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”.

WARWICK CONFERENCES STRIKES GOLD AT INDUSTRY AWARDS

Warwick Conferences has added to its awards cabinet after once again sweeping up at this year’s prestigious Meetings & Incentive Travel (M&IT) Awards.

The University of Warwick-based collection of venues bought home two gold’s and a silver at the awards, dubbed the ‘Oscars’ of the meetings and conference industry.

This is the 17th time in the awards’ 22 year history the venue has taken home the gold award for Best Academic Venue.

Warwick Conferences also won gold in the Best Value for Money Conference Centre award, and was presented silver in the Best UK Management Training Centre category.

The M&IT Awards are voted for by conference organisers and the readers of M&IT, the conference industry’s leading publication.

These latest accolades are a tremendous boost for Warwick Conferences and cement its reputation as a truly world-class facility, drawing the attention of delegates from around the globe.

Rachael Bartlett, head of sales and marketing at Warwick Conferences said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have once again come away from this year’s ceremony with an award in every category for which we qualified. This is a fabulous result and credit is due to everyone who has worked so hard to make Warwick Conferences the world-class collection of venues it is.

“To bring home gold for Best Academic Venue for the 17th time in 22 years is fantastic and a great reflection on the service and facilities we provide. The fact that the awards are the result of votes cast by event organisers is all the more gratifying. It’s the most credible endorsement a business could wish for.

“The industry as a whole has faced a lean couple of years, but the fact that we have thrived is a testament to our staff’s hard work, professionalism and passion for making Warwick Conferences a genuine leader in our industry.”

This year’s prestigious black tie event, took place on Monday 5th March at the Westminster Park Plaza, and was hosted by popular BBC news presenter Kate Silverton.

New IT Partnership for Wellcome Trust Conference Centre

The Wellcome Trust Conference Centre on the Genome Campus near Cambridge is pleased to announce a new partnership with Kinetic Solutions in providing their new booking system.

The announcement comes after two months of hard work and training through the summer, updating and matching bookings onto the new system up to 2015 in readiness for the switch.

'Clients have commented on how well the switchover has gone,' said Rachel Cordier, Conference Centre Manager, ' Those with knowledge of the change reported no impact on them, which is thanks in no small part to meticulous planning and scheduling with our IT teams. I'm really impressed with how smoothly everything has gone.'

The benefits of the switch have been seen already in an improved chase system for keeping track of bookings and the faster dispatch of invoices. Linda Prior, Sales and Marketing Manager comments: 'Previously we were working with three different systems to achieve the same results, which was time consuming, unproductive, and often unreliable. It's a relief to have one system for all data and its management.'

The new booking system is also being implemented at the Wellcome Trust offices on Euston Road, London to manage around 80 internal meeting rooms in support of the Head Office function.

Wellcome Trust provides bespoke service for major conference

In July, the Wellcome Trust Conference Centre will be hosting the Molecular Biology of Hearing and Deafness conference.

To accommodate the delegates with hearing difficulties, a number of adaptations will be made. A 60” plasma screen will be installed in the Auditorium for translation of the seminars. Deaf guards will be provided, where required in accommodation, to ensure the safety of the delegates in the event of an emergency and the hearing loops installed in Auditorium and Foyer will be fully utilised.

'We pride ourselves in being able to offer these services in order to satisfy the needs of clients with special requirements,' said a spokesperson for the venue.

Wellcome Trust Conference Centre, Cambridgeshire

The centre’s Grade 2 listed Hinxton Hall has achieved ISO 14001 accreditation -- the British Standard that shows compliance with a strict set of environmental standards. Staff have been instrumental in setting up many ‘green’ initiatives, including growing their own fresh herbs to serve in the restaurant, and introducing consistent recycling policies whereby waste is used for compost. The assessor commented on the campus-wide awareness of environmental responsibilities.   For more details about this venue see http://www.cceonline.co.uk/our_venues/our-venues/Wellcome_Trust_Conference_Centre