Paradise Birmingham

By Ross Fittall, Commercial Development Director at Paradise Birmingham developer, MEPC

As the city hosts the British Council for Offices (BCO) annual conference this week at the ICC, we are doing our part to welcome guests and delegates from across the country, and indeed from across the world, to Birmingham.

The conference, entitled ‘Creating vibrancy’, is a golden opportunity to showcase everything the city has to offer the commercial property world and the high quality office space it has available at major developments like Paradise.

Peter Crowther, BCO Senior Vice President, says:

“This is an important moment for the office, where the future of the workplace continues to be a topic of debate.”

That debate is fully alive this week with a rich programme of learning, case studies and visits available to all delegates.

It also puts Birmingham firmly in the spotlight as the industry continues to focus on not just the future of the office, but also the needs of occupiers working in that office space.

With space still available at One Centenary Way – one of the city’s largest office buildings – and the soon to complete Three Chamberlain Square available to let, Paradise is home to the city’s finest commercial space.

In other words, we’re helping to bring the vibrancy often talked about amongst delegates this week, to the city. By applying design excellence and a cohesive and connected masterplan, we are a key contributor to an evolving urban landscape in the city centre.

But we understand we are not alone and far from the only active commercially led mixed use development in the city. With the arrival of HS2 to Birmingham around 2030, if we are to build upon that opportunity, all of us need to look closely at what we are creating in, and for, this great city and its people.

Now is the time to harness the advantages the city holds in abundance – not just around location, but also its long-established business ecosystem, and its people and diversity, as well as its culture, warmth and welcome.

By hosting the conference in Birmingham this year, the BCO recognises the city’s key role as a major regional centre with the UK’s second largest professional and financial services sectors and the potential of growing these sectors further.

Birmingham’s advantages remain strong – people, place and location – and these are the strengths all of us are looking to build upon.

We really value the work of the BCO and its presence this week in recognising our success. The BCO researches, develops and communicates best practice in all aspects of the commercial office sector, and delivers by providing a forum for the debate of relevant issues.

With design, sustainability, construction, careers, social value and community highlighted repeatedly throughout the conference programme, we feel Birmingham is the perfect place in which to hold these discussions.

Membership of the BCO comes from those who occupy office space, as well as those organisations that develop real estate and the people who design, build, and manage office space, allowing the BCO a truly holistic view of the sector it represents.

The conference will have a positive impact this week and add to the city’s reputation as a major and innovative environment for commercial workspace. By growing that reputation, we will all reap the long-term rewards of increased investment, skills and jobs.