Business Overview
For more than two hundred years Birmingham has remained UK's largest manufacturing and engineering center, contributing billions to the national economy every year. The motor and transport industries have always played a significant role in the economy. Besides possessing two of the largest car plants in Britain namely, MG Rover and Jaguar, Birmingham also accounts for a large part of UK’s exports.

Nevertheless, Birmingham's economy recently has sharply diversified itself to service sector, retailing and tourism. These sectors today are the main employers in the city. Besides this, the city has also developed into one of the most important Scientific (specially the nano technology) and medical (presently cancer research) research center. Birmingham, the Europe's finest event city, attracts over 42% of the UK's total conference trade. With the venues like National Exhibition Center and International Convention Center in its lap, the city conducts some of the most esteemed international shows like Moda, Motor Show and Nepcon every other year.

This is all, the city further boasts of its over 500 law firms, Europe’s second largest insurance market, the oldest independent mint (facility which manufactures coins for currency) in the world, Cadburys chocolate brand and two of Britain's "big four" banks.

Major Business Centers
The National Exhibition Center (NEC):
Located in Solihull, NEC is conveniently adjacent to Birmingham International Airport and Railway Station.

The venue is the busiest exhibition center of Europe, staging more than 180 world famous public and commercial exhibitions every year. With 21 halls totaling 200,000 m2 (50 acres) of land, the center is the biggest in Britain and seventh largest in Europe.

Also part of the complex is ‘The NEC Arena’ that host large number of music concerts. Considered a popular venue for touring acts, the arena has experienced the performances of several renowned artists and groups including American rock band, Whitney Houston and U2. Together with the Arena, NEC host over 5 million visitors each year.

International Convention Center (ICC):
The ICC is a major conference venue in central Birmingham. Designed to enhance conferences or events, the center offers one of the most comprehensive packages in the industry. With 11 halls and 10 executive meeting rooms, ICC can conveniently organize thousands of meetings in a day.

One of the most famous concert halls of the world, Symphony Hall is also a part of the convention center. This imposing venue hosts around 270 events a year.

Millennium Point:
Situated in the Eastside of city center, Millennium Point is an exciting complex in Birmingham. Opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2002, the complex provides a gateway for the Public and Commercial Enterprise to discover, learn, research and interact with science, engineering and technology.

The building houses many diversified attractions like Thinktank Science Museum, a Technology Innovation Center, University of the First Age, Young People's Parliament, an Imax cinema, commercial leisure, retail, office space around a public mall, a licensed bar and Café

Major Commercial Areas
The Bull Ring:
Located at glamorous heart of the city i.e. Bullring, the Bull Ring is a famous commercial area of Birmingham. Since Middle Ages, it has been an important feature of Birmingham with its innumerable markets and shopping centers.

Some of the most famous landmarks in and around of the ring includes Bull Ring Open Market, Indoor Market, Rag Market, Selfridges Store and the Bullring Bull.

Arcadian Center & China Town:
Formally built amid the established Chinese Quarter of Birmingham now the center has grown to be an intrinsic part of the city.

A popular destination for locals and visitors alike, this cosmopolitan district provides an array of bars, restaurants, hotels and specialty shops.

Major Manufacturing Zones
Gravelly Hill:
Located approximately 3 miles northeast of Birmingham City center, the area is best known for its Motorway Junction and Gravelly Hill Interchange (popularly known as Spaghetti Junction).
Having a number of industrial units in variable condition, this is one of the important industrial areas of Birmingham.

Location: Northeast Birmingham

The Black Country:
It is the West Midlands region of industrial heartland. It derived its name from thousands of furnaces and chimneys that used to filled the air with black smoke.

Originally the most famous area for producing vast quantities of metal goods and coal mining, today it benefits from traditional industries as well as more modern newcomers. The area still maintains some manufacturing, but on a much smaller scale than before. Instead it is a growing as tourist attraction too.
Location: South Staffordshire Coalfield