Competition Heats Up For Cook and Serve Challenge

Venues of Excellence hosts its annual culinary competition ‘The Cook and Serve Challenge’ in October, and the heat is on with a record entry of 15 teams from within the venue consortium.

Now in its 18th year, the competition previously known as the Chefs’ Challenge, has been renamed to reflect the addition of the team element to include a chef and waiter or waitress. This format reflects the team ethos in member venues, where the production and delivery of the finest cuisine is one of the most fundamental and distinguishing features of the consortium’s members.

Taking place on October 29th at the Cambridge Regional College, the competition asks each team to prepare and serve to two invited diners a three course meal, suitable for an end of conference banquet, accompanied by cocktails, appropriate wines and coffee.  

Judged on the day by a panel of industry experts, the event continues into the evening with a celebratory gala awards dinner to be held at Wyboston Lakes. The event is a fitting celebration of the skills of all the team, and has traditionally proved to be a very successful networking event for the membership group.

“Our food and beverage offering is a fundamental element of our service and it is therefore no surprise that this event is one of the key dates in our year”,  Barry V Stonham OBE, Cook and Serve Chairman. “It’s an invaluable experience for young and talented F&B teams and they more than rise to the challenge, with standards being exceptionally high year after year. We rely on the extremely generous support of our sponsors, judges and host venues without whom this longstanding event could not take place. We wish every team the very best of luck and look forward to a great competition."

Follow the competition and awards announcements on social media using #VenExCookandServe

For sponsorship opportunities or to book your place at the awards dinner please contact Barry V Stonham, Cook and Serve Chairman: barrystonham@venuesofexcellence.co.uk

New Business Development Manager for the Golden Jubilee

The Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel has appointed Crystal Durok as their new Business Development Manager. 

The role will focus on the 2020 Conference Hotel strategy by developing business opportunities aligned to its vision to become an internationally renowned venue of excellence, focussing on medical and healthcare related association and research  meetings  from around the world.

First joining the Golden Jubilee as a Sales Co-ordinator in June 2015, Crystal began working in hotels as a teenager and brings a fantastic range of experience to the role. After completing her degree in Business Management with Human Resource Management at Edinburgh Napier University, she moved into Event Sales in 2012, working extensively across Dumfries and Glasgow.

Discussing her new post, Crystal said: “I am delighted to have been promoted to the post of Business Development Manager at the Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel and I am looking forward to continuing to work with our fantastic team, helping to grow the business, welcoming more delegates and guests than ever before. 

“In my new role, as part of our 2020 Vision, I will be working towards building our reputation as an internationally renowned facility for events, providing collaboration in health, hospitality and learning for both the private and public sector.” 

As Scotland’s dedicated, Conference Hotel with clients from all across the UK, and a key part of the Golden Jubilee Foundation alongside the Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Research Institute and Innovation Centre, the purpose built facilities are particularly suitable for clinicians, medical technology, healthcare and pharmaceutical companies.

Crystal added: “The cutting edge technology we have access to, including fibre optic audio visual links from our Auditorium to the hospital’s theatres, cath labs and diagnostic imaging suits, puts us in a unique position to enable creative and collaborative working and training opportunities.”

The Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel is an accredited member of the prestigious International Association of Conference Centres (IACC) and is Scotland’s only member of the UK’ Venues of Excellence collection. The Conference Hotel has a proven track record in outstanding customer service, and recently receiving their sixth consecutive TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.

Double AIM Gold for EEF Venues

EEF Venues’ Broadway House in Westminster and Engineers’ House in Bristol have both achieved Gold in the stringent Accredited in Meetings (AIM) assessment – the nationwide 'kite mark' of quality. 

Assessments take place every three years, and this is the second time that each of the venues has received the highest ranking. Only 24 UK venues are currently Gold accredited, and these include EEF Venues’ third venue, Woodland Grange in Leamington Spa, which is due to be re-assessed next year.

David Vaughton, director of venues for EEF Venues, said:  "We feel very proud that twelve per cent of all UK venues with the top AIM ranking come under the EEF Venues’ group. Customer service underpins everything we do so this is a great reflection of our teams. There is no doubt that going through the AIM process, with its regular audits and assessments, fuels continuous improvement prevents complacency. It drives a culture of aspiration and innovation and supports staff engagement and motivation, which in turn enhances the customer journey.  Achieving Gold again is the ultimate benchmark of quality and we view it as a vote of confidence in our facilities, our consistent standards across the group, and particularly, in our people.”

Alderley Park Conference Centre joins Venues of Excellence

Internationally renowned conference and event venue Alderley Park has joined Venues of Excellence as one of its newest members.

With its 233 seat Auditorium, eight breakout rooms and exhibition and catering space, Alderley Park has an international reputation and easily meets the stringent standards of facilities and service required to join the Venues of Excellence consortium.

Situated in 400 acres of beautiful Cheshire parkland the conference centre is ideally suited to high profile conferences as well as smaller meetings, workshops and training courses.

All event spaces are installed with excellent inclusive audio visual equipment with the in-house technical team safeguarding the smooth and efficient running of all events. Fast, free Wi-Fi is available for all delegates, with complimentary car parking and easy access from the motorway network ensuring guests a hassle-free event experience.

Award winning chefs have devised a range of menus, providing delicious catering options to suit all event and meeting requirements. 

Martin Mochan, Head of Conferencing at Alderley Park Conference Centre said: “It is a significant moment for us to join Venues of Excellence as we look to elevate our position in the industry.

“The accreditation process is very rigorous and I am delighted we have joined this prestigious group of venues which represents the very best of the conferencing sector.”

Mandy Jennings, Director of Sales for Venues of Excellence comments “Alderley Park really is first class, and the truly impressive auditorium is unrivalled as a space to offer to our clients in the North of England.  This is indeed an excellent venue, and we are delighted to be working with them”. 

University of Leicester Conference venue receives new accolade

College Court win at Niche Business Awards follows East Midlands Chamber of Commerce Award last week

The University of Leicester’s conference and training venue College Court has taken pride of place in a prestigious local awards dinner.

It is the winner of the ‘Professional Services’ category at the Niche Business Awards organised by Niche Magazine, a Leicestershire publication presenting some of the very best of what the county has to offer.

The award recognises those that provide excellent facilities, outstanding collaborations and the best staff training as well as individuals or teams who have made positive contributions to the business and local community.

The £17.5million facility has already won a clutch of awards and was last week announced as the Winner of the Business Improvement through Technology and Finalist for Excellence in Customer Service categories at the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce Awards dinner.

College Court Director Steve Crawford said: “Our success is down to a team effort so a huge thank you to all who work at College Court. As we head toward our 3rd Anniversary I am sure that we can look forward to future success and indeed the need to buy a bigger trophy cabinet!

“We are a truly passionate team who strive for excellence every day, whether it be process, procedure, setting and achieving goals, hitting budgets, hitting top line sales targets, delivering that perfect buffet lunch or reserving a car space, this award will be an opportunity to thank those staff for all that they do.”

Since opening in October 2013 College Court has generated sales of £6.5 million. With the combined offer of College Court, Stamford Court and the broader portfolio, annual sales for the next financial year will be in excess of £4.5 million. All profits feed directly into the University.

In just a short time, College Court has developed a reputation for quality and service which has put it ahead of many competitors and has attracted national and international clients to Leicester, not only benefitting College Court but the City as a whole.

Discovered in Windsor: the hidden home of Roald Dahl’s BFG

A BBC documentary about the life of Roald Dahl, airing for the first time on Tuesday 13 September, the centenary of the author’s birth, will shed light on the true home of one of his best-loved characters, the BFG. The house is revealed as none other than former royal residence and hidden gem of Windsor Great Park, Cumberland Lodge.

At the end of The BFG, fresh from helping the Queen of England by rounding up the world’s man-eating giants, the BFG and his friend Sophie are rewarded with lavish gifts from around the world, including a “special house” from the Queen.

The book reads: “The Queen herself gave orders that a special house with tremendous high ceilings and enormous doors should immediately be built in Windsor Great Park, next to her own castle, for the BFG to live in. And a pretty little cottage was put up next door for Sophie.”

The “special house” almost certainly alludes to the largest property in the Great Park, Cumberland Lodge. The beautiful Grade II listed building has been part of the Crown Estate since the second half of the 17th century and since 1947 has housed an educational foundation with a mission to facilitate open discussion and the exchange of views on some of the big ethical and social issues of the day. 

It was King George VI who granted the building to the foundation back in 1947, an arrangement continued by The Queen, who is the foundation’s Patron.

The reference to Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park appears to have been a private joke on the part of Dahl, who spent much of his childhood living in a relatively modest house in Cardiff, also called Cumberland Lodge.

In his autobiographical book, Boy: Tales of Childhood, Dahl describes how his mother moved the family to Cumberland Lodge, Cardiff, shortly after the death of his father. It is described as “a smaller and more manageable house...it was nothing more than a pleasant medium-sized suburban villa”.

The seemingly unlikely connection was highlighted by Ann Alston and Heather Worthington in the essay they contributed to Roald Dahl: Wales of the Unexpected, a collection of academic essays published by University of Wales Press this year and edited by Professor Damian Walford Davies, Head of the School of English, Communication and Philosophy at the University of Cardiff.

Dahl’s own complex relationship with his Anglo-Welsh heritage is present in subtle ways throughout his writings for children and adults and in his wider world view. The book reveals the place of Wales in Dahl’s imagination and the many different ways in which his Welsh identity was expressed.

“Dahl would almost certainly have known of Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park and the connection with the name of his former childhood home In Llandaff, Cardiff is no coincidence”, explains Professor Walford Davies.

“As Wales of the Unexpected shows, the figure of the Big Friendly Giant in The BFG, and his trajectory from the ‘margins’ to Buckingham Palace and Windsor Great Park, can be read as Dahl’s anxious reflection on his own cultural trajectory – from Cardiff boy to ‘English’ author. In imagining an ‘Establishment’ English home for the BFG at the end of the book, Dahl is also summoning a Welsh location. The tension is characteristic of his work.

“He was a man characterised by multiple identities (Welsh, English, Norwegian, American), moving between contrasting locations and social circles. He never stopped reimagining Wales in his work and struggled with conflicting desires to champion the underdog while craving Establishment approval.”

Canon Dr Edmund Newell, Principal of Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park, said: “As a fan of Roald Dahl myself, I was intrigued to discover that Cumberland Lodge is actually the BFG’s fictional home. In real life we’re an educational charity and while we don’t round up disruptive giants and store bottled dreams in our cellar like the BFG did, we do seek to inspire creative thinking and stimulate debate around important issues like how to respond to the challenges of extremism and divisions in society and build more cohesive communities. We’re very fortunate to have been granted the use of this former royal residence by Her Majesty the Queen.”

Professor Walford Davies continued: “Wales is present in Dahl’s work in ways that are not necessarily explicit. The unspoken, hidden ‘in’ joke at the end of The BFG is a profoundly serious one – the expression of a dual identity. His childhood Cumberland Lodge is now part of Howell’s School here in Cardiff, and Dahl’s links with the property are well-known and still celebrated.”

The BFG is also the subject of a film co-produced by Steven Spielberg, released in July 2016 to coincide with Roald Dahl’s centenary year. 

Great Welsh Writers: Roald Dahl, the new BBC television documentary, will air this Tuesday evening on BBC Wales at 10.40pm and will be available on BBC iPlayer afterwards.

All abuzz about sustainability at Wilson Vale

With the global honey bee population in decline, Wilson Vale has committed to adopting 50 bee hives from the British Beekeepers Association to support vital research into honey bee health and education into good bee husbandry.

“We are doing what we can to support Mother Nature,” said Andrew Wilson, co-founder of Wilson Vale. ‘As big users of quality honey throughout our 85 catering operations nationwide, we feel that this is a great opportunity to support the wonderful work carried out by the British Beekeepers Association.”

The company is taking a step further by actively supporting its client’s beekeeping initiative at Kellogg’s in Manchester. Kellogg’s has partnered with Plan Bee, a leading sustainability company that establishes and manages on-site honeybee hives for businesses seeking unique ways to enhance the environment. 

An initial eight honeybee hives are being managed and maintained by Plan Bee for the global food giants at their headquarters and manufacturing plant in Talbot Road, Manchester. The beehives help Kellogg’s to extend their sustainability credentials, an ethos inherited from company founder W.K. Kellogg more than a hundred years ago.

Lynda Percival, Kellogg’s European Environment Manager, said: “Our founder was passionate about health and wellbeing, and sustainability is at the heart of our company. Working with Plan Bee is important to us – we rely on bee pollination for some of our raw ingredients and we know that the bee population is declining, not just in the UK, but globally. By installing bee hives at our UK headquarters and the Manchester factory, we are helping to increase the bee population. 

“There is also a novel aspect of having bee hives as this is new to Kellogg’s. It’s already helping with employee engagement as our volunteer bee keepers are really enthusiastic.” 

Wilson Vale chef manager, James Wood, and his head chef, Jason Alexander are supporting the initiative, and are even planning to undertake a bee keeping course next year.

Andrew Wilson said: “There are approximately 660 people at the Kellogg’s site so our chefs use the honey from the on-site hives within the staff restaurant and the busy on-site hospitality service for dishes such as honey-glazed gammon ham, honey & mustard salad dressing and honey & banana sponge cake. The ‘Talbot Road’ branded jars of honey are also available to be purchased by employees. 

“Our chefs are delighted to be involved in this initiative as it is perfectly in tune with our fresh food and sustainability ethos.”

This news coincides with the launch of Wilson Vale’s latest CSR report, ‘It’s a natural choice’, outlining the company’s  wider sustainability initiatives and achievements, such as the use of  ‘ugly’ produce for cooked dishes and the company’s on-going commitment to planting trees in the National New Forest for every new client gained. 

imago retains Investors in People Gold

imago has retained its Investors in People Gold accreditation following its latest audit, maintaining its reputation for achieving high standards. 

The conference and events arm of Loughborough University first achieved Investors in People Gold accreditation two years ago. imago employs 300 people across its portfolio of venues – Burleigh Court, Holywell Park, The Link Hotel and Loughborough University campus, and believes in providing its staff with excellent working conditions and career development opportunities. 

Investors in People is the UK's leading accreditation for business improvement through people management, and provides a framework to help businesses get the best from their people. imago has used the framework improve its processes, communication and staff engagement to establish best practice. 

Emma Boynton, Head of Sales and Marketing at imago, says providing staff with training and development and excellent working conditions contributes to its success. She comments: “Investors in People is a commitment to the people that make your business a success. Measuring our performance against the standard’s objectives creates clarity around where we can improve and channel our resources more effectively. This allows us to harness the talent of staff towards achieving company goals. We are committed to the continual improvement of our employees, and by investing in our staff and working to the Investors in People framework we can help our team achieve their full potential. To retain our Gold accreditation recognises the systems we have in place and demonstrates our ability to deliver excellence to customers.”

Kay England, imago’s Chief Executive adds: “As a company in its 25th year, imago’s ambition has always been to provide customer excellence delivered by excellent staff. Integrating the Investors in People standard into our business strategy gives us the framework to challenge ourselves; to look for opportunities to develop so that we deliver service excellence through consistently high standards and team work. Having Investors in People Gold improves our company. It helps recruit high quality people and attracts and retains more customers. It is much, much more than an award.” 

The Investors in People standard is also valued by imago’s client base. Mike Stirzaker, Director of Prescience Business Learning, commented “As a leadership development provider, we work at many venues throughout the UK on behalf of our various clients. imago is our preferred choice and the benchmark against which we assess all others. Not only does imago have the right facilities, what makes it stand out is the capability and support of the staff in ensuring everything works, and works well.  Such levels of customer service don’t happen by chance and, as learning and development practitioners ourselves, we recognise the focus given to training and development in helping establish a culture that is personable, welcoming and at all times highly professional.” 

imago unifies Loughborough University’s conference and events venues under one brand which offers high quality meeting spaces, venues and accommodation along with excellent sports and leisure facilities. imago manages Burleigh Court, Holywell Park, Loughborough University’s conference and events facilities and The Link Hotel. 

Venues of Excellence consolidates growth

Venues of Excellence, formerly known as Conference Centres of Excellence, consolidates growth in the portfolio with further venues joining since the rebrand earlier this summer.

The new additions to the venue portfolio demonstrate the growth of the consortium both geographically into the North of England, and with a broader range of venues adding value and meeting the requirements of customers.

The most recent venues joining the consortium are Alderley Park Conference Centre in Cheshire, Manchester Conference Centre in central Manchester, and Keele Hall in Staffordshire.

By joining Venues of Excellence, each venue endorses their venue with a ‘quality kitemark’ achieved only when stringent criteria are met. Customers using venues within the group are assured of the best facilities and service delivered within the conference, training and events industry, and this continues to strengthen with the sharing of best practice and benchmarking within the network of excellent venues.

Venues of Excellence represents 31 member venues in the UK, and is aiming to grow membership further to 50 members by 2020.

Marketing Manager Amanda Stacey explains the new members add value to the portfolio:

“Alderley Park, Manchester Conference Centre and Keele Hall are three completely individual venues, each providing an exceptional service across their range of facilities.  We have been hoping to broaden our geographical footprint in the Manchester and North Midlands area for some time, and are delighted we can now offer customers these venues which meet our exacting quality standards. They allow us to offer more choice for our clients, and will also benefit from the range of marketing activities on offer to our valued partners.”

For more information about the venue portfolio, or the membership services on offer please contact info@venuesofexcellence.co.uk.

College Court wins award at Chamber of Commerce event

The University of Leicester’s conference and training venue College Court has taken pride of place in a prestigious regional awards dinner.
The £17.5million facility has already won a clutch of awards- the latest coming from the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce Awards dinner.
College Court, in Knighton, was selected as Winner of Business Improvement through Technology and Finalist for Excellence in Customer Service.

College Court Director Steve Crawford said: “It was lovely to be in the same room with so many businesses from across the region and see College Court up on the big screen. It was particularly thrilling to hear our name called out as winners.
“Our success is down to a team effort so a huge thank you to all who work at College Court. As we head toward our 3rd Anniversary I am sure that we can look forward to future success and indeed the need to buy a bigger trophy cabinet!
“There is another awards event this coming Friday where we have been shortlisted for Excellence in Professional Services.”

Since opening in October 2013 College Court has generated sales of £6.5 million. With the combined offer of College Court, Stamford Court and the broader portfolio, annual sales for the next financial year will be in excess of £4.5 million. All profits feed directly into the University.
Over 300 people attended the event at Leicester City Football Club's King Power Stadium.

Chamber President Jean Mountain said:
“The Chamber’s congratulations go to all of this year’s winners. We had some really good entries and the judging process was extremely tough, but all of the winning businesses thoroughly deserve their success.
“The standard of competition was extremely high, which clearly shows that despite the surprise of the exit vote at the EU Referendum, we have some real success stories of Leicestershire businesses doing well. All of the finalists also deserve recognition for their success.
“Over the past 12 months, businesses in Leicestershire have been busy investing, innovating, exporting and growing and these awards are testament to the quality of businesses we have in this city and county.”

Imago hosts 25th Anniversary Charity Dinner

DIG DEEP, BID HIGH AND DON’T FORGET YOUR SPLASH OF RIO!

Imago hosts 25th Anniversary Charity Dinner

Imago is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year and, to mark the occasion, is hosting a fundraising dinner in support of its partner charities - Minnie’s Friends and Twenty Twenty.  Minnie’s Friends is a drop-in centre which provides vulnerable people with hot meals, hot drinks and clothing, enabling them to move on to a better life and become more integrated into the community. Twenty Twenty gives invaluable help to hundreds of disadvantaged and disengaged young people, developing their self-belief, self-worth and motivation, whilst gaining academic qualifications and work-ready skills they need to find and keep good jobs.

Emma Boynton, Head of Sales and Marketing, comments: “As part of our commitment to the local community, we proudly support our partner charities and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate our 25 years than an evening of carnival celebration and networking, especially with the success of Loughborough athletes in the Olympic Games!”

The Rio-themed event is taking place on Friday 28th October 2016 at Burleigh Court Hotel and Conference Centre from 6.30pm until late. Tickets are £60 each or £500 for a table of ten, with bed and breakfast accommodation being offered from just £25 per person. Fifty percent of all ticket sales will go directly to the charities, in addition to all proceeds raised from prize auctions on the night. 

For more information, to buy tickets or to explore sponsorship opportunities, call on 01509 633085 or email info@welcometoimago.com

Celebrate Your Business at Warren House

The office Christmas party is the perfect time to celebrate the achievements of your business, highlight members of your team who have particularly excelled in their roles and even set in motion some bold and ambitious plans for the future. With a range of rooms available, from intimate dining spaces to versatile conference rooms, the team at Warren House are confident they can exceed all of your business requirements this Christmas season.

With a number of select packages available for businesses of all sizes to come and experience Warren House this Christmas, all of which include the use of this beautiful venue and delicious food prepared on-site by their extensively qualified team of culinary experts. For a small and intimate meal between a close group of colleagues, we’d highly recommend the Christmas lunch package, which includes the use of one of the more private dining areas, and is perfect for groups of up to 10 guests. You can even make use of the excellent Surrey location, joining Warren House for a midday meal before arriving back in the office in the late afternoon. For larger parties, there is a choice of packages designed to help businesses make the most of their events budget, with several additional services available to create a truly unique, memorable event.

Get the Festive Feeling - A Showcase Event

Warren House are delighted to be hosting a promotional event specifically dedicated to Christmas packages on September 15th 2016. To spread a little Christmas spirit, Warren House will be offering Christmas-themed refreshments throughout the day including warm m

ulled wine and festive canapés. Members of the team will also be on hand throughout the day to provide tours of this beautiful venue and offer further information on the range of packages.

BOOK NOW: To confirm your place on the showcase event, please contact the Warren House team on 020 89747109 / 7118 or email : tannaz.goss@warrenhouse.com