Birmingham, often known as the UK’s second city, is the most populous city outside of London, with 1.145 million people living in the city itself, and 2.92 million in the West Midlands metropolitan area. It’s also the second-biggest hub for businesses outside of London. It's a thriving, diverse centre of culture and commerce, with plenty of opportunities for businesses. Is it any wonder that offices in Birmingham are so sought after?

According to the Greater Birmingham Chambers, there are over 64,000 businesses in the city, a mixture of both new and established businesses. The city grew massively during the Industrial Revolution, and is often thought of as the “first manufacturing town in the world”.  Engineering and manufacturing were the main industries for many years, and they still play a key role in the economy today, with the industrial plants of Jaguar Land Rover and Cadbury both based in the city’s outskirts.

Jewellery has also long been an important industry, with the Jewellery Quarter accounting for 40% of all jewellery production in the UK. New industries are also making their name in the city, and plenty of up-and-coming names in the creative, cultural, retail and technology sectors have offices here. There's also a strong financial presence in the city, with HSBC moving its UK headquarters here from London in 2018.

There’s a wide talent pool in the city, with 46% of graduates from Birmingham’s universities choosing to stay in the city after completing their degrees - so if you’re looking to expand your team in the future, you’ll have access to some of the best and brightest graduates in the UK.

The city is also conveniently located in the centre of England, making transport a breeze. It couldn’t be easier to get around the city itself, as well as further afield to other cities in the UK and beyond, making offices, coworking spaces and meeting rooms here the perfect choice for national and global businesses who want to maintain easy links to other locations.

The Top Business Areas in Birmingham

From the city centre to the suburbs, there are plenty of areas where business is booming. But which one is right for you? Here are the top areas to consider when looking at Birmingham office space, meeting rooms and other desk-based workspaces.

Colmore Business District

The main business district is centred around historic Colmore Row, with its impressive Victorian buildings. Some of the district lies within the Colmore Conservation Area, and there are over 500 companies based within the CBD, employing around 35,000 people. Many of these businesses are in the banking, finance and legal sectors, making it the perfect choice for any business in these sectors.

Digbeth

Once a heavily industrial area of the city, Digbeth is now considered to be the main creative quarter. The area is home to the Custard Factory - once the home of Bird’s Custard and now a thriving workspace for over 400 companies including ASOS and Maverick Television. The BBC and Digbeth Loc Studios, producers of Peaky Blinders, have also announced plans to move into the area.

Southside

The Southside district is the cultural heart of the city. It’s home to the Chinese Quarter, the Gay Village and the city’s Theatreland including major landmarks like the Hippodrome Theatre. Naturally, creative businesses are drawn to the area, and its proximity to New Street Station makes it a convenient location for a flexible office space or meeting room.

Westside

Westside centres around Broad Street, Brindleyplace, Five Ways, Centenary Square, Broadway Plaza. It’s one of the main entertainment districts in the city, famous for its nightlife, but is also home to key landmarks including The National Sealife Centre and the International Conference Centre, as well as businesses from a broad range of sectors.

Jewellery Quarter

Traditionally home to Birmingham’s jewellery trade, this district is still heavily dominated by jewellery manufacturers and shops. An Assay Office, one of just four in the UK, is also located here, but the area has also diversified into a place where creative, financial, PR and technology businesses call their home, too.

The Bullring

If you are looking for a space right in the centre of the hustle and bustle of city life, look no further than The Bullring. Here you can hop straight off your train and be at your desk without having to rush across the city or grab a taxi. The Bullring Shopping Centre is conveniently linked to Birminghams main train station, Grand Central, so you don’t even have to carry an umbrella and brave the unpredictable British weather.

The Mailbox

Located just a short 5 minute walk from Birmingham Grand Central, The Mailbox is in the prime area for commuting and for clients to easily access your office. The Mailbox is one of the most sophisticated places to have an office within Birmingham, so if your business requires that extra wow factor, this is the location for you. With an abundance of places to eat, including Marco Pierre White Steakhouse on the rooftop, there are plenty of options for dinner with clients.

Business Travel in Birmingham

Thanks to its central location, transport is always accessible. It’s served by the M5, M6, M40 and M42 motorways, giving easy access by road to much of the country. There are three major train stations in the city: New Street, Moor Street and International. New Street is the busiest station outside of London, with trains from here to London taking an average of just over two hours. The area will also be served by the HS2 high-speed rail network, which will terminate at Curzon Street station, currently under construction. When it opens in 2030, it’ll reduce the journey time to London by 38 minutes.

Birmingham's Entertainment

People love this exciting, diverse city that has endless possibilities for both work and play. It has an incredible culinary scene, with the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants outside of London - perfect for those celebratory business lunches - and Birmingham, sometimes called the curry capital of Britain, is well-known for its plethora of curry restaurants.

It’s also one of the UK’s cultural hubs, with many festivals throughout the year that reflect the city’s diverse population, from February’s Chinese New Year celebrations, to one of the biggest German Christmas markets over the festive season.

How much is it to rent office space in Birmingham?

Looking for a serviced office space in Birmingham? Prices start from just £145 per person per month, with all utilities included. All you need to do is move in and get down to business. If you’d prefer a coworking space, our Birmingham hot desks also start from £145 per person per month, giving you the opportunity to work in a setting that encourages communication and collaboration with other like-minded professionals.

How to find an office space in Birmingham

There’s no shortage of great private offices to rent in the city, from the city’s Colmore Business District to Edgbaston. But how do you decide which office to rent in Birmingham? There are some key factors you should take into account when looking for your perfect flexible office or meeting room.

Transport links

There’s a good public transport network of buses, trains and the Metro tram within the city to take you between different office locations, as well as further afield. Birmingham Airport is six miles to the east of the city centre, near Marston Green. It is one of the busiest airports in the UK, and the third largest outside London, with a busy schedule of domestic and international flights to get you to your important business meetings.

If you have a hybrid team and want to make those occasional in-person meetings as easy as possible for everyone, Birmingham is a great location. Transport is also a consideration if you have lots of in-person business meetings with current and potential clients. Luckily, Birmingham is well-connected with an extensive public transport network, but consider how important it is for you to be close to bus and train links, or to the airport.

Local amenities

What kind of area do you want your office to be in? Is it important that you’re surrounded by other businesses in the same industry as you? Do you need somewhere prestigious like Colmore Row? Or is it important that your office has easy access to local amenities like city centre restaurants, bars and cultural landmarks? Take all of these things into account when looking for a private office - and remember, too, that many serviced offices in Birmingham have facilities like gyms and coffee shops built-in within the all-inclusive contract. It's often about much more than desks and chairs.

Networking opportunities

If it’s important to you to connect with other business owners, then a coworking space might be the right solution for you. They offer an opportunity to connect with others across a diverse range of industries, making new connections and potentially even new business partners. They’re a great choice for start-ups in particular, who may not want to commit to a full office space just yet.

Opportunity for expansion

Although you might not be ready to grow your business yet, do you have plans for expansion in the future? If so, you may want to look for commercial properties with enough space to be flexible and grow with you by easily adding more desks. Your workspace should be flexible enough to suit your needs both now and in the future.

Interesting Facts about Birmingham

If you need any more reasons to choose a Birmingham office, these fascinating facts about the city might just convince you:

• Birmingham is within a 4-hour drive of 90% of the UK’s population.
• The city has the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants outside of London - perfect for business dinners!
• There are more canals than Venice, with over 100 miles of waterways weaving through the city.
• More than 500 medical technology companies have commercial properties here, more than anywhere else in the UK.
• The Department of International Trade has stated that the West Midlands is the leading regional location for attracting Foreign Direct Investment outside of London.

Why you should rent an office in Birmingham

A hub of culture and commerce located right in the heart of England, Birmingham is perfectly placed to be your business’s base. With easy transport links to London and beyond, a cluster of global companies as well as thriving start-ups, and a wide talent pool of new graduates, the city is the ideal setting for your business to thrive. Whatever commercial property you’re looking for, be it a private office, meeting room or a coworking space, Regus has the right office space in Birmingham to suit your needs.