Looking to book your next Christmas party? How does *complimentary prosecco sound?

Make Millennium Point your place to go this Christmas in our award-winning Birmingham city centre venue. Expect to receive first-class hospitality, hassle-free planning, and a high-quality service when you book with us. Confirm your Christmas party at Millennium Point by Monday 31st July 2023 and we will upgrade your package to include *complimentary prosecco for every 5 guests booked.

Have a night to remember this Christmas with our exclusive package

Give your guests the VIP treatment with our Exclusive Party package which includes a sumptuous three course Christmas banqueting menu, stylish house table centrepieces, your own DJ and dancefloor and a private fully licensed bar, all for £49.95 per person (plus VAT). This package is suitable for party sizes of 100-200 guests.

Tables will be dressed in stylish centre pieces with a luxury cracker and associated novelties for each guest to enjoy. Prefer a personal touch? Light up the space with brand colours, with the option to bring your own centre pieces to really make the space your own. Our team will also be happy to discuss bespoke packages if you’re after a bigger experience, with the option of hiring our giant screen 354 seat Auditorium.

For smaller teams, Millennium Point has you covered with our shared Christmas Party

A fantastic option for smaller teams is our Shared Party night taking place on Saturday 9th December. Everything you need for a traditional Christmas party is right here, enjoy a delicious three course meal, fully licenced bar and a dancefloor to dance the night away to festive classics.

Tickets cost just £44.95 +VAT, this is a great event to attend without having to break the bank. Tickets are available for groups of 8 and over. Book your table now.

A menu worth talking about

Our new Christmas menu is sure to leave guests more than satisfied, with vegan, gluten free and other alternatives available, there is something for everyone this festive season.

Find out more about our delicious menus here.

Looking for something else this Christmas?

If you and your staff are looking for something different we have you covered. With more announcements to follow, our exciting events program includes a festive Silent Disco and we bring Buddy to our giant screen Auditorium for a fun screening of Elf (2003) with a themed cocktail tasting experience.

To learn all about what events we have lined up, please click here.

Make your event sparkle when booking with Millennium Point

If you have something in mind our friendly events team have over 40 years in events experience and are happy to help. Get in contact for any questions you may have with our team.

*Confirm your Christmas party at Millennium Point by 31st July 2023 and we will upgrade your package to include complimentary bottle of prosecco for every 5 guests booked.

We all know that for every business productivity is an essential part of being successful. Optimising your office space can include restructuring its layout, investing in comfortable furniture and implementing better technology to help complete tasks efficiently.

Research shows that the average employee is only productive for 2 hours and 53 minutes a day. With those in the workplace being interrupted once every 8 minutes, each time taking roughly 5 mins of their time, it leads to a huge decrease in productivity. While we can’t remove interruptions completely and some disturbances can actually have positive effects on people’s work, there are a few things you can do to reduce distractions and increase work efficiency, such as:. 

Don’t fixate on the physical layout of your office 

The size of your office space isn’t the only aspect you need to think about when aiming to boost productivity. It’s what you do with the space and the atmosphere you create that makes a difference. 

When you first start to improve performance in your office you’ll want to focus on your company culture. Ultimately productivity begins with your mindset and clearly defining your company’s culture to your employees can help inspire them to work hard without burning out.

A great way to promote high outputs is through creating flexible workspaces that allow your community to grow. You should also consider introducing breakout areas as well as  meeting rooms to help employees get a change of scenery.

At the end of the day there’s no perfect way to optimise your office space for productivity, but as long as you make changes with your employees best interests at heart it should help create a better workplace culture and boost performance.

Consider where you can create movement 

Introducing various ways to get movement within your staff’s day is a great way to boost efficiency as it can help get people out of a rut by encouraging them to change where in the office they work. 

Jamie Fertsch, Director and Co-founder of Xdesk says that when he hits a productivity wall he takes small breaks to gain a new perspective on what he’s working on.

His company also focuses on  better ways to incorporate movement through creating stand-to-sit desks allowing their customers to be in different working positions throughout the day. 

While stand-to-sit desks are a great way to implement movement into your office, this isn’t a feasible product for all companies due to company size and pricing. But fear not, as there are other ways to get people to move around in the office and take a break when needed, such as:

As we already know, one of the most important ways to improve workplace efficiency is through a change in scenery. The easiest way to do this is by not eating lunch at your desk. Everyone spends the majority of their day at their desk, why not eat your lunch in a communal area or in the park to break up your day?

Another great thing to do is to get some fresh air as this can make a huge difference to someone’s overall wellbeing and mindset. As a company you could encourage going out for walks at lunch time or bike to work schemes to help get people in a positive mindset ready for the working day.

Keep your space clean

A huge aspect of working efficiently is having a tidy area or room. Usually when a room is messy it can hinder productivity as it can be quite distracting. After all, as the saying goes ‘tidy room, tidy mind’.

Keeping your space clean can be easily kept on top of by encouraging all staff members to wipe down and remove any unnecessary items from their desk before they go home each day. This means that when they come into the office the next day it’ll be ready for them to crack on with the day ahead. 

You can also encourage employees to organise their to-do-lists so that they understand the tasks they need to complete by the end of the day or week, helping them to make the best use of their time possible.

Leasing office spaces with Millennium Point 

Here at Millennium Point we have a range of office spaces available that could be just right for you. 

Our fantastic spaces paired with our central location makes us the perfect place for you to grow your business while keeping your staff’s needs at heart. 

Our office spaces offer flexible ownership and ongoing support throughout your lease, helping you make the most of your office space.  

Our available spaces either come with a long or short-term lease, giving you the flexibility to choose a property based on your requirements and company goals.

Properties we have available include Engine, Station Studios, Shuttle and Cab, all of which are available for short term leases only. If you’re looking for a long-term lease, Curzon view is a great option.

To discover more about how these properties could work for you, get in touch with us today.

 

It’s already widely known that females are massively underrepresented in STEM education. Currently, females make up 28% of the science, engineering, technology and maths workforce. At Millennium Point Trust, we are trying to change the percentage with the help of Scholarships, Grants and projects such as SciMED.

As a charity supporting STEM education in the West Midlands, we also aim to support other organisations and shine a spotlight on their work to further promote the importance of STEM.

Below, provided by Twinkl, we see 4 inspiring women in STEM talk about their careers including Millennium Point CEO Abbie Vlahakis. The videos, perfect for younger audiences, educators and staff working in schools can help students learn about different career options in STEM.

Abbie Vlahakis, CEO Millennium Point

Dr Jenny Arthur, Glaciologist – Glaciologist, Dr Jenny Arthur

Dr Jenny Arthur shares her tips on scientist skills and the life of a glaciologist, studying the ice shelves of Antarctica.

Science is a wonderful way to learn about the world. But what skills do you need? Where do you get these skills and knowledge to be a scientist. Well Dr Jenny Arthur shares some very cool ways she uses her scientist skills in Glaciology.

Dr Felicity McDowall, Archaeologist – Archaeologist, Dr Felicity McDowall

Dr Felicity McDowall shares her story of being an archaeologist and how she uses dates and evidence to understand the past. She’s even studies people from The Stone Age.

Archaeology is Dr Felicity McDowall’s specialist subject. And she uses a lot of scientific skills as an archaeologist and anthropologist.

Clare Brown, Biologist – Biologist, Clare Brown

Start exploring science with curator, Clare Brown as she shares her story of studying biology with schools and working to preserve thousands of plants and animals at the Leeds Discovery Centre.

Imagine exploring science and seeing thousands of different animal bones and fossils? For biologist, Clare Brown, that’s her job. Everyday!

Get involved with Millennium Point

Our multi-award-winning charitable trust invests more than £3m each year towards furthering STEM education within the West Midlands.

Over the years we have provided funding to Scholarships, Grants, and projects that benefit the region. Find out more about our Trust and see how you can get involved here.

Finding the perfect commercial office space is crucial for the success of any business, as it promotes productivity and increases the wellbeing of staff members. It can also play a huge role in highlighting the image you want your company to represent, whether that’s showing that you’re friendly, welcoming or successful. 

As a result, this blog will explore the steps you can take to find the perfect commercial office space for you.

These steps include:

Step 1: Define your budget and what you’re looking for 

When it comes to looking for an office space, or any new property in fact, it’s important to figure out exactly what you’re looking for and what your budget is. Factors you should consider, include:

Establishing a budget will allow you to properly organise your money and reduce the risk of financial strain. 

You can also ask your staff what matters to them to give you a better idea of what the perfect space would look like for you and your employees. For example, Forbes found that 87% of workers want their employer to offer healthier workplace benefits, such as:

Step 2: Research what’s available on the market 

Conducting market research on the commercial office spaces available will give you a good idea of what’s out there and whether the properties in your budget meets your business’ needs. 

You can use online real estate platforms, ask your network if there is anywhere they recommend or know is available and research local offices in the location you want to move to. While doing this research you can also make note of any common terms in lease agreements and any incentives that may benefit you when you make a purchase. 

Step 3: Visit spaces 

It’s essential when looking for an office space to view the property before paying. This gives you the opportunity to get a feel for the space and whether it would be the right environment for your business. 

When viewing an office space you should also take note of:

Step 4: Think about where you want to be located

A key thing to consider is where you want to be located. Ultimately, it’s wise to aim to be located near employees, customers and clients, as well as transport links to make the office easily accessible. This will encourage people to come into the office more, helping you make the most of the space you’re paying for. 

Step 5: Review the lease terms  

Reviewing a building’s lease terms is an important step when looking for the perfect space as there may be policies that you don’t agree with. When looking at the agreement you should watch out for things like:

To learn more about what to look out for when leasing a commercial property, read our blog.

Step 6: Consider whether you can grow within the office space

Another important step is to consider whether you need an office that will allow you and your business to grow. However, it’s important that you don’t lose sight of what needs you want the space to fulfil right away. 

When trying to figure out whether a commercial office has room for growth you should ask yourself questions like:

Commercial office spaces at Millennium Point 

Here at Millennium Point we have a variety of office spaces available to lease that could be perfect for you.

They also benefit from flexible ownership and having our friendly team on site to support you with any queries you may have. 

If you’re looking for short-term office leases we have three properties, including:

If you’re looking for a long-term lease, Curzon view is available.

To discover more about how these properties could work for you, get in touch with us today. 

Safa Bibi from Small Heath has won a fully funded degree at Birmingham City University (BCU) after being named the winner of this year’s life-changing Millennium Point Charitable Trust Scholarship.

Safa was studying Applied Science at South and City College, Birmingham and will now study for a degree in Computer Science at BCU from September. She developed an interest in the computing world in secondary school and was further inspired by speeches from women in STEM. Thanks to the support from Millennium Point, Safa has the opportunity to study a subject she is deeply passionate about. She hopes to be an inspiration to others to follow their passion regardless of their religion or race.

Promoting STEM education in the West Midlands

Each year, the Millennium Point Charitable Trust funds tuition fees for an undergraduate degree in partnership with Birmingham City University at their Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment. The faculty covers over 20 different courses across computing, digital technology, engineering, and the built environment.

This makes Safa the ninth winner of the renowned scholarship following a rigorous assessment process. The Millennium Point Trust Scholarship has already funded eight inspiring young people from the region through their degrees, including last year’s winner Hatem Kesseir from Yardley who is also studying Computer Science at BCU.

To choose the winners, the judging panel consisted of Abbie Vlahakis (CEO of Millennium Point), Hanifa Shah (Pro-Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean of Birmingham City University), Asima Adnan (previous winner of the scholarship), and Mike Ridler (ElevationX).

Finalists didn’t leave empty handed, with Abigail Guest, Henrikas Varanauskas, Ryjhorn Weekes, and winner Safa Bibi receiving a laptop to further help them in their studies.

‘Safa embodies everything we want to achieve at Millennium Point’

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

Abbie Vlahakis, CEO of Millennium Point and head judge, added, “Safa embodies everything we want to achieve at Millennium Point. We want more young people to be inspired to go into STEM, and we could see from Safa that she immediately wanted to change the world. She wanted to change people’s views and get more young people to follow in her footsteps. To see her so overwhelmed with happiness made us elated.

STEM is incredibly important, not only to our region but to the UK economy. We are currently in a digital age where STEM skills are required across every sector, and so we are keen to get more young people into these roles so they can go on and have truly rewarding careers.”

The scholarship competition is one of the flagship initiatives of the Millennium Point Charitable Trust. Last year, £4.3m in commercial profits from the landmark Millennium Point public building and multi-award-winning venue in the Eastside of Birmingham city centre was invested into projects, events, and initiatives which support the growth of STEM education and industry in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands.

Apply for the 2024 Scholarship

Each year, the Millennium Point Charitable Trust jointly funds an undergraduate degree in partnership with Birmingham City University at their Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, which covers over 20 different courses across computing, digital technology, engineering and the built environment. We’re helping people across the region unlock their future in STEM.

Millennium Point’s 2024 Scholarship application is now open. For more information on how to apply or get involved in the Scholarship program please visit www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/scholarship.

Millennium Point wins Most Versatile Venue (Up to 1,000 theatre style) at the Conference & Events 2023 awards. This is the first national award to be won by Millennium Point and we’re absolutely ecstatic of what we have achieved.

On Friday 30th June the awards were held in the stunning Old Billingsgate building in London. The day consisted of an array of venues and events being recognised for their excellence in the industry.

Nominated alongside outstanding venues

Organisations nominated for most versatile venue (up to 1,000 theatre style) were –

It was an honour to be nominated amongst other amazing venues around the UK.

From hosting COVID vaccination centres to international sports teams, major art installations to charity events, we are proud of what’s been achieved

Over the past couple of years we have reinvested into our building to expand our venue spaces that align with our client demands. Driven by our passionate and highly skilled team we continue with out of the box ideas that make events truly stand out.

The versatility of our venue and flexibility of our team and services means that a client can host a breakfast talk in the morning, a conference in the afternoon and a formal dinner in the evening all in one place.

In the last 12 months alone, we have hosted the likes of Gaia by Luke Jerram, Kenya House during the Commonwealth Games, IFS Connect and VSFighting to name a few.

We have also launched our own MP Presents events to utilise our 354-seater Auditorium screen when not in use by our clients and to show off the capabilities of one of the biggest screens in Birmingham.

Rebecca Delmore, Commercial Director said ‘We are thrilled to have won the Most Versatile Venue Award. This award reflects all of the hard work the team have put into adapting our building to serve a wider variety of events. We strive to provide the best experience for our clients and it is fantastic to be recognised for this.’

Comments from the judges at the Conference & Events Awards 2023 included statements such as ‘Impressive, versatile space’ & ‘Exceptional flexibility and strong client feedback makes this entry very strong’.

Keep up to date with Millennium Point

With the rest of 2023 to go, we’re excited to see what happens next! Keep up to date with the latest through our blogs and what’s on.

Scholarship funds are a great way to help support students throughout their university journey by offering financial help. 

If you’re interested in creating your own scholarship fund, then look no further as we delve into how to create a scholarship in these 4 simple steps.

What is a scholarship fund? 

Scholarship funds are a charitable grant that helps students cover the costs of their education. Those who receive scholarships tend to use them to cover the costs of textbooks and tuition fees. 

Step 1: How are you going to fund your scholarship?

One of the first steps you’ll need to take when creating a scholarship fund is deciding how much money you want to contribute and whether you will solely fund it or if you want to accept donations. 

If you create a scholarship fund on your own, it’s likely that you’ll incur extra costs on top of paying the scholarship money to the winner. 

Other costs could include:

If you decide to go down the route of accepting funding from donors then using an online platform is an easy way to get people to donate. Having an online platform will help create an authoritative and trustworthy figure for your fund, allowing donors to find out information and make donations in the same place.

Money can also be raised through fundraising activities like:

Step 2: Decide who you want to help

When creating a scholarship fund, it’s important to identify the audience you are trying to help. You may want to help as many people as possible, but you need to be realistic about who you can help most and how far the money in your fund can go.

When creating your audience you need to ensure it’s broad enough to not be discriminatory and to attract as many people as possible to the scholarship you’re offering. 

Your audience could include:

Step 3: How do you plan to advertise your scholarship?

It’s extremely important to advertise your scholarship as it will allow it to reach as many people as possible, while helping you gain applications from people that meet your criteria. 

Creating a website to showcase your scholarship, as well as allowing people to donate to your fund or apply to the scholarship is a great way to advertise it. You could also use social media to advertise the run up to applications opening or closing dates. This is a great way to advertise, as you’re more likely to reach your intended audience, as younger people, typically students, are using social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to look for things.

Step 4: Decide how you will review applications

Once you’ve completed the previous steps, it’s time to wait for the deadline to pass and start reviewing applications. 

If you gained a small amount of applications, you may be able to go through them all yourself, however if you received a large sum of applications you may need to hire people to help you sift through them.

How can Millennium Point help those looking for a scholarship?

Here at Millennium Point, our Charitable Trust has created a STEM scholarship for those looking to study courses in Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment.

To be eligible for the scholarship you will need to:

Keep up to date on our Scholarship page to see when applications open!

 

Join Tony Elvin and the team in our giant screen Auditorium as we present a special screening of the ABBA-filled, musical romantic comedy, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. This summer singalong event will include five different glasses of prosecco and a screening of the film all for £35.95 (plus fees).

The event takes place on Saturday 1st July at 7pm.

Now is the last chance to grab your ticket to the Island Kalokairi, for sun, fun and bubbles.

‘Life is short, the world is wide. I want to make some memories’

In 1979 young Donna, Tanya and Rosie graduate from Oxford University, leaving Donna free to embark on a series of adventures through Europe. On her journeys she makes the acquaintances of Harry, Bill and Sam – the latter whom she falls in love with, but he’s also the man who breaks her heart. In the present day, Donna’s pregnant daughter, Sophie, dreams of renovating a taverna while reuniting with her mother’s old friends and boyfriends on the Green Island of Kalokairi.

‘How can I resist you?’, you eyeing our prosecco, probably

Tickets are priced at £35.95 (plus fees) and you’ll get more than just a screening!

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again on a very big screen

Hosted in our giant screen Auditorium – previously the regions biggest and best IMAX – our host Tony Elvin, from film geeks The Wine and Events Company, will be providing entertainment and movie trivia throughout. For example, do you know both Björn and Benny both make cameos in the film?

Along with all of this, the film will be paused at intervals so you can enjoy five different glasses of prosecco.

Our movie and drink events are not to be missed!

Check our one of our last ones of the eighties classic Dirty Dancing below. Guests had the time of their lives with a live band, themed cocktails, and movie trivia with host Tony Elvin.

Getting to Millennium Point

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

We may be known as home to Birmingham Film Festival and a great destination to have a film showing. But did you know our wonderful building has also been used as a backdrop for several films and tv shows?

From zombie hoards to crime fighting, we take a look back at our favourite moments.

Can you escape the aliens?

Invasion Planet Earth is about how a man loses his faith after his daughter dies, and on the day he finds out his wife is pregnant again, aliens invade the Earth.

Would be good to keep it upbeat so it doesn’t trigger anyone. Would it be appropriate to instead say:
Invasion Planet Earth follows a man who finds out his wife is pregnant and aliens are invading Earth…on the same day!

Directed by Simon Cox, various locations around Birmingham were used to complete the film, with over 900 Brummies even used for extras. Millennium Point’s Atrium was the perfect place for a chase scene down the open Atrium staircase.

Watch below for a behind the scene in Millennium Point

Can good win against evil?

As Strange as Angels is the story of when a talented artist’s destiny to change the world is destroyed, people from the future come back to restore his true path. But their mission isn’t be simple.

Directed by Matt Cannon, the film is also known as Revolution X. Viewers may spot a few scenes in the film that look familiar. Millennium Point’s glass elevators were used, although you really can’t miss them as they’re marked with a giant red X.

Watch the trailer below

The original home of Line of Duty

Steve Arnott, Ted Hastings, and Kate Fleming all called Millennium Point home in the first series of BBC crime drama Line of Duty.

Jed Mercurio’s gripping series centred on the efforts of a police anti-corruption unit to tackle corrupted coppers and transformed our meeting complex into interrogation rooms as the case of DCI Tony Gates unfolded.

Millennium Point was used for internal shots of the police headquarters – most notably in episode three of the first series – where you can see our iconic Atrium, glass elevators and space-age looking escalators.

The first series was famously filmed in Birmingham with several other landmarks and familiar sites, including the Grade II listed pub in the Jewellery Quarter, The Queens Arms, and Broad Street, is also spotted in several scenes.

The show has gone on to be recognised as one of BBC’s most successful projects and we are proud to have played our part in its opening series.

Once you’ve filmed with Millennium Point, why not host your premiere with us?

Accommodating up to 354 delegates, the Auditorium at Millennium Point is the perfect location for conferences, lectures, product launches, AGM’s, award ceremonies and film screenings. Featuring a 30m2 stage and a giant screen, this space is perfect for making a big impression. The space has multiple branding opportunities such as changing light settings to match your brand colours to truly make it tailored to you.

The Auditorium has upgraded AV equipment which involves a M32R digital mixing desk with 40 input channels, high fidelity audio, intelligent LED lighting system and Panasonic PTC-280 cameras controlled remotely for high quality live streaming. The Auditorium also includes the new Panasonic PT-RQ25 projector which will show your content on the screen in 4K. When booking Auditorium, you will also receive support from Millennium Point’s on-site AV technician to support throughout your event.

Still not convinced? Why not look at the premiere Bader Media Entertainment CIC held last year for their world premiere of horror film The Shimian.

Choose Millennium Point to shoot your cinematic masterpiece

With multiple spaces, both private and public, Millennium Point has a range of rooms that can be customised into any set-up.

Get in touch with our friendly events team to see how we can help today!

Background

Lyng Primary School’s vision is to provide a nurturing, happy, and safe environment. Surrounded by caring adults, pupils are provided with opportunities to become the best they can be. The school strive to ensure that every pupil leaves feeling confident, self-motivated, and independent so that they are ready for the next stage in their lives.

Aim of the project

Lyng Primary School’s aim was to engage all pupils in STEM by encouraging them to become ‘Lyng Architects’. They were given a design brief asking them to design and build their perfect Lyng community. The brief included a strong enthesis on being eco-friendly, promoting rewilding, and sustainability. The pupils responded with innovative designs for the community.

The designs and creations were achieved by using CAD software. The work was then 3D-printed to display in the school foyer alongside handmade examples. The project was also supported by parents who came in to help their children build their designs.

The Millennium Point Trust Grant provided the grant that allowed the school to purchase 3D printers, laptops and resources to make the project happen.

What impact has it made?

Over 500 students benefited from the Millennium Point Trust Grant. It has provided staff with amazing opportunities to plan and deliver an exciting STEM project for their class. Over 95% of students never have had the opportunity to use 3D printers or CAD software before. The grant allowed them to learn about career options that may not have been accessible to them prior.

Parents who got involved in the project had high praises for the project, one parent said ‘kids get more fun by seeing their parents working with them inside school, sitting with them together’. Another said ‘it was nice to be invited into school and involved with my child’s afternoon, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Thank you.’

Governors were also invited to the ‘Inspire’ afternoons, one comment received mentioned ‘I really enjoyed the afternoon, it’s always great to come in and get involved with what they are working on. I thought the project was brilliant and the children had so many great ideas, I think there might be some budding engineers amongst them and clearly some pupils are cut out to be supervisors! It was great to see them all working together and making their ideas come to life. Really great event, would love to see more of these.’

Get involved with Millennium Point Trust

Our multi-award-winning charitable trust invests more than £3m each year towards furthering STEM education within the West Midlands.

Over the years we have provided funding to Scholarships, Grants, and projects that benefit the region. Find out more about our Trust and see how you can get involved here.