New Accommodation Building Project at Henley Conferences

NEW ACCOMMODATION BUILDING PROJECT AT HENLEY'S GREENLANDS CAMPUS

60 new high quality bedrooms are being built at Greenlands to ensure that the standard of accommodation for all visitors and programme participants at Henley is appropriate and meets their expectations. The initial preparation work has just started and we expect the project to be completed within 12 months.

 CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

The buildings have been designed to be sustainable, energy efficient and cost effective, using high quality, low energy, responsibly sourced Green Guide specified materials to meet the BREEAM standards of the world’s leading sustainability organisation, BRE Global Limited. An Ecological Appraisal has been undertaken which includes tree, bat and bird surveys, with all necessary measures taken to protect the natural environment.

IN HARMONY WITH THE SETTING

Architects Design Partnership was the architect chosen to design the new accommodation. A highly respected firm, the practice has completed several other projects on the Greenlands campus over the past 25 years. Their experience at Henley and other institutions including Reading, Oxford, Bath and Leeds means they have a particular understanding of the specific needs of the higher education sector.

The architectural style and the materials to be used will reflect the existing buildings and will be sympathetic to the Grade 2 listed main building and its unique setting by the Thames.

RESPECTFUL TO OUR NEIGHBOURS AND VISITORS

Henley Business School has been part of the local Henley community and economy for over 70 years and this substantial investment is a positive step for the future of the Business School at Greenlands and its continuing provision of world-class facilities.  In addition to a Transport Statement prepared and agreed by the Highway Authority, a noise assessment was accepted by the Local Planning Authority to protect the interests of our neighbours. This is a large scale building project so we hope that through careful planning, consultation and communication with all parties, any disruption to the normal functioning of the site and surrounding area will be minimised.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Regular updates about the project will be posted on this page. In addition, once building works have progressed to a certain stage, a briefing event will be arranged when colleagues, programme members, clients and the general public can find out more and pose questions.

Andrew Wilson and Carolyne Vale Regional Finalists

Andrew Wilson and Carolyne Vale named Midlands regional finalists in EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

Andrew Wilson and Carolyne Vale, co-founders of Wilson Vale, have been named joint finalists within the Midlands region of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2016.

The couple started their niche catering business in 2002, working initially from home above their garage in Derbyshire, and establishing the business on £50K personal savings and ‘a laptop and a pencil’.

Wilson Vale now employs 600 people and holds 85 catering contracts, mainly within business & industry, independent education and the conference venues sector. Conference Centres of Excellence works in partnership with carefully selected preferred suppliers in the industry, and are proud to have worked with Wilson Vale since 2012. 

Throughout the company’s growth, the co-founders have never lost sight of their fresh food ethos and values.

Andrew Wilson said: “We are absolutely thrilled, surprised and honoured to be included in such great company. We really didn’t expect this as we don’t see ourselves as high flying entrepreneurs but more as two people with a passion and enjoyment for what we do. 

“This is a fantastic endorsement of everything we have achieved to date, and we are particularly pleased for our teams whose hard work and absolute commitment continue to make the Wilson Vale journey so special.”

Andrew and Carolyne will join 33 others at the Midlands finals, which will be held on Tuesday June 14 at Birmingham Council House in Birmingham. 

The 12-strong judging panel includes Lord Digby Jones, an international businessman and active cross-bench peer in the House of Lords, and Inspired Thinking Group CEO, Simon Ward.

Now in its 30th year globally and 18th in the UK, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year recognises entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

Holywell Park recognised by BDRC Continental VenueVerdict

One of imago’s flagship venues has been recognised in the latest BDRC Continental VenueVerdict results. 

Holywell Park has achieved BDRC Continental VenueVerdict Gold Standard Accreditation for Q1 2016. The standard is given to properties recording a twelve-month Net Promoter Score of +70 or higher from 40 or more Business Event Host responses in the twelve month period April 2015 to March 2016. Furthermore, each of the four calendar quarters is required to contain at least ten responses. 

It is the ninth time in total that the Loughborough venue has achieved the BDRC Continental VenueVerdict Gold Standard Accreditation and demonstrates its commitment to maintaining high standards. 

Emma Boynton, head of Sales and Marketing at imago, comments: “Feedback from clients is extremely important to imago. It helps us to build a strategy which allows us to continually improve our customer service. BDRC Continental’s VenueVerdict is based on responses from people who have experienced everything Holywell Park has to offer which makes this type of accreditation even more valuable and we are delighted that it has once again achieved the highest standard.” 

imago unifies Loughborough University’s conference and events venues under one brand, providing high quality meeting spaces, venues and accommodation along with excellent sports and leisure facilities. Imago, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2016, manages Burleigh Court, Holywell Park, Loughborough University’s conference and events facilities and The Link Hotel. 

Conference Centres of Excellence to rebrand to Venues of Excellence

The 30-strong marketing consortium of exceptional venues is taking this strategic step to broaden its footprint within the wider hospitality and events sector to maximise value for its members and clients.

Venues of Excellence will showcase at The Meetings Show (Stand Number H700) 14th-16th June 2016 at Olympia. 

Stuart Websdale, chairman of the consortium, explained: ”The Board has reviewed the positioning of the brand within the MICE sector and recognised that there are venues within the broader hospitality sector eager to  endorse their venue with a badge of excellence synonymous with the Conference Centres of Excellence brand.”

“Our goal is to expand the reach of our membership because we recognise the diverse range of venues delivering excellence goes beyond ‘conference centres’ only to include other quality-driven venues. On-going engagement with members and collaboration with industry peers has helped to crystallise our strategic direction. Our ultimate goal is to grow our membership to 50 members by 2020.”

The journey towards having broader representation and increasing value to members is already underway with several new venues recently joining the consortium. These include The Lensbury four star hotel at Teddington Lock, Manchester Conference Centre and Yarnfield Park in Staffordshire.

“Many of our members are independent players with a shared quality ethos and vision,” said Stuart Websdale. “What we offer is sharing of good practice, idea exchange and benchmarking to drive quality and to deliver excellence to our end users. For 24 years we have provided strong marketing support and networking opportunities for our members, as well as impressive lead generation via our central sales team. The strengths of the consortium are many, not the least of which are our emphasis on transparency of relationships and understanding of buyers’ needs. We view this re-branding as an opportunity for other quality, like-minded venues to come together under one umbrella to provide a targeted solution for discerning buyers.”

Before joining the consortium, venues have to meet stringent criteria in terms of quality, facilities, accommodation and customer care.

Visit the Conference Centres of Excellence website for more information about the consortium. 

Driving Sales at Woodland Grange

EEF Venues’ Woodland Grange venue in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire has secured bookings for several major classic car club events this year, as well as another for 2017.


From 29th April to 1st May, the Talbot Owners’ Club will hold its annual AGM at the AIM-gold accredited venue. The Club was originally formed in April 1934 and focuses on all Talbot cars manufactured at the London factory of Clement Talbot Ltd between 1903 to May 1937.

June sees the return of the highly successful HERO Summer Trial event from 17th – 19th June when classic car enthusiasts will gather from all over Europe at the venue. The Summer Trial is a round of the 2016 HERO Cup, supported by EFG Private Bankers and ZENITH Watches, and is an ideal introductory event to the world of classic rallying.

When re-booking the event, HERO event director, Jeremy Dickson, said: “Having held the event at Woodland Grange last year, we know it is a perfect location, with ample parking and easy access from the motorway for a fun weekend’s rallying on Warwickshire’s leafy lanes.“

The venue has also secured a booking for the Austin Healey International Weekend for July 2017.
Ian Chaplin, EEF Venues’ General Manager of Woodland Grange said: ”Our reputation for customer service excellence continues to drive venue sales.”

David Vaughton is appointed to the mia board

David Vaughton, director of venues for EEF Venues, has been appointed to the Executive Board of the Meeting Industry Association (mia).

A Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality and a serving board member of Conference Centres of Excellence (CEE), David has over 25 years’ experience within the hospitality sector. Over the last seven years, he has launched and consolidated the EEF Venues brand, with responsibility for the strategic direction and growth strategy for the group’s three AIM-gold accredited venues: Broadway House (Westminster), Woodland Grange (Leamington Spa) and Engineers’ House (Bristol).

Having already served twice on the mia Council, this latest commitment from David Vaughton underlines his on-going support for the association and its work. 

He said: “It is an honour to be part of the strategic thrust of the association and to join such talented and experienced industry professionals on the mia’s Executive Board to help raise awareness of this respected trade association and the work it does to raise industry standards.”

Mark Chambers, chairman of the mia and group managing director of the Eden Hotel Collection, said: “We welcome David Vaughton’s strong commercial focus and his insight into the challenges and opportunities within the sector. His first-hand experience of the impact AIM accreditation can have on a hospitality business makes him ideally placed to support our strategic objectives. “ 

Wilson Vale strengthens conference portfolio

Wilson Vale has gained a catering contract with Moor Hall Conference Centre, a Conference Centre of Excellence (CCE) in Cookham, Berkshire. The 80-bedroom residential venue is also home to the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Under an initial 18 month contract, the independent caterer is due to open the new service on 11th April when a team of eight catering staff will provide a breakfast, lunch, evening and hospitality service for up to 200 people at the venue.

Andrew Wilson, co-founder of Wilson Vale, said: ”The level of understanding and expertise we have within this niche sector is driving the growth of our venues portfolio. Our clients  know the impact that great food and service can have on a venue’s reputation and performance -  and how it can influence delegates’ perceptions and their decision to return. 

“We are thrilled that our unique style and proposition is so valued by clients like Moor Hall and see this as an exciting opportunity to work with a like-minded client at this very beautiful venue.”  

Moor Hall plays host to hundreds of events and conferences at its nine acre site near Maidenhead.