Working at The Exchange

The Exchange is located at 3 Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2DR. It sits opposite the Library of Birmingham, with HSBC’s UK Headquarters to its left and the Hyatt Regency Birmingham to its right. 

Due to its city-centre location, it’s easy to get to and from The Exchange from campus.

Travelling by train

University Station operates a high-frequency service to and from Birmingham New Street in just seven minutes. From here, The Exchange is just a 10-minute walk away.

Alternatively, hop on to the West Midlands Metro, which will take you directly to Centenary Square in two quick stops (stop Library).

Travelling by bus

From Chamberlain Hall, take the 1 bus, changing after four stops (Embassy Drive) to the number 23 bus. After four stops, you’ll arrive at the metro stop outside the Library of Birmingham (stop Library). From here, The Exchange is just a two-minute walk away.

Travelling from the Vale Village? Catch the X21 bus from Edgbaston Park Road and stay on the bus for six stops, before alighting at Granville Street. You can walk to The Exchange from here in approximately 10 minutes.

Travelling by car

Centenary Square cannot be accessed directly by car. Therefore, we recommend putting the postcode of your chosen car park into your satnav, rather than The Exchange’s postcode.

There is no on-site parking at the venue, however, you’ll find plenty of pay-and-display parking nearby. The nearest multi-storey car parks are Paradise Circus, Town Hall, and Navigation Street, just a five-minute walk away (0.3 miles). Street parking is also available at Bridge Street, just five minutes away.

The nearest car park to The Exchange with designated Blue Badge parking bays is Cambridge Street. From here, the venue is just 192 yards away. A good alternative is Paradise Circus multi-storey car park (243 yards away).

 The Exchange lies within Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone. You can find out if you need to pay for your vehicle via the GOV.UK website, as well as pay the daily fee (if eligible) after or before your journey.

The Exchange is for everyone. That’s why have a variety of accessibility features and facilities on-site to help you get the most from the space:

• level access via ramps and automatic doors at each entrance for easy entry. We recommend wheelchair users and those with limited mobility access the venue via Broad Street, before entering through the North Entrance.
• a hearing loop at our café counter and portable devices to use around the site if you have a hearing impairment. If you’re attending a conference, body-worn devices are available that can be linked with our infra-red hearing loop systems
• Deaf Watch pagers are available to ensure you’re aware of any fire alarms
• accessible toilets on every floor, including a mechanised accessible toilet on the Ground Floor and a Changing Places toilet with a hoist at basement level, accessible via a radar key
• lift-accessible floors– use the lift in the NW corner of the building or ask a member of staff for assistance
• a designated private room on the Ground Floor that can be used for baby-changing, nursing or prayer – or if you simply need some time out in a quiet, calm environment. The room is lockable from the inside for complete privacy and includes a wash basin and drying facilities. To use this space, please speak to a member of staff.

If you require any additional information or would like to discuss your accessibility requirements, either before or during your visit, please contact the building’s duty manager on 07814 062984.

To ensure you have a safe stay with us, our duty team is first aid-trained and the building is well-equipped with first aid equipment, including an AED.

If you discover a fire at any time, evacuate the area immediately and do not attempt to tackle the fire yourself. Please press the nearest manual call point to activate the fire alarm.

In the event of a fire alarm:

• leave the room as quickly and calmly as you can. Please leave any belongings behind 
• follow the green fire exit signs leading to the ground floor to the nearest exit (north or south)
• form a muster point with your group (starburst evacuation) a safe distance from the building. Due to our city-centre location, we do not have a central assembly point. Please do not enter the building until told it’s safe to do so by a member of staff.

There’s a refuge point by each lift, where you’ll find a communication panel to contact the duty team should you need assistance when evacuating. There is also an evacuation lift in the north-west and south-east corners of the building.

To keep yourself safe in a security breach (e.g., terrorist attack), remember: Run, Hide, Tell.

If you see anything that doesn’t look right, such as someone behaving suspiciously or an unattended package, please call the duty manager on 07814 062984 immediately.

The Exchange boasts several bookable conference and event spaces, perfect for meetings or private functions. Whether you’re looking to host a meeting for up to 12 people or a drinks reception with over a hundred guests, we have spaces to suit all needs and requirements.  

To find out more about what’s available, get in touch with the University’s Conferences & Events team or request a venue tour by emailing info@theexchange.bham.ac.uk.

Are you a key building user? Rather than contacting Conferences & Events to book a room, please contact the Incubator Team at benterprising@contacts.bham.ac.uk so you’re not charged for room hire. 

We pride ourselves on being sustainable at The Exchange.

That’s why we’ve made it as easy as possible for you to recycle, helping to minimise the amount of rubbish going to landfill. You’ll find general waste, mixed recycling, food, plastic, and can disposal bins around the building. 

We also aim to keep our electricity usage to a minimum, which is why we have a building management system to regulate the building’s temperature and airflow. Most of the building’s lighting is motion-activated too to ensure lights are only on when they need to be.  

If you have any issues with lighting or your room’s temperature, please call 07814 062984.