Over the last 12 months, we have visited numerous recipients of our Millennium Point Charitable Trust Small Grant programme to see how they are progressing with their respective projects.
Our visit to Montgomery Primary Academy school in Sparkbrook, Birmingham, proved particularly insightful and interesting.
The school welcomed grant recipients The Play House, a leading theatre-in-education charity making participatory drama for children and young people in the midlands.
Daughters of Invention
The Play House delivered their interactive theatre project “Daughters of Invention”, funded through a grant from the Millennium Point Charitable Trust in 2019.
“Daughters of Invention” is an educational performance based on engineering history. The project brings real-life engineers together with actors and storytelling, designed to raise young peoples aspirations and inspire interest in engineering.
Women in Engineering
In particular, the project seeks to inspire girls into engineering and elevate the work of female engineers. The Play House brings to life the nineteenth-century Birmingham-based engineer Sarah Guppy, who, alongside being a prolific inventor was also the first woman to patent a bridge.
A unique experience
This unique experience proved beneficial to the pupils, who enjoyed a different sort of lesson, thanks to the acting skills of Play House Head of Programmes Juliet Fry and her team.
Over £400,000 grant funding has been used across a variety of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) related activities, from creating dedicated resource rooms at schools, funding learning clubs, running activity programmes and organising careers fairs encouraging girls into STEM.
We would like to thank the staff at Montgomery Primary Academy for being so welcoming to Millennium Point and our Interim CEO Abbie Vlahakis.
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.
250 students from 22 schools and colleges across the West Midlands descended on our landmark venue, Millennium Point, last month in Birmingham to take part in an eclectic festival of employment workshops and careers activities, designed to inspire interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) opportunities.
What is it?
Funded by our charitable trust and delivered by social enterprise Ahead Partnership; one of several recipients of the 2019/20 Millennium Point Charitable Trust’s Small Grants Programme, #STEMFestWM saw local businesses join forces to address the STEM skills deficit and help to maximise the sector’s potential to incite regional economic growth.
The second hugely successful festival was hosted in our multi-award-winning venue over 3 days and attracted an exceptional turnout of young people and employers, so much so that the festival was oversubscribed with requests from school and college to attend.
What happened?
Supported by numerous reputable businesses from across the West Midlands including PwC, InterCity Technology and Pinsent Masons, #STEMFestWM provided local employers with the opportunity to engage directly with secondary school and post-16 students, aiding their employees’ personal development whilst raising awareness of careers and opportunities within the STEM sector.
The first day of activity saw over 150 female Year 8 students come together at Millennium Point for the #GirlTechWM event to learn more about the Digital and Technology sectors across rotational mini-workshops run by a host of local employers.
The last day of activity proved most popular, with around 180 Year 9 and 10 students partaking in speed-networking style workshops and interactive careers panels. Post-16 students were also invited to visit PwC, InterCity Technology and Pinsent Masons offices throughout the week, to gain first-hand of experience of what it’s like to work for the organisations involved.
Addressing the regional skills gap
In a region where 89% of STEM businesses face difficulty recruiting the necessary talent, the extremely high demand from West Midlands schools demonstrated the appetite for careers activities focused on STEM roles amongst young people.
We’ve talked previously about the importance of addressing the STEM skills gap in the West Midlands and how we are facilitating change through supporting wonderful partners such as Ahead Partnership.
Following the first day of #STEMFestWM, 73% of students that attended agreed that they would now consider a career in the digital and tech sectors – which are projected to bring in more than £1.3bn alone to the West Midlands by 2025.
This 3-day festival follows in the wake of last year’s event — also funded and hosted by Millennium Point.
“A clear need for this type of initiative”
Stephanie Burras CBE, Chief Executive of Ahead Partnership, said: “We are very proud of the success of our second STEM festival in the West Midlands.”
“The growing scale of this event demonstrates a clear need for this type of initiative in the region, and it is our mission to equip young people with better awareness of and access to the fantastic opportunities available to them.”
“The STEM sector has significant potential to add huge value to the West Midlands economy, and with exciting milestones for the region approaching, such as the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the number of roles out there and the pressure to fulfil these is only going to increase. As such, we are proud to be supporting the region’s growing skills demand in a way that is inclusive and accessible to young people.”
(Above) We catch up with Stephanie Burras, Chief Executive of Ahead Partnership for a closer look at what they do and the funding they received from us in 2019.
Abigail Vlahakis, CEO of Millennium Point, said: “2018/19 marked an incredibly successful first year for our Small Grants Programme and we are delighted to have been able to build on this activity in 2019/20, with a programme of STEM activities which is even bigger and more diverse in scope.
“Our region has great potential for growth in the STEM sector, but we are facing concerning difficulties in meeting the sector’s skills demand. Ahead Partnership’s work is aligned with our own ambitions to enhance STEM learning and career aspirations in the West Midlands, and we’re delighted to fund this hugely worthwhile project that has seen so many young people leave engaged and inspired.”
Katherine Bond, National Schools Engagement Manager at PwC, also added: “The STEM sector in the West Midlands is becoming one of our most important industries and this festival is a fantastic way for young people to become more aware of upcoming opportunities, whilst helping us to future-proof our own workforce pipeline.
“This event has grown in size and scale this year, along with the skills demand of our region, and so we’re proud to have worked with Millennium Point Charitable Trust, Ahead Partnership and the other businesses involved as part of this incredibly important initiative once again, which will not only benefit our sector, but more importantly, our young people.”
Footage from the festival was recorded by media students from South & City College and shared across social media. The festival forms part of a busy calendar of skills initiatives delivered by Ahead Partnership across the country that seek to raise young people’s career aspirations, help businesses acquire sector-fulfilling talent and develop young people’s social capital.
Any employers interested in finding out how they can support this work can find out more by contacting Ahead Partnership on 0300 124 0496.
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.
Our latest scholarship competition ended in style in mid-March with a fantastic live final following a record-breaking year for applications.
What’s the Scholarship?
Our Millennium Point Scholarship is an annual competition open to students across the West Midlands. It provides one lucky winner with a fully funded undergraduate degree and opportunities and support for up to five finalists.
This year we received more applications than ever before from students across the region looking to take their first big steps in their careers and tackle the big issues facing the west midlands in the years to come.
“All five finalists were incredible”
A live final event at Millennium Point, held in our 354-seat Auditorium, marked the culmination of this year’s competition, with five finalists each presenting on local issues such as affordable housing, cyber harassment, fake news and battling flooding. You can see a round-up of the event below:
Five business leaders from across Birmingham’s business community were selected to assess the finalists, giving feedback on their presentation style and content.
Winner Shennice Talburt, currently working as a paralegal, will now study Real Estate at Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, with her degree paid for by the Millennium Point Charitable Trust.
Shennice, from Birmingham, said: “I am so proud to have been selected as the winner of this year’s Millennium Point Scholarship. All five finalists were incredible, with great ideas and the drive and determination to carry them out.”
“This is something I have kept quiet and focused on by myself, so it will be some surprise for my family when I tell them. I think the housing crisis is a major issue that needs creative thinking and I want to bring new ideas to the table and help the millions of people who are suffering as a result of this situation.”
What happens next for our winner and finalists?
While the winner will enrol on an undergraduate course at Birmingham City University, the other four finalists will receive ongoing support towards their careers including coaching, mentoring and industry work experience provided through Millennium Point.
Abigail Vlahakis, CEO at Millennium Point, said: “The quality of our finalists has blown me away, they are all so inspiring.
“I would like to congratulate them all, but especially Shennice, whose ideas really shone a light on possible solutions to one of the biggest issues in the region.”
“Exciting, valuable and impactful initiative”
Hanifah Shah, a judge in the final and Executive Dean of Birmingham City’s University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, said: “The drive, determination and desire to change society for the better through the application of engineering and technology is incredibly strong in all five finalists.
“We’re delighted that Shennice will be joining the Faculty of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment later this year with the Millennium Point Scholarship and look forward to working with the runners up as well.
“Birmingham City University extends its thanks to all involved in this exciting, valuable and impactful initiative and event.”
This project is one of several ways our organisation is supporting the growth of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in the region.
More than £5 million in profits from the commercial activity of our multi-award-winning Birmingham venue and landmark public building, Millennium Point, is invested by our Charitable Trust into projects, events and initiatives which support the growth and development of STEM initiatives in the West Midlands region. For more information, please see our charity page here.
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.
We’re delighted to announce the latest recipient of the Millennium Point Scholarship, which fully funds an undergraduate degree at Birmingham City University.
Shennice Talburt, currently working as a paralegal, will now study Real Estate at Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, with her degree paid for by the Millennium Point Charitable Trust; is aiming to help solve the UK’s housing crisis – starting with the West Midlands – after impressing judges and a live final audience to win the prize.
More than 160 applications were received from across the West Midlands for this year’s scholarship programme, which is in its sixth year, representing a new record.
A group of five business leaders from across Birmingham’s business community were selected to assess the finalists, who presented their ideas for the future to a live crowd.
Winner Shennice, from Birmingham, said: “I am so proud to have been selected as the winner of this year’s Millennium Point Scholarship.
“All five finalists were incredible, with great ideas and the drive and determination to carry them out.
“This is something I have kept quiet and focused on by myself, so it will be some surprise for my family when I tell them.
“I think the housing crisis is a major issue that needs creative thinking and I want to bring new ideas to the table and help the millions of people who are suffering as a result of this situation.”
More than £5 million in profits from the commercial activity of the multi-award-winning Birmingham venue Millennium Point is invested by its Charitable Trust into projects, events and initiatives which support the growth and development of STEM initiatives in the West Midlands region.
The scholarship programme is a key part of this charitable calendar.
While the winner will enroll on an undergraduate course at Birmingham City University, the other four finalists will receive ongoing support towards their careers including coaching, mentoring and industry work experience provided through Millennium Point.
Abigail Vlahakis, CEO at Millennium Point, said: “The quality of our finalists has blown me away, they are all so inspiring.
“I would like to congratulate them all, but especially Shennice, whose ideas really shone a light on possible solutions to one of the biggest issues in the region.”
Hanifah Shah, a judge in the final and Executive Dean of Birmingham City’s University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, said: ““The drive, determination and desire to change society for the better through the application of engineering and technology is incredibly strong in all five finalists.
“We’re delighted that Shennice will be joining the Faculty of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment later this year with the Millennium Point Scholarship and look forward to working with the runners up as well.
“Birmingham City University extends its thanks to all involved in this exciting, valuable and impactful initiative and event.”
The scholarship is an annual competition to encourage young people in the West Midlands to pursue science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) at higher education level by fully funding their tuition fees alongside other opportunities provided through the Millennium Point Charitable Trust. If you are interested in knowing more then please visit our page here.
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.
The judging panel for the Millennium Point Scholarship, which will award one student a fully funded degree at Birmingham City University, has been named.
The five-strong panel will be headed by Professor Hanifa Shah, Pro Vice-Chancellor & Executive Dean of the University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment (CEBE), which is to host the winning student on one of its 20+ undergraduate courses.
Prof Shah will be joined by Katie Burnell, Account Manager at consulting and infrastructure support services giant Amey Consulting PLC; Faye Pressly, Chief Operating Officer at technology contractor Vanti; Tim Kay, Sector Lead, technology and media at professional services firm KPMG; and Martino Giaquinto, Partner and specialists construction and engineering lawyer at legal firm, Mills & Reeve.
The panel will hear from five finalists, all of whom are vying for a life-changing scholarship, at a live event at Millennium Point, Curzon Street, on March 13.
The event will see each of the finalists presenting their insights on regional issues such as low-income housing, transport and safety online in a Dragons Den style pitch to judges before the panel selects a winner.
Abbie Vlahakis, Interim CEO at Millennium Point, said: “Following a record-breaking number of applications for the Millennium Point Scholarship this year, we have gathered a stellar judging panel to oversee the final stage.
“The strength of the members demonstrates the impact this scholarship can have, not just in terms of the free degree, but the contacts we will help our winner to make as they progress through university to the workplace.”
More than £5 million in profits from the commercial activity of the multi-award-winning Birmingham venue is invested by its Charitable Trust into projects, events and initiatives which support the growth and development of STEM initiatives in the West Midlands region.
The BCU Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment covers more than 20 different courses ranging from Civil Engineering to Computer Games Technology and Film Production Technology.
While the winner will enrol on an undergraduate course at BCU, the other four finalists will receive ongoing support towards their careers including coaching, mentoring and industry work experience provided through Millennium Point.
For tickets to the live final, visit this link.
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.
A grant funding pot of more than £400,000 is now open to schools, charities and not-for-profit organisations across the West Midlands as part of a major Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) education initiative.
The Millennium Point Charitable Trust has opened its latest Small Grants Programme for applications, with up to £20,000 available for individual applicants.
Profits from the commercial activity of the multi-award winning Birmingham venue is invested by its Charitable Trust into projects, events and initiatives which support the growth and development of STEM initiatives in the West Midlands region.
Previous grant recipients have used the funding to create dedicated resource rooms, fund learning clubs, run activity programmes and organise careers fairs encouraging girls into STEM.
Applications are set to close on February 14th 2020 with bosses hoping to see applications increase from last year, when the Programme was introduced.
Abigail Vlahakis, Interim CEO at Millennium Point, said: “We had an extremely positive and successful debut year for our Small Grants Programme.
“STEM roles are the jobs of the future in the region and we are striving to play a key role in ensuring young people from the West Midlands will be in pole position to take those roles – most of which have yet to be conceived.
“The Grants Programme gives a chance for those young people with a passion for STEM learning the chance to take that further, opening up opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.
“We really want to open up STEM learning to groups who have typically been somewhat marginalised by these industries, so we want to see applications coming from far and wide.
“I would like to wish all applicants the best of luck and can’t wait to see the unique ideas they put forward.”
Over recent years, several reports have been published identifying Birmingham and the West Midlands as the centre for Science and Innovation outside of London, marking STEM as the key to economic growth in the region.
However, the nationwide STEM skills gap means that the region currently has a shortfall of 173,000 skilled workers as 89% of STEM businesses struggle to recruit with a majority of high skilled roles being left unfulfilled.
Until recently there was also a rapid decline in interest in STEM subjects at school, meaning less people would be entering training to eventually take up these jobs.
The Millennium Point Charitable Trust was recently awarded “Third Sector Organisation of the Year” at the Birmingham Post Business Awards and featured for their unique charitable business model in this years ‘Innovation 50” report produced annually by law firm Mills & Reeves.
To apply for a Millennium Point small grant, please click here.
The Millennium Point Charitable Trust will award £2,000 to one school or college in the West Midlands as part of our 2020 scholarship programme.
The school or college that provides the most applicants for our 2020 scholarship programme will be awarded £2,000 to enhance their science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) curriculum. The incentive forms part of a wider campaign to promote the initiative, which received a record number of applications in 2019.
How does it work?
All you have to do is encourage your students aged 17+ to apply for the scholarship programme. As part of the application, students will tell us what school or college they’re applying from and we’ll keep track of the number of applicants form each school or college in the West Midlands. Once the application window is over we’ll tally up the scores and award the school or college that provided the most applicants £2,000 to be spent on enhancing their STEM curriculum.
You can visit our resource page to learn more about the competition and download promotional material to share within your school or college. You can also request a promotional pack to be sent directly to you which contains posters and leaflets, or a visit from our team by getting in touch with us on [email protected]
What’s the scholarship?
Open now until 31st January 2020, the Millennium Point Scholarship pays for one young person’s undergraduate tuition fees at Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment. Now in its sixth year, the competition is open to young people aged 17+ in the West Midlands. It’s a two-stage competition designed to build confidence and showcase rising talent in the region, with a live final held at Millennium Point in March. Finalists are given skills development workshops to build their confidence, leadership and public speaking skills as part of the competition, as well as opportunities to meet employers and build their own networks in their chosen industry. The competition was won in 2019 by, then 17-year-old, Laura Avis from Bourneville College. Laura is now in her first year at the faculty studying a BSc (Hons) Film Production Technology, and in a recent interview urged young people “Don’t be scared, just apply!”.
Whether you’re a teacher, parent or know a school or college, this is an opportunity not to be missed! Head on over to this page for more information and resources to get you started.
Students looking to apply can start their application today by visiting millenniumpoint.org/scholarship
We’re a landmark public building and award-winning events and conference 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 promote the growth of STEM and education within the West Midlands region of the United Kingdom. For more information on our charitable work, please visit our charity page. You can follow Millennium Point on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram with @millenniumpoint.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) learning across the West Midlands has been given a major boost after a charitable trust issued more than £410,000 of grant funding.
Grants of up to £20,000 from the Millennium Point Charitable Trust’s Small Grants Programme have been issued to 34 schools, charities and not-for-profit organisations in a bid to impact how STEM is perceived and promoted in the region.
Over recent years, several reports have been published identifying Birmingham and the West Midlands as the centre for Science and Innovation outside of London, marking STEM as the key to economic growth in the region.
However, the nationwide STEM skills gap means that the region currently has a shortfall of 173,000 skilled workers as 89% of STEM businesses struggle to recruit with a majority of high skilled roles being left unfulfilled.
Until recently there was also a rapid decline in interest in STEM subjects at school, meaning less people would be entering training to eventually take up these jobs.
The 2018/19 grant program will aid the purchase of new equipment, events, after-school clubs and more to enhance STEM learning and increase appetite for relevant careers in the West Midlands.
Abigail Vlahakis, CEO at Millennium Point said: “2018/19 marked an incredibly successful first year for our Small Grants Program and we are delighted to hear that our recipients are starting to put their money to good use.
“From early child development in schools to business development and community engagement, we are aiming to make a positive, tangible impact across the West Midlands in how STEM is perceived and promoted.
“We are looking forward to working with this years recipients as they make the most of their grant funding and of course, we are excited to see the results of their work.”
Millennium Point is a multi-award-winning venue, charity and landmark public building in the eastside of Birmingham City centre.
Profits from its commercial activity is invested through the Millennium Point Charitable Trust into projects, events and initiatives which support the growth and development of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and education in the West Midlands region.
Abigail said: “Our charitable outputs are determined by our commercial profits, which means the more businesses spend money with us, whether it’s through our venue or our retail spaces, the more we can make a positive impact on the region.”
Notable projects to arise from this year’s grants include a contribution towards the funding of a week-long STEM Festival organised by the Ahead Partnership, while Trinity High School will create a STEM room.
Many schools are also using their grant to upgrade facilities or increase access to STEM resources for pupils.
Applications for this year’s Millennium Point Small Grants program are set to open in December, with details to be announced by Millennium Point over the coming months, with the aim of exceeding the £410,000 issued for the 2018/19 program.
For more details please visit millenniumpoint.org.uk/small-grants or call 0121 202 2200.
Applications are now open for our life-changing scholarship at Birmingham City University.
Each year, the Millennium Point Charitable Trust fully fund an undergraduate degree at Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, which covers over 20 different courses ranging from civil engineering to video game design and film production.
Now in its sixth year, the Millennium Point Trust Scholarship has funded four young people through their degrees at Birmingham City University, with the fifth winner, Laura starting her course in Film Production Technology this month.
Who can apply?
Applications are only being accepted from students living in the West Midlands region, who cannot already have or currently be studying an undergraduate degree.
Why should they apply?
All finalists will benefit from the programme with opportunities that can kick start their career in science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM).
One person will get a fully funded degree – which means they won’t pay their undergraduate tuition fees. They’ll also have several opportunities to develop through networking, events and industry links provided through Millennium Point.
All finalists receive skills development and training to build their confidence before the live final. Following the competition, they can become an alumnus of the programme and benefit from a range of opportunities such as mentoring, work placements and networking.
How can they apply?
The application process is broken down into two stages, with those who proceed to stage two getting to present their story to a live audience comprised of key stakeholders and industry experts.
The first stage is quick and easy, they just need to fill out an application and submit it to our online form with any supporting materials before 11:59pm 31st January 2020. We’ll then select up to 6 finalists to compete in the live final in March.
Get started
If you or someone you know is interested, head over to millenniumpoint.org.uk/scholarship/apply and start the application.
Millennium Point is a multi-award-winning venue, charity and landmark public building in the east side of Birmingham City centre. Profits from its commercial activity is invested through the Millennium Point Charitable Trust into projects, events and initiatives which support the growth and development of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and education in the West Midlands region. For more information, visit our about page.
There are some professions out there that may not spring to mind when you think of STEM (science, tech, engineering and maths), most people think of scientists in lab but there’s so much more to these four subjects and the careers those who study them find themselves in.
We caught up with Marcus Jenkins, a musician, record producer and sound engineer at 2000 trees festival. Marcus runs the Neu stage at the festival which involves overseeing all elements of running the stage from; Sound Engineering, Lighting, Backline, and Stage Management and where he coordinates his sound engineering students from the University of Gloucestershire. The festival was crowned ‘Best Medium-Sized Festival’ at the Festival Awards 2018 and headlined by Frank Turner, You Me at Six & Deaf Havana.
Q: How did the link between you, the students and 2000 trees come about?
A: The University of Gloucestershire has a great relationship with the festival. I can’t exactly remember how it all started, but I recall meetings with Andy & James (2 of the organisers of 2000 trees) back in 2011 discussing the potential for our students working on The Greenhouse stage. The Greenhouse became The Croft and then, with the site re-jig a few years ago, became the Neu Stage.
Q: Any recommendations for artists over the weekend?
I’ll be faithful to the Gloucestershire locals: Floorboards, Watercolours, All Ears Avow, and of course, Jim Lockey & The Solemn Sun.
Q: When working as a sound engineer, do you get to enjoy the music, or do you have to be constantly switched on?
A: I’d like to think that the very nature of being a Sound Engineer means you are always switched on to what and who you are working with. There are some artists that might not suit your personal taste, but you can always get into the mix and provide a good service to the act and to the audience. If an act suits your musical taste, then mixing becomes a great pleasure.
Q: You must be busy all weekend with your job, do you get any downtime to go and see any acts?
A: There’s very little downtime when working on a stage which tends to be the nature of the work. However, as coordinator for the students volunteering on the stage, if anyone wanted to go watch one of their favourite acts on another stage then I will accommodate their request and rotate the team to make sure the work in our venue is covered.
Q: As you work as freelance sound engineer what other kind of events have you worked on?
A: I’ve worked for over 10 years as a freelance live sound engineer for a variety of different events from; music festivals, venues, touring bands, comedy, corporate, and conference work.
Q: Have you always wanted to work in the music industry?
A: Yes – from the age of about 18. Prior to that I didn’t really know what I wanted to do.
Q: At what age did you start getting involved in music, and to build on that; the technical side of things?
A: I started going to gigs from the age of 14 (sneaking into venues with age restrictions). Playing in bands around 16 and getting hands-on with tech from 18.
Q: What’s your most memorable experience working in Live music?
A: Touring with Crooks UK on their debut album EU/UK tour (w/ Boston Manor). The tour had to cease after a few shows due to ill health but the gigs we did were insane.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: Live music, either at a festival or in concert, generates a certain energy. There’s nothing like getting the mix spot on and feeling the crew, room acoustic, and artist working together to deliver an excellent experience for the audience.
Q: So where and what did you study?
A: I studied a B-TEC at City of Bath College from 2004-2006 in Music Practice. This drove me to undertake a BA(Hons) at the University of Gloucestershire in Popular Music from 2007-2010.
Q: How did you find the course?
A: Really enjoyed the B-TEC as it got me started on my journey. I found my BA course unique as I was able to experiment with what I enjoyed most and networked along the way. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for both experiences.
Q: Do you think it’s important that more young people get involved in STEM subjects?
A: Absolutely! There’s so much that can be learned by being exposed to right circumstances and experiences. Whether you are a practical or vocational learner, or reflector or theorist, there will be the right course out there for you in STEM should you want to learn more!
Q: You also work for University of Gloucestershire assisting students in the media school, how is that?
A: It’s amazing. I am lucky to be surrounded by inspirational students, where projects in the music studio or computer lab vary from day-to-day and I get to enjoy fantastic experiences like supporting my students working at great festivals like 2000 trees.
Q: Are the students solely focused on the technical side of things or is there a link between performance and engineering?
A: Our students in the Media School study either BA or MA degrees. So whilst technology links almost all things music, understanding and knowledge of tech isn’t essential before you start the course. We have fantastic facilities and support technicians, along with great lecturers that deliver all the right information and content for students to carry out their studies.
Q: What are the opportunities like for students once the graduate to work in the music industry and STEM?
A: From my experience in education, you get out what you put in. Music education and STEM subjects are no different. If you are committed and invest your time in your studies (and that includes time outside the classroom) then you will be able to find work.
Find out more about Marcus here and the Music courses at the University of Gloucestershire: Creative Music Technology, Music Business and Popular Music.
2000 Trees festival won the awards for ‘Best Medium-Sized Festival’ at the Festival Awards 2018 and tickets for 2020 are available at a discounted rate now – https://www.twothousandtreesfestival.co.uk/tickets/
Millennium Point is a landmark building in Eastside of Birmingham City centre. Owned by the Millennium Point Charitable Trust who supports science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and education in the West Midlands, Millennium Point is home to award-winning events and conference spaces, including a 350-seat auditorium with Birmingham’s biggest screen, as well as tenants such as Thinktank Science Museum and Birmingham City University. For more information about the organisation get in touch.
