| Birmingham City Council is the largest European council | | | | Birmingham itself boasts Millennium Point, with its |
| and the second largest local authority in the UK. It | | | | Think Tank, which replaced the former Science & |
| has some 120 councillors representing 40 wards. The | | | | Industry museum, the most modern of science |
| council's headquarters are in Birmingham's Victoria | | | | museums, and also its Planetarium and Imax Cinema. |
| Square. Birmingham currently has eleven parliamentary | | | | The Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery contains |
| constituencies. | | | | leading displays of art work which includes a collection |
| The City Council also funds, supports and organises | | | | of work by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the |
| numerous events and activities throughout the year. | | | | largest collection of works by Edward Burne-Jones. |
| Birmingham's tourism plays an important role in the | | | | Other museums include Aston Hall, Blakesley Hall, |
| local economy and with the major facilities of the | | | | Soho House and Sarehole Mill, a popular attraction for |
| International Convention Centre and the National | | | | J.R.R.Tolkien fans. The Barber Institute is both an art |
| Exhibition Centre, the Birmingham area accounts for | | | | gallery and concert hall. It also contains a large coin |
| approximately 42% of the UK conference and | | | | collection, said to be one of the World's most |
| exhibition trade. Birmingham's cultural and sporting | | | | detailed. |
| venues also attract a large number of UK and foreign | | | | Birmingham also has Cadbury World, Brindley Place, a |
| visitors. | | | | major canal side development, with its National Sea |
| Birmingham, from a business point, was once known | | | | Life Centre and stylish bars, cafes and restaurants. |
| as the "City of a Thousand Trades" however, such | | | | There are also numerous theatres, cinemas, |
| trades have gradually diminished with some 70 - 80% | | | | museums, century old halls and houses in Birmingham. |
| of Birmingham businesses now being mainly service | | | | The Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses is well worth a |
| orientated. Birmingham businesses covering Finance, | | | | visit with various hands on activities available |
| Investment, Insurance, Commodities, Consultancies, | | | | throughout the year. Birmingham is also home to |
| Support Services etc., are on the increase, so are | | | | more parks than any other European city. There is |
| Employment Agencies who are now mainly acting on | | | | over 8,000 acres of parkland in Birmingham with |
| behalf of clients with professional qualifications, plus | | | | Sutton Park, the largest, covering some 2,400 acres. |
| of course the ex graduates from Birmingham's three | | | | Cannon Hill Park in Edgbaston, is also worthy of a |
| universities. | | | | visit. Birmingham also boasts a record breaking 14 |
| Such Birmingham businesses should always be | | | | consecutive gold medals from the Chelsea Flower |
| fortunate to have qualified graduates knocking on | | | | Show and maintains some 6,000,000 trees. For the |
| their doors and should, therefore, never be short of | | | | lovers of gold and precious gems, there is also the |
| such personnel seeking employment for the first | | | | world renowned Birmingham Jewellery Quarter and its |
| time. Such people, not being tainted in the ways of | | | | museum. A must see for all visitors. |
| previous employers, should be ideal for all those | | | | The City Library, Europe's largest, is Birmingham's |
| employers wishing to train new blood in the ways | | | | biggest building and loans some 8,000,000 books each |
| beneficial to their own companies. | | | | year. The varied Birmingham population has a wide |
| Birmingham's main advantages over the likes of | | | | and diverse number of religious buildings at their |
| London, is its central location, which is easily accessed | | | | disposal including St Phillips, which was upgraded in |
| by major roads and motorways, including perhaps the | | | | status from church to cathedral in 1905, Birmingham |
| best known motorway junction in the UK, Spaghetti | | | | has two other cathedrals, the Roman Catholic St |
| Junction. It is also well served by the Inter City rail | | | | Chad's and the Greek Orthodox Dormition of the |
| network, with Birmingham's main railway station, New | | | | Mother of God and St Andrew. There is also the |
| Street Station being at the centre of this network | | | | parish church of St Martin in the Bull Ring, the Singers |
| and also by air via Birmingham International Airport. | | | | Hill Synagogue, Birmingham Central Mosque and a |
| Birmingham's more affordable and quality office space | | | | re-developed mosque in the Sparkhill area of |
| and just as important for drivers, it's more than | | | | Birmingham, the largest in the City, to name but a |
| adequate parking facilities which generally are available | | | | few. |
| throughout Birmingham. All these key business points | | | | For the shoppers amongst us, Birmingham has |
| puts Birmingham in the front line of UK city's as the | | | | excellent and varied shops and stores, including the |
| most popular area for service organisations. | | | | revamped Bull Ring Centre, the country's busiest |
| For employees living in or near Birmingham, local | | | | shopping centre, with its indoor, open and rag |
| transport in the form of bus, tram and local trains are | | | | markets. The largest department store outside |
| readily available. There is also a terminus at Snow Hill | | | | London, in the House of Fraser, Birmingham is also |
| Station for the Midland Metro which links Birmingham | | | | home to one of only four Selfridges Department |
| to Wolverhampton and serves nearby towns of | | | | Stores plus the second largest Debenhams branch in |
| Bilston, Wednesbury and West Bromwich. | | | | the country. If you want to take your shopping |
| Birmingham also has an extensive system of canals | | | | experience to a totally new level why not visit The |
| and is said to have more miles of canals than Italy's | | | | Mailbox with its designer stores? |
| Venice. Recent regeneration schemes have turned | | | | Birmingham's Broad Street is the place to be after a |
| the canals into tourist attractions. Birmingham also | | | | hard day's work. There are bars and clubs a plenty |
| benefits greatly from the local National Exhibition | | | | here and you will be sure to find something to suit |
| Centre and its numerous trade shows, which take | | | | your taste of the day. As well as the National Indoor |
| place throughout the year. For Birmingham businesses | | | | Arena, Birmingham is also home to the International |
| wishing to use trade trade stands, their expenditure | | | | Convention Centre and the National Exhibition Centre |
| in displaying stands, plus the obvious transportation | | | | which includes the LG Arena. |
| costs are far less than those businesses having to | | | | The NIA & LG Arena already have internationally |
| transport their wears from locations further afield. | | | | known artists and shows booked for 2010 which |
| For those people considering an employment move | | | | include JLS, Strictly Come Dancing Live, The X Factor |
| to Birmingham, there are properties to suit all pockets | | | | Live, Elvis Presley in Concert, Lady Gaga, Whitney |
| and employment status, either for sale or rent and | | | | Houston, Westlife, Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood, |
| within or in close proximity to Birmingham. For those | | | | Leona Lewis, Moody Blues, Katherine Jenkins, Ronan |
| looking beyond the Birmingham business and property | | | | Keating, The Four Tops & Temptations and Rod |
| arenas, we have considered and provided information | | | | Stewart. The Birmingham Hotels are very varied |
| below regarding the various leisure activities, | | | | offering accommodation to suite all tastes and |
| professional sport viewing, theatres, museums, | | | | pockets. The range from five star penthouse and |
| education, places of interest, parks etc., that are | | | | executive accommodation to the more affordable |
| available locally or in close proximity to Birmingham. | | | | bed and breakfast type. |
| Perhaps one of the most important points to | | | | The numerous Birmingham Restaurants offer a wide |
| consider for parents of younger children is education. | | | | and varied international cuisine at a price range to suit |
| Birmingham City Council is England's largest Local | | | | all pockets. It is also the home of three Michelin |
| Education Authority, being responsible directly or | | | | starred chefs & restaurants in Purnell's, Simpsons and |
| indirectly for the running of some 25 nursery schools, | | | | Turners. Birmingham is also well known for its Chinese |
| 328 primary schools, 77 secondary schools and 29 | | | | Quarter a colourful and vibrant community, offering |
| special schools. Most of Birmingham's state schools | | | | restaurants and food second to none. In close |
| are community schools, run directly by Birmingham | | | | proximity to Birmingham there are numerous places |
| City Council. There are also a number of voluntary | | | | of interest such as Dudley Zoo, The Living Black |
| aided schools within the state system. There are also | | | | Country Museum, West Midland Safari Park, Severn |
| further education colleges, offering numerous and | | | | Valley Railway, Drayton Manor Park Warwick Castle, |
| varied courses, plus three universities. Education | | | | to name but a few. |
| opportunities and their availability within Birmingham | | | | Jazz also has a following in Birmingham and the annual |
| can only be considered as excellent. | | | | Birmingham Jazz Festival is the largest in the UK. The |
| In the sporting field, Birmingham has two professional | | | | internationally known City of Birmingham's Symphony |
| football clubs in Birmingham City and Aston Villa, both | | | | Orchestra's home venue is Birmingham's Symphony |
| of whom have had, following promotion in 2009 to | | | | Hall. The Birmingham Royal Ballet is also city housed |
| the Premiership, a successful season and will be | | | | and so is the world's oldest vocational dance school, |
| joined in the 2010-2011 season by local rivals West | | | | Elmhurst School for Dance |
| Bromwich Albion following their promotion from the | | | | In demographics the Birmingham population, from |
| Championship. Birmingham is also home to | | | | information available in 2007, was estimated as being |
| Warwickshire County Cricket Club, based at | | | | 66.7% white, 21% Asian, 6.7% Black, 1.2% Chinese, |
| Edgbaston, the Edgbaston ground also hosts tests | | | | 3.2% of mixed race and 1.2% of other ethnic |
| and international one day matches. There is also the | | | | heritage, 16.5% of the population were born outside |
| Birmingham Brummies Speedway team based at | | | | the UK. In religion the estimated figures are 59.1% |
| Perry Bar, Birmingham & Solihull Rugby Union Club and | | | | Christian, 14.3% Muslim, 2.9% Sikh, 2% Hindu, 0.3% |
| Moseley Rugby Union Club, both currently playing in | | | | Buddhist & 0.2% Jewish, those with non religious |
| the Championship League. Horse Racing is also | | | | beliefs accounted for 12.4% and no answer was |
| available a short distance away at Warwick. In | | | | offered by 8.4% of the population. |
| athletics, international track and field meetings take | | | | Two of the UK's largest banks originated in |
| place at the Alexandra Stadium, the home of | | | | Birmingham, Lloyds Bank (now Lloyds Banking Group |
| Birchfield Harriers Athletic Club. International lawn | | | | following its takeover of TSB & HBOS) in 1765 and |
| tennis also takes place at Edgbastons Priory Club. | | | | the Midland Bank (now HSBC Bank) in 1836. |
| Birmingham is also home to the professional | | | | Birmingham is also home to daily papers the |
| basketball team, Birmingham Panthers, with | | | | Birmingham Post and Birmingham Mail and also the |
| Greyhound racing also available in the city. | | | | Sunday Mercury. There are also a number of free |
| Birmingham's National Indoor Arena, internationally | | | | papers in circulation, Forward is a free sheet, |
| acclaimed as one of the World's finest indoor venues, | | | | produced by Birmingham City Council and circulated to |
| holds a number of Athletic meetings during the year. | | | | homes in the city, there is also a Metro edition |
| It has also played host to World and European | | | | covering the West Midlands. The edition covering the |
| Championships. In the field of leisure Birmingham is | | | | East Midlands is also based in Birmingham |
| perhaps second to none, with virtually everything in | | | | The West Midlands Police Force oversees Birmingham |
| the field of leisure and sport available to the keen | | | | and the County of the West Midlands, with its |
| amateur, with Athletics, Paintballing, Golf, Tennis, | | | | headquarters based in the city centre at Lloyds |
| Table Tennis, Squash, Badminton, Basket Ball, Net Ball, | | | | House. Birmingham is served by numerous national |
| Bowls, Ten Pin Bowling, Hockey, Boxing, Course | | | | and regional radio plus local stations, which include |
| Fishing, Gym & Fitness Facilities, Golf, Soccer, Cricket, | | | | BRMB, Heart, Smooth, BBC WM and Galaxy. As a |
| Rugby Union etc., available to anyone interested. | | | | point of interest The Archers, probably the world's |
| In rock music, Birmingham has often been described | | | | longest running soap radio series, is recorded for BBC |
| as the birthplace of heavy metal music, with Magnum, | | | | Radio 4 in Birmingham. |
| Judas Priest, Black Sabbath and two members of the | | | | We hope that you have found the aforementioned |
| great Led Zeppelin, lead singer Robert Plant and | | | | information associated with Birmingham and its |
| drummer, the late John Bonam being local. Duran | | | | surrounding areas of interest, and wish you, if we |
| Duran, ELO & UB40 are also from the Birmingham | | | | have convinced you that Birmingham is the place to |
| area. For places of interest, again Birmingham | | | | be, "All the Best" in your future Birmingham |
| provides it all, either within the city or locally. | | | | involvement. |