STEAMhouse – the stunning new home for business innovation and collaboration – Birmingham Live
One of Europe’s youngest cities, Birmingham is a thriving hub for entrepreneurs and growing firms alike.
STEAMhouse is a multi-million-pound development based in Birmingham City Centre with collaboration and connectivity at its core. It’s a new inspirational space created to ensure the region’s businesses and communities receive the support they need to flourish.
Built for companies from all sectors, STEAMhouse will support a rich, collaborative and innovative community, and meet the post-pandemic needs of businesses, creating a destination that makes the journey in to work worthwhile.
Businesses that become members of the STEAMhouse community will be able to take advantage of state-of-the-art facilities – including production space, meeting rooms, event venues, flexible and inspirational office space for businesses of all sizes, a vibrant café, and outdoor and rooftop garden areas to socialise and network.
Members who use the space can also benefit from the latest technology and resources onsite, such as 3D printing, conferencing facilities, next-generation Wi-Fi and surrounding 5G.
Nick Moore, director of IT and digital, Birmingham City University says: “Businesses can simply bring their devices, plug-in and go, benefiting from secure unlimited Wi-Fi for them and their guests across meeting rooms, conference facilities, breakout rooms and the cafe.”
The STEAMhouse building will be unique to any other workspace or business premises in the city, as members will be able to share knowledge and access expert advice from technical specialists and Birmingham City University academics, in addition to working with highly skilled graduate talent.
Members can collaborate with other businesses and policymakers within the community to uncover new ideas, products or services, and receive in-house training from both STEAMhouse Crew and independent specialists in areas such as cashflow, finding new markets, insurance, customer experience and online marketing.
The new 110,000 square ft STEAMhouse building will be based across five floors and open on the site of the old Belmont Works Factory in early summer 2022. There will be a range of membership options available for businesses of all sizes, from one member of staff upwards.
STEAMhouse will also offer SMEs and larger businesses and organisations opportunities to acquire unique and flexible office space within the building, as well as the use of co-working and collaboration space.
The building will commit to Birmingham City University’s pledge to reduce carbon emissions and contribute towards the city’s Clean Air Zone.
Joanna Birch, Director of Innovation, Enterprise and Employability at Birmingham City University, says: “STEAMhouse is unique when compared to any other leased building in Birmingham where you’re expected to go in, do your work and receive a transactional experience.
“Instead, you’ll be part of a transformational space where you enter and experience things you weren’t expecting. You can meet up with other like-minded people and have a conversation that will help you find a solution to a work-based problem together, or be supported on a technical journey and brainstorm ideas with other individuals in a way you couldn’t if you were working independently, or from home.”
A modern workspace in the heart of our city
STEAMhouse has been designed to cater for SMEs as well as larger businesses and organisations, no matter what stage of their growth journey they are currently at.
The building is conveniently located on Belmont Row, in the city’s knowledge quarter – home to the central higher education institutions of Birmingham and their collaborative network.
It’s also just a five-minute walk away from the future HS2 station, and ten to fifteen minutes from Moor Street and Birmingham New Street train stations.
STEAMhouse’s excellent amenities include on-site bike racks, shower rooms, a digital suite and XR studio, and 24-hour security. Here’s a more detailed break-down of the facilities which will be found on each floor:
Ground floor – This area of the building will contain dedicated facilities for experimentation, learning, prototyping and co-working. It also has a tailored production space equipped to support businesses with taking ideas from paper to prototype.
There will be a triple-height atrium and gallery where members can exhibit their products and services as well as being a place for research, and wider industry demonstrations.
The ground floor will additionally house the Café and host STEAMhouse’s exciting array of workshops and events.
First floor – The STEAMhouse Business Incubator, Accelerator, and Digital Innovation Hub will be located on this floor, allowing startups to benefit from mentoring, as well as opportunities for growth and collaboration (including with other businesses and entrepreneurs). Co-working and learning spaces, meeting rooms and facilities will also be available.
Second floor – This floor is for SMEs that are interested in using research and development expertise in close proximity to academics, as well as office space for businesses.
Third floor – This floor will contain teaching and learning space, where graduate talent, required by business members to accelerate their growth, is developed. Graduates will be equipped with knowledge to support businesses with new ways of thinking, and future-focused digital skills.
Fourth floor – The top floor of STEAMhouse will present one-of-a-kind flexible and inspirational office space for one or more large companies. Occupants will be able to soak in the building’s stunning panoramic views and take advantage of the large garden roof-top terrace – perfect for exercising, leisure activities, meetings, and entertaining.
Accelerating regional growth
While there is a range of office spaces available both locally and nationally for firms, STEAMhouse holds a unique position. Namely, it actively encourages businesses to take advantage of the collaborative research, skills, and expertise available to them from Birmingham City University and other STEAMhouse members that are working alongside them, as a result of joining the STEAMhouse community.
On the first floor, STEAMhouse Business Incubator will support young and startup businesses in navigating important business development topics and activities. They will also draw upon the University’s connections to experts and specialists to convert their concepts into viable businesses.
This means that entrepreneurs can quickly set up their new startups and business ideas by having the correct requirements and legal constructs known to them.
Companies can also receive help with topics such as implementing a successful business plan, meeting user requirements, understanding costs, customer empathy mapping, and be recommended to the full range of business support programmes and workshops to accelerate their knowledge in these areas.
Get the space and support your business needs
The STEAMhouse building will open its physical doors in early summer 2022, alongside its digital doors to a brand new and exclusive STEAMhouse Community platform.
The digital community hub will enable all STEAMhouse members to access information and business support, purchase products and services, and connect and collaborate with each other 247, on any device, at any time, wherever they’re located within the region, or the world.
STEAMhouse is currently holding discussions for 23 businesses to locate on floor one of the building from the 70 workstations available. A range of businesses from various sectors such as health, construction, manufacturing and IT have already joined.
STEAMhouse is also discussing opportunities with larger businesses and organisations that are interested in acquiring office space on its upper floors, and invites enquiries from those looking to find out more about STEAMhouse Office Space, and book a tour of the building.
Are you ready to collaborate, innovate and thrive as part of the STEAMhouse community?
If you’d like your business to benefit from being part of STEAMhouse and its thriving collaborative community, you can either acquire office space to base your business or organisation within the building, or access the busines support and facilities on a flexible basis by becoming an Affiliate Member.