West Midlands Growth Company shows off the region’s fantastic offering for event organisers.
A vibrant region in the heart of England, Birmingham and the West Midlands is renowned for its dynamic business environment. With excellent transport links and extensive rail and road networks, the West Midlands is easily accessible and enjoys a diverse range of event spaces.
A track record of major events delivery
Between 7th and 11th April, the West Midlands hosted SportAccord, dubbed ‘the Olympics for sporting event organisers’, showcasing once again the region’s ability to deliver world-class events and experiences.
Described as both the “busiest SportAccord exhibition ever” and the “best SportAccord to date”, the five-day global event welcomed 1,700 delegates from over 65 countries (including 46 national governing bodies, 125 International Federations and 650 different organisations). During the event, it was announced that a new Sports Quarter would be created in Birmingham, featuring a world-class stadium and events space for Birmingham City Football Club, all within walking distance to the city centre.
Other major events to take place in the West Midlands in the past 12 months include the Conservative Party Conference; ACM International Conference on Information and Knowledge Management; and the British Educational Research Association (BERA) conference.
One of the region’s key event spaces, Resorts World Arena in Solihull has been renamed following a new partnership between bp Pulse and the NEC Group. Since September, the arena has been known as bp Pulse LIVE.
It is intended that bp pulse LIVE will be a top choice for EV drivers attending events. With its 15,600 capacity arena and one of the UK’s largest public EV charging hubs (180 charging bays), the venue rebranding marks a significant moment in the collaboration between the events and transport sectors.
Celebrating the greatest minds in the West Midlands
Two of the West Midlands’ world- class academic institutions celebrate anniversaries in 2025.
Founded in 1900 as the UK’s first civic university, the University of Birmingham turns 125 and has a great variety of events spaces for organisers, including The Bramall (capacity: 419), The Great Hall (548sqm of flat-floored space) and Edgbaston Park Hotel (up to 240 delegates).
The University of Warwick celebrates its 60th anniversary and has 300 flexible meeting spaces as part of its Warwick Conferences collection. These include a 1,200 capacity in the concert hall of Warwick Arts Centre and Oculus, a two-tiered auditorium with 500- seat and 250-seat lecture theatres.
News and redevelopments in 2025 and beyond
The West Midlands continues to evolve to offer the very best experience for event organisers and delegates.
The Belfry Hotel & Resort is set to unveil its new flagship event space, The Masters Suite, in September 2025, a month earlier than planned. Spanning 852 sq. metres, the suite features floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the room with natural light. It can be divided into smaller sections for added flexibility, with a spacious pre-function area, mezzanine, outdoor terrace, and executive boardroom. Located opposite The Green, The Belfry’s outdoor team-building area, this space caters to the diverse needs of clients, organisers, and attendees. With 468 bedrooms and 23 meeting rooms, The Belfry remains a top choice for meetings and events in the region.
The Eastside Rooms is the latest member of Birmingham’s globally leading business events scene. Launched in 2021, it has quickly made its name as a contemporary and classy place to do business, and a stunning backdrop for events of every kind. This year it celebrated a 37.5% increase in turnover compared with the previous 12 months, showcasing the venue’s growing reputation and influence within the sector.
The Eastside Rooms, providing organisers with over 2,000 sq. metres of events space and a variety of meeting rooms, is conveniently located next door to the Aloft Birmingham Eastside. Part of the Marriott family, the hotel boasts 195 guest rooms, a cocktail lounge, and 120-seater restaurant. Birmingham’s Eastside area also features other popular conference and events venues including Conference Aston, Millennium Point, and the Clayton Hotel.
Radisson has been announced as Edgbaston Stadium’s hotel partner as the world-class sporting venue unveiled more details of its award-winning masterplan redevelopment over the summer. The proposed Radisson RED Birmingham Edgbaston Stadium (part of the group’s RED lifestyle 4-star brand) will feature 146 rooms, including 85 with pitch-facing balconies. It is expected to be finished by 2027 – in time for the men’s Ashes Test against Australia in that year. Edgbaston Stadium’s event spaces can accommodate 10 to 800 people, with many boasting a panoramic view of the iconic cricket pitch.
Event expertise
Working alongside event organisers, Birmingham and the West Midlands Convention Bureau offers expert advice, guidance and insight with invaluable support to ensure that both organisers and delegates receive the best experience and welcome.
The Bureau, part of the West Midlands Growth Company, provides industry professionals with a range of free services to deliver successful events in the region. These include accommodation booking, venue location and social programme planning.
To learn more about Birmingham and the West Midlands Convention Bureau, call 0121 202 5100, email bcb.conferencesales@wmgrowth.com or visit Meetbirmingham.com