Why Foundry is The Perfect Home for Your Birmingham Start-up

Opening in May 2022, Foundry at the lively Brindleyplace in Birmingham will be one of x+why’s first openings outside the Capital. We believe that advancing people and planet as well as profit goes beyond responsibility; it makes exceptional sense. As we build our community of purpose driven leaders, companies, and movements who understand that business should be a force for good, Birmingham’s multi-cultural hub of innovation and creativity offered up the perfect platform for growth.

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Better in Birmingham

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Tree lined squares, international cuisine and an enviable canal side location make Brindleyplace one of Birmingham’s most exciting and central destinations. Located a few minutes walk West of the city centre Brindleyplace is perfectly positioned next to Arena Birmingham and the International Convention Centre (ICC).

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The area is named after James Brindley - the master engineer who designed the canals. Our new building name, ‘The Foundry’, gives a nod to what was known as the ‘city of a thousand trades’, and the fact that our space was previously the site of a brass foundry.  

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The name also looks ahead to Birmingham’s future as it re-invents itself as a centre of modern business and commerce. A timeless intersection where the past, present and future merge into one, we couldn’t think of a better spot for building the foundations of the better business world.  

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Birmingham is a hub for sustainability and growth, running events such as the Birmingham Tech Week - a scaler programme in the midlands that has played a vital role in supporting businesses progress on their digital transformation journeys, by helping individuals adapt, innovate and stay connected.

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Community Appeal

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Foundry community manager Rebecca Dobie is always on site to make sure that our spaces are open and accessible to those seeking to create change, that members have all the tools and supplies they need, and most importantly - to ensure that everyone has a good time.

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With an extensive background of experience, our site teams focus on the social side as much as the business side, and make it easy for meaningful relationships to be fostered, whether that’s through an event, a spontaneous water cooler moment, over a members breakfast, or through a community outreach programme.

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We make sure the companies here are able to focus on work when they need to, while also catering to greater human needs on a personal level. We always celebrate and share the stories and successes of our members. Through our events, Meet the Member series, Whys Words Podcast and extensive social networks.

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Work Well

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We know that when we feel better, we do better. With many of us spending most of our lives at work, all of our spaces have been deliberately designed to counteract the burnout epidemic, and transform it into the breakthrough epidemic.

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As one of only two B Corporation certified companies in the area, we walk the walk when it comes to promoting responsible business that looks at its impact on the wider community, and not just the bottom line. On a day to day basis within the space, this translates to things like a greater focus on holistic wellbeing and mental health.

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For example we have one plant per person in the office, relaxing bird tunes and access to plenty of natural light. Rebecca will also be getting in touch with charity Mind, to host some of their talk and paint sessions. Pre-launch, Foundry has been in touch with two charities in Birmingham, who will start using our site for their business get togethers - one of them will be working towards helping the homeless in the area. They’ll also be able to support young businesses with their fundraising and space-use.

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Inclusive Innovation

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x+why at Foundry is designed to support and inspire young, impact-lead companies on their journey towards more purposeful profit. With wellbeing, collaboration and fun at the heart of this entrepreneurial hub, it is more than just a place to put your laptop.

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We’ve curated a destination for business growth and personal development. Alongside a thriving community are amenities that the largest of corporates would envy – ranging from the latest tech-enabled events space, to a high spec gym. Find your next home amongst 20 communal meeting rooms and collaboration areas, your own bar space, wellness room and in-house Barista.

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Locally we’ve also collaborated with Birmingham artist Lucy M who’s injected some life into the space with her artistic inspiration. Internationally, x+why are proud to host members such as Forgotten Women, who transform the lives of vulnerable women through aid, opportunity and voice. We share their vision for a world where every woman is given the opportunity to live a life free from humiliation, poverty and abuse, and are free to preserve their dignity, health, well-being and economic independence.

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Designed for Success

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When it came to refurbishing Foundry, we avoided needlessly multiplying the sites carbon footprint by upcycling, refreshing, what was there with our own unique spirit and character. We worked with partners Useful Studio and rescued all of our office chairs from a building in Manchester, which was left unoccupied by the previous tenant. Through our supply chain, we have these individually checked, refurbished, re-covered and re-warrantied ready for their next phase of life.

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When it comes to protecting the environment, all our spaces are designed and managed to be as sustainable and ‘green’ as possible – from the chair you sit on, to the living roofs, and energy efficient lighting, and as a community our members are proud to be working towards 13 of the 17 UN sustainability Development Goals.

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We’re also working towards the coveted SKA Gold rating. From waste management, encouraging use of up-cycled materials and supply chain diligence, to ensuring fixtures and fittings meet the highest of environmental standards, the SKA is a great way of making sure that any fit out is performed as well as possible.

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As creatures of our environments, x+why are committed to uniting and inspiring a likeminded community of change-makers, and most importantly working collaboratively to amplify all of their great work. Join our community today and lead the change working towards a brighter tomorrow by using business as a force for good.  

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