Living And Working In Birmingham

Birmingham is situated in the West Midlands and is the second largest city within the UK following on from London. Birmingham is a little over one hundred miles from London but has the advantage of its own airport as well as a large main rail station ~ Birmingham New Street Station ~ with several other smaller train stations nearby. It has a large population and is affectionately known as Brum or the Black Country due to the thick smoke that historically came from the ironworks and coal seams, with locals from the city often called ‘Brummies’.

Birmingham has a strong identity with a history steeped in innovation and resilience and this is evident when you meet the strong willed and proud locals. Granted city status in 1889, Birmingham has centuries of interesting history. In medieval times it was known for its wool trade, then metal work and leather goods and remained a relatively small market town. By the 18th century, it was flourishing with industry and was fast becoming one of the country's biggest and more important regions. By the 19th century, metal was still big business as was glass, bicycles, train carriage manufacture and coal. At the end of that century, the cocoa and chocolate industry was introduced at Bourneville.

With a natural decline in the more traditional manufacturing, Birmingham soon started to embrace many different and diverse industries. Key sectors in the area include advanced manufacturing, business, professional and financial, energy, creative and digital technology, health care, defence, transport and logistics, education and retail. Birmingham has one of the fastest growing economies in the UK and has seen the biggest wage growth over the past five years. It is recognised as one of the UK’s leading regions for attracting foreign direct investment.

Many major developments are underway in the city and beyond, to make Birmingham an even better place in which to live, visit, study or work. Regeneration plans aim to fully transform Birmingham by 2040, with emphasis on making the city much greener and healthier.

Birmingham is home to several popular and well regarded universities which all contribute significantly to the city’s educational and research landscape and play vital roles in the city’s cultural and academic vibrancy.

The popular series Peaky Blinders was partly filmed in the fascinating Black Country Living Museum, here in the city. Visit Cadbury World to see the world famous chocolate being made in the factory then stroll around the quintessential chocolate box village of Bourneville.  Explore Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery or delve into the history of the people that once lived and worked here at the carefully restored Birmingham Back to Backs. As there is so much to see and do ~ far too much to list ~ a good idea would be to book one of the many guided tours that are readily available.

Birmingham is a multicultural and diverse city with a great variety of experiences which include shopping, fine dining, theatre and music. There is also an interesting network of canals which is one of the most intricate in the world. Several peaceful and picturesque villages surround the area and Birmingham itself has more than 8000 award winning acres of green spaces and parks which is more than any other city in Europe. Birmingham has also made a substantial contribution towards cleaner air within the city due to its Clean Air Zone which is in operation twenty four hours a day.

Birmingham’s appeal as a great place to live and work lies in its unique blend of cultural richness, economic opportunities and quality of life. The diverse community ensures a rich tapestry of cultures and experiences. The city’s thriving economy offers abundant job opportunities and career growth while the abundant green spaces, world class education and a vibrant arts and culinary scene compliment the city. Its central location in the UK, ensures easy access to other towns and cities, making it an ideal business hub.

The next event being hosted by the UK Careers Fair will be held on April 5th between 10am - 2pm. The venue is the spacious and stylish 4 star Leonardo Royal Hotel, B1 2HQ, which is conveniently situated in the heart of the city.