition, including:

Platform

Platform is perfect for larger exhibitions and is an open-plan semi-private event space on level 1. It also offers your very own built-in bar, presentation facilities and dedicated  AV equipment, essential to ensuring your event runs smoothly. 

The event space is also connected to our Auditorium by a central staircase giving you a great opportunity to create a truly exceptional experience. This space can also be fully tailored to your desired design. For example, you could choose layouts like:

Atrium

Atrium is an open-plan public space tailored to exhibitions, career fairs and vehicle and product displays and has even been used for TV sets. Being located on the ground floor helps you increase traction for your event, helping you boost sales and meet new clients or customers. 

You can also choose from three layout styles including:

Concourse

Concourse has a high footfall due to it being placed between the entrances of Birmingham City University and ThinkTank, giving your exhibition better visibility. The space also benefits from:

Extensive event hosting experience 

At Millennium Point we have extensive experience in hosting a whole range of events, from parties, exhibitions and exhibits. Our array of knowledge will help you perfectly execute an unforgettable exhibition and our testimonials highlight just that.

“We hosted our event for almost 200. Everything was planned meticulously and the team at MP really went the extra mile to make sure we had a fantastic event. I can honestly say the service I received from the point of booking, through to the delivery of the event was seamless.  

I’ve had nothing but great feedback from my Intercity colleagues who all attended the event – our venue gave us the wow factor we really wanted to achieve.’ 

So if you’re looking to host an exhibition at Millennium Point, get in touch with us today.

If you’re thinking about hosting an event, meeting or exhibition, we have a variety of spaces catered to different needs. Explore our events space matcherator to see which spaces could be perfect for you.

Celebrating the Season: Host Your Christmas Party at Millennium Point

As the festive season closes in, it’s time to start thinking about booking your work Christmas party. At Millennium Point we have extensive experience in hosting events, making us an excellent venue to host your Christmas celebration. So what are you waiting for? Check out our party packages below.

The shared party package

For smaller businesses still looking for that big party experience, our shared party package could be a great option. You will share your experience with other businesses, giving you the opportunity to build relationships inside and outside of your company.

On arrival, you can take a selfie under our 39ft Christmas tree before enjoying a delicious 3-course dining experience (a minimum of 8 people a table is required). After dinner, you can enjoy a boogie on the dancefloor with our DJ playing plenty of festive hits. 

Our menu includes:

Starters:

Mains:

Desserts:

The shared party package costs £44.95 per person plus VAT.

Exclusive party night 

Our Exclusive Party Package costs £49.95 and is great for bigger businesses. The package benefits from a three-course Christmas banqueting menu, stylish centrepieces, your own DJ and dancefloor, and a private fully licensed bar.   

Our menu includes:

Starters:

Mains:

All mains are served with seasonal greens

Desserts:

For those looking to book this package, a minimum of 100 and a maximum of 200 attendees is required. 

Location

Millennium Point is located in the centre of Birmingham, placing you close to a variety of transport links. We’re also near several hotels, such as:

This allows staff members to book an affordable hotel, letting them party the night away without needing to worry about catching the bus or train home.

There are also lots of exceptional restaurants and bars throughout Birmingham that are perfect for those wanting to continue the party or for those looking for a great spot for breakfast the next day.

So if you’re looking to host a Christmas party to remember take a look at our brochure to discover more.

“I cannot fault the level of service delivered by the Millennium Point events team. They provided excellent customer service from start to finish, were patient and genuine in their passion for ensuring that everything went as good as it could have.”

Millennium Point has continued to champion staff wellbeing by completing the Thrive at Work: Workplace Wellbeing Silver Award.

The accreditation recognises the organisation’s commitment to promoting the health and mental wellbeing of its team and follows last year’s Bronze Award.

What is Thrive at Work?

Thrive at Work is the West Midlands Combined Authority’s workplace wellbeing award programme. It helps workplaces around the Midlands to focus on health and wellbeing at work. Employers that gain accreditation to Thrive at Work are recognised as being committed to excellence in this field.

Putting Employees First

Following the award, Millennium Point will continue to champion the wellbeing of its team with initiatives throughout the year and is already working towards the Thrive at Work: Workplace Wellbeing Gold Award.

Vanessa Currie, Head of People, Learning, and Development said “We are proud to have completed the Silver Level of the Thrive at Work programme and to have received this recognition for our work. This award highlights the ongoing work of both our dedicated Thrive Team, and the wider team, who continue to make Millennium Point a fantastic place to work. It is very rewarding to see team members supporting the wellbeing of their colleagues.”

Keep up to date with Millennium Point

At our multi-award-winning landmark building, there is always something going on! Keep up to date with our latest news in our blog section here

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. 

Applications for our charitable Trust STEM Grants programme are now open!

Our grants are available from £1,000 to £20,000 to individual applicants to support science, technology, engineering & maths (STEM) education in Birmingham and the wider region. Applications close at 5pm on Friday 8th December 2023, meaning you have got just under a month to apply. You can apply here.

We want everyone to have the best chance of success. That’s why we have put some useful tips below.

A good plan is half the work done

To get started, complete the form that can be easily downloaded from our website. Have a read through all the sections and start to complete them in as much detail as you can as this will help us when our team begin to shortlist applications.

Clearly plan what the aims of the project and how those aims will be achieved. Don’t forget to include details on how the success of the project will be measured. This is where using ‘SMART’ objectives will be useful.

Make sure your application is detailed with what activities will take place, when, and where they will be carries out will also help chances of being successful. Have a look through your budget plan and ensure it contained the correct pricing and quantities for everything you need to achieve your project.

When talking about your project look at the link between the project and the selected category choice. Make sure the connection is clear to show why you’re doing the project and how it will benefit your chosen group. Also plan about the duration of the project, will it be throughout the year, or could the project be done in a day? Can the project be repeated with the resources bought, or is it a one-off project?

For extra help the guidance and FAQ pages will help you with your application, you can always contact our friendly Trust team too [email protected].

Submitting your application or grants

Have a read through your final application, ensure that it’s clear, precise and explains all about the exciting project you have planned.

After you have decided you’re happy with your application, submit it to us by email – [email protected]. Make sure you send it in before the 5pm on 8th December 2023.

What happens next?

Once it’s sent over, out fantastic Trust team will send you an email acknowledging receipt, you won’t hear from us again until a decision has been made. All applications will be read through by the Grants team and then moderated by a separate panel. It will finally be presented to our Trustees who will make the final decision on the successful applicants. At this stage you don’t have to do anything but wait for the good news!

Our grants help make STEM happen!

Over the past five years, the Millennium Point Charitable Trust has awarded over £2 million to charities, not-for-profits, community groups and schools to further STEM education. Millennium Point Charitable Trust has previously seen the rewarding outcome of past projects such as designing the perfect community at Lyng Primary School and Sandwell College going 3D.

Last year Millennium Point Trust saw 100 applications from not-for-profit organisations in aim of receiving a share of the grant money.