The CharityJob Guide to Living and Working in Birmingham
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If you’re new to Birmingham, there’s probably already one thing you’re familiar with, the beautiful Birmingham accent. And although the accent may have been ranked the least attractive in the UK, not sure how, there’s so much more to Birmingham that takes the top spot. Birmingham is the most ethnically diverse city in the UK, resulting in a multitude of cultures, food, languages and beliefs. It’s vibrant, full of life and steeped in rich history.
As the UK’s second city (despite what Manchester says), with a population of around 1.1 million, almost 40% of which are under 25s, Birmingham offers all the vibrancy of London, but at a more affordable price. So, let’s take a look at how you can make the most of the city that’s home to the Peaky Blinders.
A little bit of Birmingham history:
Birmingham began as a Saxon village, becoming a market town in the 12th Century.
Birmingham is said to have more canals than Venice! Mostly built in the 1700s and 1800s, the canal network allowed Birmingham to become an economic driver since manufactured goods, coal and raw materials could be transported.
At the height of the Industrial Revolution, Birmingham was one of the world’s fastest growing cities and soon became known as the city of ‘a thousand trades’.
Birmingham was a world renowned pioneer in the jewellery trade, with more than 40% of all the UK’s jewellery produced in the Jewellery Quarter to this day.
Birmingham is the birthplace of the Balti.
JRR Tolkien, the author of Lord of the Rings, grew up in Birmingham, with many of the books’ settings inspired by the city.
Many iconic brands started in Birmingham, including Cadburys, Birds Custard, Grenade, HP Sauce and Gymshark.
As the birthplace of heavy metal, Birmingham was home to members of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Judas Priest.
Jobs in Birmingham – where to start?
Birmingham is a city bursting with opportunities with more than 40,000 businesses to choose from. People flock to the city for work because of its accessibility, more reasonable living costs and a short distance to London.
So, how do you go about finding this the best jobs in Birmingham for you? Local recruitment agencies such as Nelson Permanent Placements
But maybe before that, you would like some advice on your CV? These can help:
Birmingham Careers Service – for young people not in education, employment or training
Careers Network – University of Birmingham
And of course NPP
And what about working for a charity in Birmingham?
Making a difference, doing something you’re passionate about and working with like-minded people, are just some of the reasons charity jobs are so sought after. And with over 14,000 charities, Birmingham is a great place to find them.
Perhaps it’s volunteering you’re looking for first. Across Birmingham, there are hundreds of volunteering opportunities to suit all different passions, including youth work, caring for animals, sports coaching and conservation. BVSC is a great place to find vacancies.
The headquarters of many charities are in Birmingham, including:
Birmingham Children’s Hospital
And then there’s also the brilliant local charities, including:
The employment market in Birmingham
Birmingham, along with the rest of the world, was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. But the city seems set for a strong recovery. Job vacancies are on the rise, particularly in arts and entertainment, along with accommodation and food services. Sectors such as construction, retail, banks and consumer goods have seen an increase in hiring. And higher wages (as much at 10%!) are being seen as companies compete for top talent.
What’s more, with HS2, the 2022 Commonwealth Games, BBC moving many roles and programmes’ production to the city, plus Goldman Sachs’ new offices, Birmingham’s economic and employment prospects are looking bright.
By 2030, jobs in the arts, entertainment and recreation are set to see a 21% increase, with positions in professional services, science and tech seeing a 10% rise.
Living in Birmingham
Of course, life isn’t all about work. You have to have that work life balance, and Birmingham is definitely one of the best places to get it. In fact, Birmingham is among the top 50 best cities to live in the world.
Housing
The cost of housing in Birmingham can be pretty reasonable. Especially if you consider rent is 57.16% lower than London on average.
Renting:
1 bedroom apartment in the City Centre: £650+
1 bedroom apartment outside of the Centre: £450+
The average cost to buy:
Terraced properties: £198,824
Semi-detached properties: £242,349
Flats: £150,802
Traffic and travel
Birmingham is considered a car-centric city, unfortunately, known for its congestion and pretty confusing spaghetti junction. But it seems that’s all about to change. The City Council’s transport plan aims to transform Birmingham into a super-sized low-traffic neighbourhood.
Car traffic is to be diverted from the city via a ring road. More parts of the city are to be pedestrianised. Zero-emission cross-city buses are being introduced and more protected cycleways built. And not only will this help with travel efficiency, it will also help with creating cleaner air, a goal that led to the launch of Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone in June 2021.
The West Midlands is already easy to get around by train, with West Midlands Railway being one of the biggest rail networks outside of London. Plus, there’s the West Midlands Metro tram which travels from Birmingham to Wolverhampton, with lots of stops in between.
If it’s a shorter trip and you favour the fresh air, you could always opt for a Voi e-scooter. Or, if you prefer a more active journey, you can find bikes to hire across Birmingham that are available 24/7.
What’s happening around Birmingham?
Now you know what to expect from work, housing and travel in Birmingham, let’s move on to the more fun stuff. Birmingham’s buzz is real and can be found indoors, outdoors, and by any and all ages.
Nightlife
Birmingham has something for everyone when it comes to nights out. If you’re looking for jazz, blues and rock, head to The Jam House. If you’re looking more for a bit of cheese, there’s Popworld. The Night Owl brings you retro-themed nights filled with northern soul, ska and Britpop hits from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Lab11 or The Mill in Digbeth are where you’ll find your raves and DJs. And, of course, we could never talk about Birmingham’s nightlife without mentioning the iconic Snobs.
Shopping
Whether you prefer big brands or cool independents, you’ll find it in Birmingham. The Bull Ring is filled with shops, bars, restaurants and cafes to choose from. But the city is also brimming with independent stores for more of a unique shopping experience. Find hidden gems across the city!
Parks
Birmingham gets a bad rap for apparently being a concrete city. But, just stand in the centre of Sutton Park and you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of the countryside. In actual fact, the city is filled with green spaces. Lickey Hills Country Park, Cannon Hill Park, Walsall Arboretum, Aston Park, Billesley Common, Moseley Park, the list goes on.
Food
As a city of multiculturalism, you can feast on food from around the world right in Birmingham. Head to Lasan for award winning Indian food, Bistro Du Vin for traditional French food, Santorini for Greek cuisine, Bodega Bar and Cantina for Mexican, Damascena for a Middle Eastern meal, and so much more.
Arts
Birmingham’s art scene is vibrant. Take your pick of high-profile galleries, including the internationally acclaimed Ikon Gallery and the Grade II listed building that’s home to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Laugh until your cheeks hurt at one of the best comedy venues, the Glee Club. See your favourite bands at the LG Arena or discover up and coming artists at the Hare and Hounds.
Or combine it all on the first Friday of every month by heading down to Digbeth for live music, exhibitions, street food and much much more.
So, if you’re ready to make Birmingham your home away from home, find the job for you on CharityJob and start putting those plans in place.
