Why Birmingham is a Great Place to Work and Play

In recent years, Birmingham has established itself as a force to be reckoned with — it’s a vibrant, diverse city full of energy and enthusiasm. Its strong entrepreneurial spirit is bolstered by the fact that it’s home to the highest number of startups outside of London. And with strong transport links, a thriving business community and lower rents compared to London, it’s no surprise that office space in Birmingham is in high demand.

The city is also a strong hub for attracting and retaining top talent. Of those who do study here, many stay on after graduating, with 40% of final-year students planning to stay in Birmingham after finishing their degrees.

However, there’s also a lot more to the city than just a thriving business community and a vibrant talent pool. It’s also punctuated by 35 miles of canals, boasts an abundance of green spaces and has all the amenities you’d expect from the UK’s second-largest city. It also benefits from its central location and excellent transport links, which put it within easy reach of much of the UK’s population. All that combined makes renting office space in Birmingham an excellent choice.

Travelling in Birmingham

Its central location and reliable road, rail and air transport networks mean that Birmingham is always accessible.

Birmingham trains

The three main train stations that serve the city are:

• Birmingham New Street
• Birmingham Moor Street
• Birmingham Snow Hill

Birmingham New Street provides links to many other major UK cities including London, with trains to the capital taking just over two hours. The city will also be served by the HS2 high-speed network when it opens between 2029 and 2033, which will reduce the journey time to London by 38 minutes.

There’s also the Midlands Metro tram network, which travels from Birmingham to Wolverhampton and back. With over 30 stops, including several in the city centre, this is an incredibly easy option for both commuters and locals to get around.

Birmingham airports

Birmingham Airport flies to over 140 destinations in mainline Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia and is set to carry 18 million passengers a year by 2033, thanks to a £500m expansion.

Birmingham buses

It’s also easy to travel by bus in Birmingham, with many bus routes and buses that operate late into the evenings. You can buy tickets by using a Swift pay-as-you-go card or by using the operator’s mobile app.

Driving in Birmingham

The city is served by the M5, M6, M40 and M42 motorways, which provide easy access to much of the country by road. Driving in the city centre is usually best avoided due to the heavy traffic, expensive parking and the abundance of other options. There’s also a Clean Air Zone that covers the city centre within the A4540 Middleway, with drivers of the most polluting vehicles having to pay a daily fee.

Things To Do In Birmingham

Birmingham has a wealth of attractions to help keep the work-life balance of you and your team in check. Whether it’s an evening’s entertainment at the Birmingham Hippodrome or the Barclaycard Area, some world-class retail therapy or a little culture in the city’s many museums and galleries, you’re going to be spoilt for choice.

The Jewellery Quarter

The city’s Jewellery Quarter is home to indie stores, trendy bars, art galleries and more than 100 retailers. There are also 200 listed buildings and three museums to discover, making it the perfect spot for a lunchtime mooch or an after-work injection of culture.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

With everything from Anglo-Saxon treasures to the largest collection of pre-Raphelite paintings in the world, all housed in one of the city’s finest buildings, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is not to be missed. The Round Room also hosts regular free musical performances while the Edwardian Tea Room serves a very good slice of cake.

Cadbury World

What’s not to like about England’s top chocolate-focused attraction? But there’s more to Cadbury World than just filling your stomachs and pockets with chocolate. The olde worlde Bournville village, built specifically for the chocolate factory’s workers, is a fascinating sight. And the demonstration area, where you can drink molten chocolate, is one of the area’s highlights for all visitors.

Best for team building

Flexible office space in Birmingham is within easy reach of all sorts of eclectic attractions that will put a smile on your team’s faces.

The Peaky Blinders Tour

You can turn your HR team into the baddest gangsters in Brum by following in the footsteps of Birmingham’s most infamous gang. The Peaky Blinders Tour even takes in the Steelhouse Lane police station where some of the gang were locked up.

Ghetto Golf, Birmingham

Fancy 18 holes of golf and a couple of drinks inside the most urban golf course you’re ever likely to see? Ghetto Golf has some of the most ridiculous holes in crazy golf history, ensuring an unforgettable couple of hours of competitive team building.

Best for out-of-office meetings

Birmingham has blossomed into one of the most exciting culinary destinations in the country, providing plenty of excuses to get out of the office for meetings and ‘forget’ the lunch you made the night before.

Opheem

Opheem is a Michelin starred contemporary Indian restaurant that’s one of five with such an honour in the city — the highest number outside the capital. It uses techniques from around the world to push the boundaries of an adventurous tasting menu. It also has a private dining room for business lunches and events.

Isaac’s

If you want to bring a taste of the Big Apple to Brum, Issac’s Restaurant features a menu of comfort food and brasserie classics with a New York vibe. Take clients for an impressive lunchtime meal, or head down with the team to say thanks for a job well done.

Tamu Cafe

Tamu Cafe, with its great coffee, great food and great vibes, is a more relaxed setting to hold a client meeting or get to know a new starter. It serves a spectacular brunch with a menu that’s inspired by healthy food that’s packed with flavour.

Best for wellbeing

To get that work-life balance just right, it’s important to spare a thought for your team’s health and wellbeing. Modern office space in Birmingham often includes facilities such as on-site showers and secure bike racks that make it easier for your team to exercise. There are also some excellent gyms and plenty of green spaces in the surrounding area where you can rest, relax and recharge.

Birmingham parks and gardens

Blakesley Hall is a picture-perfect timber-framed Tudor house with magnificent gardens that are free to visit during opening hours. On the outskirts of the city centre, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy an alfresco lunch and a moment of peaceful tranquillity.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens is Birmingham’s greenest attraction. It boasts tropical, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid glasshouses, and a magical Japanese garden, all surrounded by magnificent open space.

Birmingham gyms

Wherever you decide to rent office space in Birmingham, you’ll be able to get your health and fitness fix. Vibro Suite is a canalside workout and chillout area offering group classes as well as beauty treatments and a spa. Nuffield Health Birmingham is just a short walk from Five Ways station and has a busy timetable of classes, a state-of-the-art gym and a swimming pool, steam room and sauna.