The Wellcome Genome Campus Conference Centre

After an extensive build programme The Wellcome Genome Campus Conference Centre is just 8 weeks away from the re-launch of the state-of-the-art world class conference centre.

The physical structures of the Wellcome Genome Campus Conference Centre have undergone significant transformation over the past three years, expanding residential capacity and creating exciting new interactive spaces.

The Wellcome Genome Campus Conference Centre was purpose-built within, and adjacent to, a Grade II* listed country house, Hinxton Hall. Set in over 100 acres of parkland on the banks of the River Cam it has been an integral part of the campus for the last 17 years. The centre-piece of the Conference Centre is a 300 seat auditorium.

An extension to the restaurant and a new high specification residential block, Mulberry Court, are already operational, expanding residential capacity from 72 to 136 bedrooms. All bedrooms are now either new, or have been recently refurbished.

The most striking renovation is the Kitchen Garden project, which occupies the site of the original kitchen garden for Hinxton Hall. Due for completion in July 2015, the Kitchen Garden project will produce a dynamic new public space enclosed by a stunning steel and glass roof. This public space will serve as an interaction area for the auditorium and other main meeting rooms, and will host exhibitions, poster sessions and social events. The auditorium is also being refurbished to include new seating with full width tablets, power to seating for charging appliances and upgraded audio-visual facilities.

The Conference Centre serves a range of internal and external clients. Major internal clients include the Advanced Courses and Scientific Conferences team, which develop and deliver cutting edge genomics training and conferences, as well as the two major scientific institutes on campus, the Sanger Institute and EMBL-EBI. With a large external client data base, events are hosted for a wide range of clients including the Wellcome Trust, University of Cambridge, Kings College London, Institute of Cancer Research and Medical Research Council.

The Wellcome Genome Campus aims to be an internationally recognised location for scientific, business, educational and cultural activities.

Genome Campus appoints Conference Centre Business Manager

The Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, home to the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute, has appointed a Conference Centre Business Manager to support the recent appointment of Dr Julian Rayner as Director of Scientific Conferences and Engagement. 

Linda Prior, who has close ties to the campus having served as Sales and Marketing Manager for the past four and a half years, has been appointed to this new role.

The Wellcome Trust Conference Centre is currently undergoing an ambitious refurbishment that has already seen the completion of an additional 64 bedrooms and an extension to the existing restaurant. Work is currently underway to install a glass domed roof over the Conference Centre, which will provide an exciting new space to be used for conferences, meetings and public exhibitions.

“The Wellcome Trust Conference Centre is a special place, deeply in touch with the scientific roots of the campus as the home of the Human Genome”, said Dr. Rayner. “The redevelopment will deliver an integrated, functional and inspirational space, and presents exciting opportunities for new events. Linda is the ideal person to lead this new facility”.

The Conference Centre redevelopment is part of a larger vision to develop the campus as an internationally renowned hub of research, business, training and engagement. The Conference Centre will be a focal point for the campus, providing first class facilities for national and international visitors attending courses, conferences, workshops, retreats and exhibitions.

Linda commented “With such great facilities, 55 acres of stunning grounds, and an ideal location south of Cambridge, the Conference Centre is quite unique. I relish the opportunity of ensuring that the Conference Centre is utilised to its maximum potential over the coming years, allowing individuals from all walks of life to experience the atmosphere and learn about the impact that the research undertaken here on campus will have on all of our lives”.