irmingham is a thriving hub for industry and businesses of all kinds. Not only does it boast a growing economy, but its central location gives it ideal access for customers from all over the UK.
Of course, as with any major city, lauding a business in Birmingham can be a challenge, and you’ll need to engage in strategic planning if you hope to stand out from the crowd.
So, if you’re thinking of setting up your business in Birmingham, here are just five practical tips to help you see success in this vibrant city.
1. Research the Business Landscape
Understanding the economic market of Birmingham is essential before you set up your business.
You should start by researching your target market and who your top competitors can be, as this will influence not only your business operations, but your product and service output.
2. Secure a Commercial Property
If you’re choosing to have a physical store or office rather than opting for remote working, then it’s important that you secure a suitable commercial property. This will require you to research the various areas in and around the city, and weigh up your potential profit against your budget, as city centre locations are likely to be more expensive than the surrounding areas.
While you might have used platforms such as Rightmove to research residential properties, it’s also a great place to find the perfect commercial property to suit your business needs.
3. Create an Inspiring Work Environment
Once you’ve secured your office space, it’s a good idea to renovate it so that it accurately reflects your brand.
When you have a well decorated office space, it can help inspire the creativity of your employees and motivate them in their work.
If you’re not sure where to start, consider asking your contractor about decorative panels such as those stocked by Lawcris. Not only are these easy to maintain, but they can also be more cost effective than their natural material counterparts such as solid wood and stone.
4. Leverage the City’s Talent Pool
Every year, Birmingham produces a steady stream of skilled graduates for you to choose from when staffing your new business.
Utilise the university’s career services and any career fairs that they organise as this can be a great place to recruit skilled and knowledgeable candidates.
You can also utilise more traditional job searching platforms such as Indeed. Here you can advertise your vacancies and manage applications and candidates, helping you to streamline the recruitment process.
Plus, if you’re prepared to offer remote or hybrid working arrangements, you’ll be able to target candidates from further afield.
5. Take the Time to Network
Networking is a powerful tool for giving your business a boost, especially in its early days. Take the time to focus on building connections with other businesses in your industry and those in related fields.
While you can conduct your networking online, it can also be useful to attend conferences, seminars, and workshops within the city. If you’re not sure where to start, then consider searching platforms like Eventbrite to find and book onto events that are relevant to your industry.
Have you launched a business in Birmingham? Share your experiences in the comments below!