With Halloween just around the corner and things being a little different this year, a lot more of our children are spending time indoors. So, the team at Millennium Point have scoured the web to bring you 6 spooky science experiments you can do in your home with the kids to get them in the Halloween spirit and learn some new skills!

(Image Credit: STEM Learning)

Bones of the body bingo cards
This is a great activity for 5-11-year olds to build their biology skills. It’s a bingo game designed to help children learn about the human skeleton. It contains two sets of cards one showing bones of the body and the other the names of the bones corresponding to the pictures. The cards can be printed off and laminated for multiple uses.

You will need to make a free account on STEM learning which we thoroughly recommend. They have an abundance of STEM resources, information and support for helping develop STEM skills for children of all ages – all completely free.

Make an eerie sounds device!
This activity is quick, simple and mostly uses materials you likely have around your house. Using a plastic cup and a few household bits your kids can craft a spooky device which makes eerie sounds like a creaking door or creaking steps! The cup acts as a soundboard, amplifying vibrations created by movement and producing eerie sounds. It’s a great little activity which can teach your kids about sound and vibrations while simulating a haunted house.

(Image Credit: Science Buddies)

Make Monster Slime
If it’s gooey, slimy or looks and feels yucky you can be sure that the kids will love it. This experiment uses a few basic materials to create a slime that can be moulded and pulled apart. It explores chemical reactions and how different materials breakdown and combine with each other to make other materials, sometimes transcending from their original state of solid, liquid or gas. A note on this one, you will probably need to buy PVA glue and a few of the other bits but they’re pretty cheap and easy to grab online or at your nearest stationary shop.

(Image Credit: Science Sparks)

Throw a Monster Tea Party
Continuing the monster theme, throwing a Monster Tea Party for the kids is a fun (but messy) way of teaching them about chemistry. Imagine the Volcano experiment but with more colours. Essentially, you’re making a chemical reaction with vinegar, baking soda and washing up liquid which causes a big bubbly reaction. What we like about this experiment is its simplicity. It combines a few kitchen ingredients, but the result will make for an exciting activity. We must warn you though, it is messy, so you want to make sure you do it somewhere that is easy to clean.

Make a Lava Lamp (or Witches potion) using an Alka-Seltzer tablet
Okay, so this one is for making a lava lamp, but the reaction makes us feel like we’re brewing a magic potion – either way it’s a great one for Halloween. Again, all you need is a few simple ingredients, most of which you will probably already have in your kitchen. The experiment says an Alka-Seltzer tablet but any tablet you dissolve in water should work. This experiment looks at chemical reactions. The tablet reacts with the water to create carbon dioxide, while the tablet and oil do not mix at all. Once the tablet goes through the oil and hits the coloured water the reaction forms colourful blobs reminiscent to a lava lamp. It lasts for about 30-45 seconds but can be repeated with more tablets.

(Image Credit: Science Sparks)

Create creepy liquids
Another one from Science Sparks, this activity demonstrates the density of liquids while creating some gross concoctions that are fascinating to watch (just don’t let the kids drink it). Like a lot of the other activities on this list, it is using basic items and ingredients you most likely have in your house. The experiment teaches about floating and density, where layering different densities of liquid with debris causes different reactions.

There you have it! We hope you have fun and remember to keep safe and share your experiments with us on social media.

Please note we don’t take credit for any of these activities. Use the links provided to read the information carefully taking note of the safety instructions provided.


Find more interesting content from Millennium Point over at our news section, or follow us for daily updates on FacebookTwitterInstagram 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. 

Organisations within the West Midlands Combined Authority can now apply for a grant from the Millennium Point Charitable Trust to support their science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education projects. Not-for-profits, schools and colleges can apply for funding from £1,000 up to £20,000 from the Millennium Point Charitable Trust to fund their STEM projects starting in September 2021. Projects can be activity focussed or for the purchasing of resources and materials which enables STEM-related education to children or communities.

How do you apply?
Applicants will need to download and complete the application form on the Millennium Point website. The completed application should be submitted to [email protected] before 5 pm on Monday 30th November 2020.

Since 2018, Millennium Point Charitable Trust has donated over £969,000 through its annual grants process to a diverse range of projects across education, STEM-focused charities, sporting charities and museums. This year Millennium Point awarded £560,000 to fund over 60 projects across the region. Projects funded include ‘STEM stars’ from Aston Villa Foundation, a programme which engages young people in coding using football; and ‘Sensory STEM’ from Longwill School for the Deaf, Northfield, which will make science more visual and accessible to their pupils through science-based equipment and an enhanced curriculum.

Where does the money come from?
The Millennium Point Charitable Trust owns the 46,450 sqm landmark Millennium Point building on Curzon street in the eastside of Birmingham City Centre (opposite the future Curzon Railway). Millennium Point is “COVID Secure” and has 17 versatile event spaces capable of holding a variety of events from meetings to formal dinners. Profits from our commercial activity as a landmark public building and multi-award-winning conference and events venue feedback into the charitable trust, enabling it to donate and invest in STEM-related organisations, projects and initiatives. The grants scheme is our flagship initiative alongside the Millennium Point Trust Scholarship which funds at least one young person’s undergraduate degree each year at Birmingham City University.

Head over to our grants page and start your application. Applications close at 5 pm on Monday 30th November 2020.


 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. Find more interesting content from Millennium Point over at our news section, or follow us for daily updates on FacebookTwitterInstagram and LinkedIn with @MillenniumPoint.

Young people aged 18-25 in the West Midlands can benefit from a six-month environmental leadership programme which is completely free. The programme is being offered by UpRising, an outstanding youth support organisation that offers a range of leadership, mentoring and employability programmes that help young people become leaders and better reflect and represent the communities they serve.

Uprising is an outstanding Youth Organisation offering a range of opportunities for young people to level up

What’s the programme?
The Environmental Leadership Programme is a free 6-month online green leadership programme for 18-25-year olds. It includes a series of virtual workshops and sessions designed to help participants develop the knowledge, skills and networks they need to become green leaders. Participants will also receive personal and professional development support during their time on the programme. All sessions will be held every Tuesday at 6-8 pm on Zoom.

Who is eligible?
The programme is open to 18-25-year-olds who are living, working or studying in the West Midlands.

How to apply
Applications for the programme are now open and you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible in order to avoid disappointment. The application form takes 10 minutes to complete and can be completed here. Alternatively, you can find out more about UpRising and their range of exciting programmes on their website here.

This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to learn new STEM skills relating to the environment as well as shape themselves as future leaders within the West Midlands. For further news relating to science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in the West Midlands keep following our blogs at www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/news


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. Find more interesting content from Millennium Point over at our news section, or follow us for daily updates on FacebookTwitterInstagram and LinkedIn with @MillenniumPoint.

We’re delighted to announce the latest recipients of the Millennium Point Charitable Trust grants initiative.

Building on the continued success of the programme, The Millennium Point Charitable Trust received 170 eligible applications from not-for-profit organisations, schools and colleges from across the West Midlands region – a 55% increase from the last round of funding in 2019. This year we have granted more than £560,000 to STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) projects and initiatives across the region. Projects funded include ‘STEM stars’ from Aston Villa Foundation, a programme which engages young people in coding using football; and ‘Sensory STEM’ from Longwill School for the Deaf, Northfield, which will make science more visual and accessible to their pupils through science-based equipment and an enhanced curriculum.

What’s the Millennium Point Trust’s Grants initiative?
The Millennium Point Charitable Trust’s Grants initiative provides funding annually to not-for-profits, schools and colleges across the West Midlands. Applicants can apply for up to £20,000 to fund their STEM-related project providing they meet the criteria and can demonstrate a measurable impact in STEM education. Since its launch in 2018, Millennium Point Charitable Trust has donated over £969,000 to successful recipients funding a diverse range of projects across education, STEM-focused charities, sporting charities and museums.

Where does the money come from?
The Millennium Point Charitable Trust owns the 46,450 sqm landmark Millennium Point building on Curzon street in the eastside of Birmingham City Centre (opposite the future Curzon Railway). Profits from our commercial activity as a landmark public building and multi-award-winning conference and events venue feedback into the charitable trust, enabling it to donate and invest in STEM-related organisations, projects and initiatives. The grants scheme is our flagship initiative alongside the Millennium Point Trust Scholarship which funds at least one young person’s undergraduate degree each year at Birmingham City University.

To learn more about our events and conference venue or how booking with us can widen your company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR), please get in touch.

When is the next round of funding available?
Information on the next round of applications will be made available soon, you can register your interest by emailing [email protected] or by keeping a watch on our dedicated grants & funding page. As the Millennium Point Charitable Trust, we are constantly reflecting and improving our projects to ensure they stay relevant, accessible to those who benefit from them and impactful to STEM in the region, for further information on the wider charitable operations, opportunities available or to get involved, please get in touch.


 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. Find more interesting content from Millennium Point over at our news section, or follow us for daily updates on FacebookTwitterInstagram and LinkedIn with @MillenniumPoint.

The next round of applications for School of Code’s free remote Bootcamp is closing on 3rd August.

What is it?
Founded by Dr Chris Meah in 2015, the School of Code aims to teach people programming skills in a free, immersive short course designed to address the UK’s growing science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills gap. Similar to Millennium Point’s own scholarship competition, the School of Code Bootcamp seeks to provide opportunities to address the 175,000 shortfalls in skilled STEM workers by eliminating barriers, such as money, to show people that it is never too late to start a career in STEM.

Image Credit: School of Code

How does it work?
The Bootcamp runs for 16 weeks and starts on 21st September 2020 and is open to anyone interested in a career in coding. This course will be conducted remotely online and you do not need to have any prior coding experience. The Bootcamp leaders work with you from coding novice to professional developer and links you to hiring businesses on completion of the course. To be eligible you need to meet a few simple criteria including being in a West Midlands Combined Authority postcode and able to attend remote lectures between 9 am – 5 pm weekdays for the duration of the 16 weeks. This is a perfect opportunity for people who have lost their jobs or are on furlough who are looking for a career-changing opportunity.

Remote Bootcamp
Image Credit: School of Code

The course itself includes a myriad of opportunities to grow and develop your tech skills, from hands-on workshops, mentoring from professional software experts, soft skills development, industry talks and networking as well as job placements at the end of the Bootcamp.

How can I apply?
The application is quick and easy. Head over to schoolofcode.co.uk/apply and fill out the quick and easy online form before 3rd August 2020. If you are successful, then you will start your 16-week intensive course on 21st September.

Why are we supporting this?
The Millennium Point Charitable Trust contributes over £5million each year to support the growth of STEM in the West Midlands. Recent reports have identified the region as a hotbed for science and innovation, with a high population of SMEs in STEM industries such as digital, tech and engineering. We firmly believe that the future of the West Midlands lies in the growth of STEM industries. To secure this future, we must collaborate, celebrate and support organisations like ourselves and the School of Code, who are working to address the STEM skills gap, raise the profile of STEM skills and careers; and increase diversity and inclusion in STEM-related industries and education.

Find out more from the School of Code by visiting their website now. To learn more about the work of the Millennium Point Charitable Trust, please visit our dedicated page.


Find more interesting content from Millennium Point over at our news section, or follow us for daily updates on FacebookTwitterInstagram 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. 

Finalists of the latest round of the Millennium Point Scholarship reunited over Zoom one last time this month to bid a fond farewell to the competition.

Millennium Point’s annual competition awards a fully funded degree to one young person in the West Midlands. This year’s competition took place in March and followed five young hopefuls looking to start their career in several STEM industries including Cyber Security, Mechanical Engineering and Construction Management. The competition, in partnership with Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, was won by Shennice Talburt, who will start her undergraduate BSc (Hons) Real Estate in September. Following the end of the competition, all finalists received ongoing support including a series of 1-on-1 coaching sessions conducted online to help them with their next steps.

Scholarship 2020 Finalists (From Left to Right) Kallum Wright, Chloe Copeland, Shennice Talburt, Lauren Davies, Amber Kelsey.

Read related article: Sixth Winner of the Millennium Point Scholarship Announced

Four months on, finalists met over Zoom with Millennium Point’s Interim CEO, Abbie Vlahakis, Commercial Director, Rebecca Delmore, project lead Mat Lovell and course coach Hannah Wetz to discuss their experiences during the competition, their activities over lockdown and their futures. Finalists were then encouraged to remain in contact with each other and Millennium Point as part of the scholarship alumni.

Finalists met up with members of the Millennium Point team over Zoom.

One finalist commented, “The 1-on-1 coaching sessions were really useful – particularly, because of the pandemic. I was worried about my future and the coaching sessions helped me to take a step back, manage my worries and get back on track with where I want to be.”

The aftercare programme was switched to online following the UK going into lockdown at the end of March. Additionally, Millennium Point remains in contact with each finalist to expand their networks and work experience with local businesses and business leaders for as long as the young person chooses.

Mat Lovell, Marketing Coordinator and project lead for this year’s scholarship commented, “The Millennium Point Scholarship is more than a competition. It’s a project which encourages young people to pursue STEM careers and provide a platform through which they can achieve their potential. Our aim is to make sure all finalists, whether they win or not, benefit from the competition experience which is why we have worked hard on an aftercare programme which expands their industry networks and experience while helping to develop them as the next generation of STEM leaders.”

The next round of the competition will launch officially in September 2020 with the live final scheduled for March 2021. For further information on the scholarship competition please visit our dedicated page here.


Find more interesting content from Millennium Point over at our news section, or follow us for daily updates on FacebookTwitterInstagram 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. 

Students from Aston University’s TEDx Society have announced their first-ever virtual TEDxAston event.

What’s the event?
TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.

First announced on their website, the event will be held on 1st August 2020 and centred around the theme of ‘Journeys’.

This virtual event will bring together a host of inspiring speakers to the virtual stage to share their own stories and how the experience of journey shapes society and the world around us. The event will also encourage attendees to reflect on their own personal journeys. Activities will include talks, performances, activities, networking opportunities and more.
Tickets are on sale now through Eventbrite. The standard ticket price is free and includes access to watch the event, followed by the “Exclusive Journey Pass” for £3.50 which offers additional benefits including Q&As, access to a networking platform and activities.

“Supporter” or “Premium Supporter” tickets are available for £10 – £30 for those wishing to show support for the not-for-profit, voluntary organisation and their work.

Buy tickets here

What’s TEDxAston?
TEDxAston is a series of events organised by Aston University students since 2013. Students range from freshers to PHD, volunteering their time and resource outside of their work and academic studies to design and deliver TEDxAston for the benefit of students and the local community.
The TEDxAston team of 20 students is supported by staff at Aston University and an advisory board made up of businesses including Millennium Point.

 

The journey of TEDxAston “Journeys’
 The TEDx team have overcome several obstacles to achieve this event in-light of the Coronavirus pandemic. The team’s decision to move TEDxAston online was made in response to the uncertain situation of the pandemic.

Tristan Ripke, Student and Executive Director for TEDxAston, comments:

“The team’s decision to take the event online was a challenging one. We had to slow down at first to adjust to the new situation. However, we believe in TED’s mission of sharing ideas worth spreading and want TEDxAstonUniversity to benefit the local and regional community.”

“All the work is taking place from student bedrooms across Europe, Africa and Asia via Google Meet. It’s been a challenging adjustment for many members balancing academic and personal affairs alongside the pressures of the pandemic, which is why I’m very grateful to be working with such an amazing team.”

Why is this important?
Students at Aston University have risen to the challenge posed by COVID-19 and embraced technology to take their TEDx formula online. Not only does the organisation and “Journeys” seek to encourage education and discussion in Birmingham, but the journey the students themselves have taken demonstrates the resilience and commitment to providing opportunities for themselves and the wider community to learn and grow.

Buy tickets here

You can follow TEDxAston on their Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn for further updates.


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. 

Today is International Women in Engineering Day and we’re here to give you a quick lowdown on what it is and why it is important.

WHAT IS INTERNATION WOMEN IN ENGINEERING DAY?
International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) is an annual day of celebration which highlights the achievements of women in Engineering today and in the past. It’s also a day of action where schools, businesses and communities across the globe host events that celebrate and encourage women into Engineering. For more information, resources and news please check out the official INWED website here.


(Video Credit: INWED on Youtube)

WHAT IS IT TO MILLENNIUM POINT?
The Millennium Point Charitable Trust contributes more than £5m back into the West Midlands region through projects, events and initiatives. We work with schools, businesses, charities and not-for-profits to facilitate partnerships and lead the conversation on STEM in the region.

Our commitment to STEM includes reducing the skills gap and increasing inclusivity and equality within STEM education and industries. International Women in Engineering day is an important part of celebrating the work and livelihood of women who are changing the landscape of STEM – and we intend to do our part.

 

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO RECOGNISE WOMEN IN ENGINEERING?
That’s a big question. It forms part of a wider conversation covering a myriad of subjects and issues well beyond the purpose of this blog. However, it relates to the STEM skills gap. As of 2018, there is a shortfall of 173,000 skilled workers as 89% of businesses struggle to recruit. On average the shortage is costing businesses £1.5bn a year and hinders the economic growth of the UK.

Part of the problem is the lack of diversity and inclusion in STEM. Historically, STEM industries, particularly in engineering, have not been inclusive to women. According to Engineering UK 2018, 12.37% of all engineers are women in the UK. In education, only 46.4% of girls 11-14 would consider a career in engineering compared to 70.3% of boys. Add into the mixed-race, gender and sexuality and the figures are even lower.

What we see is a loss of potential talent through conditions which marginalise key groups like women in pursuing engineering. Events such as INWED and organisations like the Millennium Point Charitable Trust create opportunities which encourage change and support businesses and educators to create more inclusive environments; attracting more skilled women to step into those currently empty roles and reduce the skills gap.

WHAT CAN I DO?
Check out these websites:
These websites have information about INWED as well as general information, stats and useful resources on how to get involved and encourage more women into engineering.

Women’s Engineering Society
International Women in Engineering Day
STEM Learning

We also recommend checking out the 2019/2020 regional skills plan from the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Celebrate the past:
Learn about pioneering women in engineering like Sarah Guppy (1770 – 1852), Alice Perry (1885 – 1969) and Dorothy Donaldson Buchanan (1899 – 1985) among others. They are shown in order from left to right below.

Support the future:
Actively seek women currently in engineering roles and ask about what they do and their journey. Learn first-hand what it is like to be a woman in engineering in 2020. Similarly, talk about engineering with girls – whether that’s your daughter, your niece or a friend’s daughter.

THE MILLENNIUM POINT SCHOLARSHIP
The Millennium Point Charitable Trust fully funds one undergraduate degree each year at Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment. At the time of writing, we have two female engineers who have picked up the prize. If you or someone you know is looking to pursue a degree in engineering then apply over on our scholarship page.


Find more interesting content from Millennium Point over at our news section, or follow us for daily updates on FacebookTwitter, 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. 

Experts at Birmingham City University believe an £11.27bn investment in construction and a series of strategic decisions around the new home building can kick start the UK’s economic recovery and deliver a £33bn return for the Government.

Experienced regional economist Dr Steve McCabe and construction expert Mike Leonard have produced the Build Back Better: Covid-19 Economy Recovery Plan which features a blueprint for a safe return to construction, a set of recommendations to help stimulate demand for new homes and home improvement, and details on how to build essential infrastructure and train a new generation of skilled workers – acting as a catalyst for growth and delivering income for HMRC.

(Credit: Birmingham City University)

How would this work?

The plan, which follows a clear instruction from Prime Minister Boris Johnson that those in construction and manufacturing should now return to work, also calls on the Government to stand by its commitment to “do everything it takes” to fight the virus and support the UK economy, by investing £11.27bn in a wide-reaching programme, designed to create mass employment and produce a £33 billion return.

Authored by Birmingham City University’s Dr Steve McCabe, Associate Professor at the Institute for Design and Economic Acceleration and Mike Leonard, Visiting Professor of Manufacturing and Construction and founder of the Get Britain Building campaign, the hard-hitting and wide-ranging plan brings together all sectors of the construction industry for a solution-led approach.

What’s the proposed plan?

The full report can be downloaded here. Recommendations and observations in the plan include:

Of particular focus in Build Back Better: Covid-19 Economy Recovery Plan are SMEs, who dominate the sector, with a suggestion that UK Plc fully engages such businesses in order to build the infrastructure and new homes the UK needs, alongside investments to deal with fuel poverty and the upgrading of existing housing stock to meet the net-zero 2050 obligations.

(Credit: Birmingham City University)

What else do local experts say?

McCabe and Leonard – both based in the UK Midlands, an area KMPG has assessed as likely to be worst hit economically by the pandemic – also make strong recommendations to delay the introduction of non-safety related building regulations and provide a range of incentives to stimulate consumer demand, accelerate training and increase apprenticeship opportunities.

Mike Leonard, who is also CEO of Building Alliance, said, “History tells us that the construction industry is the tried and tested solution to drive economic recovery, not least due to the fact we manufacture the vast majority of building materials in the UK which provides resilience, skilled jobs and fast returns on investment. The upstream and downstream jobs in manufacturing, architecture, planning, engineering, distribution and construction, creates an unrivalled multiplier that can achieve inclusive growth, building back better and helping to rebalance our economy. Saving lives must remain our priority but we now have the signal to begin to safely unlock and begin the long path to economic recovery. Construction and the building materials manufacturers are now returning to work with the proper safeguards in place.  We must now “Get Britain Building” and “Get Britain Working” delivering the scale of economic multiplier the county needs to bounce back stronger.”

Inward investment is key

Research carried out in 2018 by Birmingham City University and The Building Alliance calculated that building 300,000 homes a year using, as much as possible, British-made building materials and local builders, would generate an economic ‘uplift’ of more than £90 billion for the UK.

Dr Steve McCabe said, “Covid-19 has resulted in the loss of over 50,000 lives. The Government, quite rightly, locked the nation down to reduce the spread of the virus. However, recently published ONS (Office for National Statistics) data for GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in March clearly demonstrates that effectively closing down the economy through ‘lockdown’ has caused profound economic shock. It’s estimated that at least £2bn a day is being lost during the pandemic. The overall cost to the UK economy will exceed £300 billion and, depending on the speed of recovery, could be significantly higher. As and when it is safe to do so, a return in construction activity, as well as the building materials manufacturing supporting it, will underpin a fast and effective way to begin the process of recovery from what is the greatest shock to the UK’s economy in living memory.”

Millennium Point is the home of Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built-Environment. Additionally, we are proud partners collaborating on the Millennium Point Scholarship initiative which promotes STEM higher education in the region with a fully-funded scholarship each yeat at the faculty.

Scholarship 2020 Finalists (From Left to Right) Kallum Wright, Chloe Copeland, Shennice Talburt, Lauren Davies, Amber Kelsey.

Find more interesting content from Millennium Point over at our news section, or follow us for daily updates on FacebookTwitterInstagram 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. 

Millennium Point has been around since the turn of the century. Yet when asked “what is Millennium Point?” you will get a number of different answers depending on who you ask.  That’s because since our building opened 18 years ago (19 technically but we won’t tell if you don’t!), not only were we the catalyst for regeneration in the eastside of Birmingham city centre, but we have been, done and seen a lot of different things as our time as a landmark public building, multi-award winning venue and charitable trust.  To illustrate our point, here are five things you probably didn’t know about Millennium Point:

1.  We are an Award-Winning Venue
Millennium Point is a multi-award winning venue, with 17 event spaces including a large 354-seat auditorium, formerly one of the first IMAX in the West Midlands region.  We’re also a member of venues of excellence, HBAA certified and we are proud to have an amazing events team with over 40 years of experience combined.

2.  We Mingle With Royalty
Millennium Point was officially unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll on 2nd July 2002. Following her visit, she said she had no doubt Millennium Point would be used to ‘inspire the next generation who will shape the technology and industry of tomorrow’ (you can find her full speech here).

More recently we were joined by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for our event on International Women’s Day in 2018 and were also visited by the Duchess of Cambridge during the launch of her national survey ‘Five Big Questions on the Under Fives’ in January of this year.

3. Our Charitable Trust
The Millennium Point Charitable Trust is one of the only two-millennium projects still in existence today. Profits from our commercial activity as an award-winning venue and landmark public building are contributed to the Millennium Point Charitable Trust and over £5m has already been invested. 

We plan to continue supporting and facilitating great projects, events and initiatives across the West Midlands that support the growth of Science, Tech, Engineering and Maths (STEM) and help the region thrive.

(image credit: Ahead Partnership)

4. We’ve Featured in Various Films
Millennium Point is no stranger to the silver screen- As well as hosting the annual Birmingham Film Festival, we’ve also had our fair share of the spotlight being featured in various films, interviews and TV programmes, usually as a backdrop. One of our highlights includes being a Police Station in the first series of ‘Line of Duty’ back in 2012.

5. Our Annual Scholarship Programme
The Millennium Point Charitable Trust is proud to have supported five incredible and ambitious individuals by funding an undergraduate degree for each, through the annual Millennium Point Scholarship Programme

The sixth individual was selected in March this year and is set to start her degree in September.

There you have it! We can’t wait to open our doors once again and welcome you back for a host of new and fabulous experiences.


Find more interesting content from Millennium Point over at our news section, or follow us for daily updates on FacebookTwitter, 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.