Workman offers a variety of events for Birmingham Business Park tenants, including big screenings, cycling races, and mindfulness sessions. They refocused the social calendar quickly in order to connect with customers, despite the unprecedented circumstances. They worked with suppliers and occupiers to move activities online whenever possible, and they found new ways of supporting the local community.
Birmingham Business Park is located in 148 acres of parkland. There are over 150 businesses and approximately 10,000 people who work there every weekday. Workman LLP manages the Park. Workman started an occupier engagement program four years ago. The Park Development Manager Liz Allister was the one who initiated this initiative. She was inspired by the abundance of green space and lakes that are available to people.
The Park’s slogan – Invested In You – is the heart of the offer.
Every weekday there are events at the Park, which allows occupiers to take part in activities during lunchtime and after work. Weekly activities include pilates, yoga, mindfulness for wellness, and mindfulness for eating. There are also food events like Foodie Fridays or Meat Free Mondays. Mini massages, beauty treatments and workshops are just a few of the other options. The Park hosts sustainability weeks twice a year that offer free activities like pond dipping or biodiversity walks. Occupants can also participate in “meet the honeykeeper” sessions where they get to spend time with the person who maintains the Park’s beehives. They produce approximately 60 jars each year of honey, and all proceeds are donated to Age UK Solihull, the Park’s charity.
A community cycling club runs twice weekly in the Park during spring and summer. It also offers free maintenance twice a year to all occupiers. Race days are another popular cycling event at the Park. They attract hundreds of riders, including novices and national-standard riders. The team hopes to hold the races later in the year. All proceeds from the race will be donated to Age UK Solihull. This charity provides vital support for elderly residents by providing food and other assistance. Each weekday Wimbledon screenings attract up to 2,500 people. Up to 1,000 people can also attend to watch the tennis and connect with their colleagues.
Outdoor table tennis tables, giant Jenga, Connect Four and shared bikes are some of the amenities. There are also six allotment beds, deckchairs, shared bikes and deckchairs. Occupants Arval and Canon are part of the community allotment club, as is Age UK Solihull, a charity partner.