After a record number of applications, Five West Midlands-based students have been shortlisted as finalists in this year’s Millennium Point Trust Scholarship programme.
Hoping to secure our fully paid-for degree in partnership Birmingham City University (BCU) faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, the shortlisted candidates will present on issues hindering the growth of the West Midlands in relation to their chosen subjects, to a panel of top industry judges and a captive audience during a live event at Millennium Point on March 27th.
The shortlisted candidates include Jerome Adrien, 19, from Birmingham, who has applied for Automotive Engineering; Laura Jane Avis, 17, from Redditch, who hopes to study Film Production Technology; Moses Mbikayi Mukendi, 17 from Coventry, who has chosen Computer Games Technology; Caitlin Cooper, 17, from Wolverhampton, who wants to study Computer Forensics; and Feargus Flanagan, 17, from Wolverhampton, who is looking to pursue Music Technology.
This year we’ve seen the highest number of applications for the scholarship to date, so shortlisting Jerome, Laura, Moses, Caitlin and Feargus was a really tough job. The sheer quality of applications, number of entrants and the variety of courses chosen really highlights the growing interest in STEM (science, engineering, engineering and mathematics) subjects and the Millennium Point Trust Scholarship itself.
The scholarship programme, now in its fifth year, is the flagship initiative from the Millennium Point Charitable Trust and is fully funded by the charity in partnership with Birmingham City University. In 2018 our charitable trust invested more than £4.8m in STEM-related organisations, projects and initiatives, based in the West Midlands.
As event planners look ahead to 2019, what are the key considerations they should have at the front of their mind when researching suitable venues?
We asked our Commercial Director, Rebecca Delmore, to list five things which every event organiser should bear in mind.
ONE – LOCATION AND ACCESSIBILITY
The adage ‘location, location, location’ still holds true…a central location with good transport links goes a long way to helping your event to run smoothly. It means delegates and speakers can find the venue with minimum stress and are more likely to arrive on time. Millennium Point is close to the City Centre, with on-site parking and excellent transport links to trains, tram and busses so it makes us quite popular for conferences and big events. Try to find somewhere that’s straightforward for the majority of your guests to reach.
TWO – COST
Whatever the size of the organisation booking the events space, cost will be a deciding factor. As well as the headline cost, it’s worth being aware of any little extras which might pop up from the small print, such as car parking fees, Wi-Fi, refreshments etc. Choose a venue that has a clear, simple pricing policy, and if you’re not sure – ask!
THRE – CAPACITY
Whether you’re expecting 10 people or 500 at your event, finding somewhere that’s the right size is a must – as well as a venue that’s able to flex into various configurations. For example, Millennium Point has a variety of spaces, from small 5 person meeting rooms in CONNECT to our 350-seat AUDITORIUM which makes us more appealing for clients.
FOUR – ACCOMMODATION
If delegates are travelling a fair distance to your event, or it’s running over a number of days, accommodation is essential – whether it’s on-site or close at hand. It will mean that not only will your event run more smoothly – visitors are less likely to arrive late – but attendees will have more opportunity to rest and relax after a busy day. It also doesn’t hurt to ask the host venue if they can recommend accommodation, as they might have preferential rates or packages with certain hotels.
FIVE – TECHNICAL AND DESIGN
How good is the AV? Check whether or not the venue you’re considering has built-in audio-visual equipment and technical crew for set-up, or whether you need to take your own. In terms of aesthetics, you want your chosen venue to look contemporary, but it may need to suit the tastes of a wide age range of delegates; the look and feel need to not only project the right brand image but also be appropriate for your target audience.
So there you have it – 5 top tips to consider when booking your next event.
Ready to book an event?
With a range of versatile and flexible public and private events space, Millennium Point’s experienced team are on hand to help deliver your event. Whether you’re hosting a banquet, showcasing your new product, holding a conference, having a party or delivering a high-profile presentation, here you can do it all. Plus, a percentage of your booking will fund its charitable work supporting science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) projects and initiatives across the region. Get in touch with our event team today by email or by calling 0121 202 2200
We’ve received a record number of applications for our 2019 Millennium Point Trust Scholarship.
Now in it’s fifth year, our programme offers one lucky undergraduate in the West Midlands a fully paid-for degree, from a choice of courses at the faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment at Birmingham City University (BCU). Almost 100 people across the West Midlands applied, making it the highest entry level in the scholarship’s history.
The level of entries reinforces the notion that there’s a growing appetite in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) among the region’s young people, and those looking to reskill or upskill in STEM industries. With a huge number of courses available, spanning from computer science to digital marketing, music technology to construction, computer forensics to automotive engineering and everything in between, our scholarship is designed for individuals who want to take the next step in their STEM career but may need a helping hand, or perhaps had previously discounted university as an option due to their circumstances or background.
The scholarship is open to West Midlands-based applicants who will be aged 18+ and ready to start their degree by September 1st 2019, and reinforces Millennium Point Charitable Trust’s objectives of supporting science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) projects, organisations and initiatives across the West Midlands. It provides the opportunity for emerging talent to take their first steps or reskill into a STEM career and aims to address the current UK shortfall of 173,000 skilled workers in STEM industries, by encouraging young people to consider further education in STEM on a regional level.
The scholarship is our charitable trust’s flagship initiative and is fully funded by the charity, which over the last five years has invested more than £4m in STEM-related organisations, projects and initiatives, based in the West Midlands.
The first scholarship winner (formerly the Young Innovator Prize), Malik Sheryar Karamt (above), graduated in July 2018 with first class honours in Mechanical Engineering.
Our shortlist will be announced on February 16th ahead of the live final, which takes place on 27th March 2019 in our PLATFORM and AUDITORIUM spaces at Millennium Point, Birmingham. Candidates will present to a top panel of industry judges and the live audience, before the lucky winner is announced.
See further details about Millennium Point Trust Scholarship, entry requirements and the application process.
We’re always looking to expand our programmes – whether you’re a business looking to get involved or someone interested in applying for 2020, please get in touch with our scholarship team.
Millennium Point will be closed this weekend while we do some essential maintenance within the building.
The closure will take place this weekend from 5pm Friday 8th – Sunday 10th February. While Millennium Point is closed, ThinkTank will still be open this weekend with their usual business hours of 10am-5pm.
Millennium Point will re-open with business as usual on Monday 11th February. If you have any questions please call 0121 202 2200 or email our team.
Our Finance team was named Not for Profit Finance Team of the Year at the West Midlands Finance Awards 2018.
Recognised for demonstrating excellence in its field in the last 12 months, our finance team successfully proved ‘having positively impacted the wider business through outstanding achievements in the delivery of its projects, whilst maintaining an infectious team spirit.’
Abbie Vlahakis, Interim CEO of Millennium Point said: “It is a real honour that we have received top recognition, and this is a testament to the hard work carried out by an extremely dedicated team here at Millennium Point.
“We are very proud of the work we do and the significant difference the Trust has made, having already invested more than £4.8 million in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) related organisations and initiatives in the West Midlands this year.
“As a charity ourselves, all profits from our commercial activity contribute towards supporting our objectives of promoting and encouraging STEM and education in the West Midlands.”
The West Midlands Finance Awards, which took place on Thursday 15th November 2018 at the ICC in Birmingham, recognise the outstanding achievements of businesses and individuals within the region’s finance community.
Who are we?
Opened in 2001, Millennium Point is the largest landmark millennium project in England, outside of London. We’re operated by the Millennium Point Trust which is a charity that exists to support the growth of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in the West Midlands. We’re home to several unique event spaces, including a 350-capacity auditorium, flexible workspaces, meeting rooms and offices, alongside tenants including ThinkTank Science Museum and Birmingham City University (BCU).
You can find out more about our services and spaces by visiting our venue section and more about our charitable work in our charity section of the website.
With the deadline for applications fast approaching for the Millennium Point Scholarship; quality and passion are some of the words of advice offered by previous winners of the fully paid-for degree in partnership with Birmingham City University.
Now in its fifth year, our Scholarship awards one person in the West Midlands a free degree at Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment – free of tuition fees.
Sagal Abdirahman, the 2017 winner of the Millennium Point Scholarship, talks about passion and preparation being key to securing the next scholarship spot. She commented:
“If I had one piece of advice I could offer to applicants of The Millennium Point Trust Scholarship, it would be to ensure that you complete thorough research on your topic of choice. Come prepared, as the more prepared you feel and the more passionate you are, the easier it will be for to speak about your chosen subject.”
Our 19-year-old winner wowed the panel of judges last year with her presentation ‘Cleaning the Planet’. Sagal is currently in her second year on a Civil Engineering course at Birmingham City University.
Ryan Dowell, has just started his sponsored course in Civil Engineering at BCU, having won last year’s scholarship. He has also completed a work experience programme at Laing O’Rourke / Murphy Joint Venture, two of Europe’s most prominent engineering and construction companies facilitated by Millennium Point.
Commenting on his experience, Ryan said: “It’s not just about the quality of your presentation when it comes to winning, but more so about your skills as a public speaker.
“Speaking confidently about your topic will carry you far both in the scholarship programme and in life afterwards. I was really nervous when I first got on stage, but once I got into my presentation it all came naturally.”
Applications are now open to all West Midlands-based students ready to start their degree in September 2019.
The application process consists of a few short questions encouraging why they should win the degree, followed by opportunities for those shortlisted, including presentation training, industry work placements and networking with STEM business leaders facilitated by Millennium Point. The scholarship will then be awarded during a live final event on 27th March where the candidates will present their project findings to an audience and panel of esteemed industry judges.
Not only does the scholarship provide the opportunity for a young person to take their first steps in their career helping address the current UK shortage of skilled workers in STEM industries, but it also reinforces The Millennium Point Charitable Trust’s objectives of supporting STEM projects having already invested more than £4.8m West Midlands-based, STEM-related initiatives.
Our Charitable Trust has announced donations of more than £4.8m to science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) projects across the West Midlands in 2018.
All of the commercial activity that takes place in our landmark building, whether it’s running an event or leasing workspace, feeds back into our charity. This enables us to donate and invest in STEM-related organisations, projects and initiatives that benefit Birmingham and the wider region.
This has included more than £281,000 to fund four projects by Birmingham Museums Trust including Year of the Engineer 2018 and a Science and Heritage Career Ladder Legacy; working with Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and The Built Environment to offer a free undergraduate degree through the Millennium Point Scholarship, now in its fifth year.
We’re immensely proud of the quality and breadth of STEM-related projects that the Millennium Point Charitable Trust has been able to support. The Trust has made a significant difference in the region and, particularly with projects such as our scholarship, it’s encouraging to see young people taking a real interest in STEM as a future career.
We opened in 2001 as the largest landmark millennium project in England, outside of London. Inside, we’re home to several unique event spaces including a 350-capacity auditorium, flexible workspaces, meeting rooms and offices, and largest tenants ThinkTank and Birmingham City University (BCU).
You can find out more about our services and spaces by visiting our venue section and more about our charitable work in our charity section of the website.
Did you know that 36% of New Year Resolutions involve improving what we eat and drink? The human brain is composed of 95% water, our lungs are 90%, blood is 83%, muscles are 76%, and even our bones are 22% water. And, of course, it’s no secret that more fruit and veggies in our diet are a good thing. Combined, keeping hydrated and having more fruit and vegetables increase our energy levels and improve our mood, making us happier, more alert and considerably more productive. Now imagine what impact happier, more alert and more productive attendees would have on your event.
Our lighter menu packages are brimming with delicious, well-balanced food options designed to bring out the best in you and your guests. Available now to add to your venue booking.
Option 1 – Wellbeing Buffet
Breakfast
A selection of cereal and granola bars
Mid-Morning
Mixed fruit bowls
Wellbeing Buffet Lunch
Baked salmon & herb crust
Pan seared breast of spiced chicken
With a selection of freshly prepared salads…
Quinoa & roasted sweet potato
Watermelon & feta cheese
Italian bean & parmesan
Beetroot & celeriac remoulade
Mixed leaf salad
New potatoes
And for afters…
Blueberry and low-fat yoghurt dressed with honey and toasted almonds
Served with a range of fruit juices
Mid-afternoon
Skinny Popcorn
(Gluten free, high in fibre and with 30% less fat than standard popcorn. Suitable for Vegans).
Refreshments
Three servings throughout the day of tea, coffee, water and a selection of fruit teas.
Option 2 – Lighter Lunch | £32 pp + VAT
Breakfast
A selection of cereal and granola bars
Lighter Lunch
An assortment of freshly prepared, handcrafted wraps served with crisp mixed salad, fresh fruit & organic yoghurt
Refreshments
Three servings throughout the day of tea, coffee, water and a selection of fruit teas.
Vegan-friendly and gluten-free options are available. We can also cater for any additional dietary requirements; just let us know when placing your order.
New year, new website! Designed to offer you easy access to the latest information and news from our award-winning venue and charity; our shiny new website will better capture who we are and what we do, making it as accessible as possible for both our public and professional visitors.
We’ve designed the site with simplicity in mind with smoother navigation thanks to a cleaner layout with improved functionality.
Our site will be updated regularly to provide instant access to ongoing activities and events taking place at Millennium Point.
Looking ahead, it will enable us to showcase the stories or those supported through our charitable trust, connect more directly with local businesses and highlight the benefits that our unique venue can provide.
Start browsing now and submit any feedback to [email protected].
Two British-based global rail giants have selected Millennium Point to develop their plans to build an iconic train for High Speed 2.
A team of up to 50 experts from Bombardier Transportation and Hitachi Rail, including engineers, designers and environmental specialists, have come together in the new HS2 bid centre to work up the proposals.
Based on level 4 of our building, overlooking Curzon Street and the planned site of HS2 station, they are already developing their concepts for what will be the fastest train ever operated in the UK.
Millennium Point (above) was the catalyst for regeneration in Eastside when it opened in 2001
The official announcement was made on Wednesday 12th September in our newly refurbished PLATFORM event space and was attended by ITV, Sky News and BBC West Midlands, amongst others.
Millennium Point was chosen from a national pool of more than one hundred potential sites. The two rail giants favoured the convenient location opposite the future HS2 site; the flexibility of the office and venue spaces on offer inside the building as well as our charity objectives, supporting science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) organisations, projects and initiatives through our company’s charitable arm–the Millennium Point Trust.
Our Commercial Director Rebecca Delmore, who spoke at the event alongside senior members of Bombardier Transport and Hitachi Rail, said:
“The opportunity to host Bombardier Transportation and Hitachi Rail to Millennium Point and support their bid is something we’re really excited to be involved in. HS2 will notably change the whole region, especially Eastside, and Millennium Point has a pivotal role to play as the facilitator, which starts now. Our commitment as both Millennium Point the building, and the Millennium Point Charitable Trust, to invest in and support into STEM developments across the region continues to help open doors for Birmingham, as we welcome major players like Bombardier and Hitachi to our doorstep.”
Millennium Point Commercial Director, Rebecca Delmore (above) opened the press conference on 12th September 2018, formally welcoming the joint venture into the building.
The development of the major new train fleet can help to boost regional growth while delivering the skills and training needed to realise the future export potential of the wider high-speed rail sector.
Britain’s bullet train will offer passengers an unrivalled travel experience as it runs at speeds of up to 360 kp/h on the new link between the West Midlands and London when it opens in 2026.
Bombardier Transportation and Hitachi Rail’s bid will also ensure that trains will be specially designed to make them ‘classic compatible,’ so that they are able to travel on the current network to serve cities such as York, Newcastle, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The final bid is due to be submitted from the development centre stationed inside Millennium Point in February 2019, with £2.7bn contract to design and build 54 trains to be awarded in March 2020.
