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. 

imago welcomes new university facilities

imago, one of the UK’s leading academic venues, has welcomed the opening of Loughborough University’s latest facilities. 

imago already provides event organisers with access to one of the UK's largest and most extensive single conference sites through the facilities available on campus. The 410-acre campus features more than 75 state-of-the-art exhibition, meeting and conference rooms for up to 2,000 delegates, in addition to facilities Burleigh Court, Holywell Park and The Link Hotel. 

The opening of the new £3 million teaching space - The West Park Teaching Hub – will see Its campus offering extended even further. The West Park Teaching Hub – located in the former Ford College building - features five lecture theatres, two seminar rooms and a central learning and exhibition zone and is equipped with the latest audio visual equipment. Alongside the formal teaching space there is an informal learning area and waiting areas with seating and a café.

Emma Boynton, Head of Sales and Marketing at imago, says of the new meetings facilities: “It’s really exciting to be able to offer clients a new event space on campus – it is an outstanding facility to have in our portfolio. The West Park Teaching Hub offers everything event organisers need for successful meetings and conferences. But our campus offering is about more than the buildings. Being able to utilise the university’s reputation for academic excellence is also a great way for event organisers to enhance the content of their event so it has real value for delegates attending.”

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. 

imago marks 25th anniversary

imago, the conference and events arm of Loughborough University, is marking its 25th anniversary. 

Since the organisation came into operation with the opening of its four star conference centre and hotel at Burleigh Court, imago has grown and has now become one of the leading academic venues for meetings and events in the UK. 

Emma Boynton, imago’s head of sales and marketing comments on the occasion: “During the last 25 years, imago has gone from strength to strength. We are delighted to be marking our 25th anniversary and everything we have achieved during the last quarter of a century.” 

Kay England, imago’s CEO, has been with the company during the last 25 years and says the business has come a long way since 1991. She comments: “I couldn’t be more proud of what imago has achieved over the past 25 years. Burleigh Court was established on a green field site on Loughborough University campus in 1991. Since then with the help of some fantastic staff we have gone from strength to strength adding Holywell Park, Campus Conferences, The Link Hotel and Event Management to our award winning portfolio. We now have a successful, progressive and vibrant conference, hospitality and meeting group that puts our customers and staff at the heart of everything we do.”

To mark the occasion, imago will be holding a celebratory event on 28th October in support of imago’s partner charities Minnie’s Friends and Twenty Twenty. The event is an opportunity for imago to thank clients for their support over the years and to establish new connections for the future, as well as building on its support of vital local community projects. 

For those unable to attend, visitors to The Meetings Show are also invited to celebrate imago’s 25 years of conferencing excellence at a drinks reception being held on Wednesday June 15 (4-5pm, Stand L600) to raise a glass and capture the moment in their photo booth. 

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. 

Increase in web traffic boosts imago enquiries

imago has recorded double digit growth in the number of people visiting its website, which is contributing to a growth in business enquiries. 

The conference and events arm of Loughborough University launched its new website in December 2013 providing a portal for each of its venues – Burleigh Court, Holywell Park, Loughborough University Campus and The Link Hotel. It was designed to give event organisers a wide range of information, including a downloadable booklet which offers advice to help event organisers get the most out of using the first class facilities available. 

In January 2015, www.welcometoimago.com saw a 12% increase in the number of website sessions compared to January 2013 when the old website was still in operation. Of those who have downloaded the e-booklet, almost 40% have gone on to make an enquiry to hold an event. 

Emma Boynton, head of sales and marketing at imago comments; “Our new website was specifically designed to boost our online presence and we are really benefiting from this, as demonstrated by the growth in visitors and enquiries. The website makes it easy for event planners to find all the information they need so they can make an informed decision. Whilst not all of the website enquiries will turn into business we are delighted that more people are discovering what imago has to offer and we’re certain this will help us win new business. It’s also a great tool for organisers who have already booked an event at one of our venues. The e-book is part of our commitment to supporting clients, from the initial enquiry through to event delivery.” 

Based in Loughborough, Leicestershire, imago provides high quality meeting spaces, venues and accommodation along with excellent sports and leisure facilities.

imago targets not for profit sector

imago, the conference and events arm of Loughborough University, is targeting new business opportunities in the not for profit sector. 

And to showcase how its portfolio of venues are ideally suited for events organised by charities and associations from the not for profit sector, imago is exhibiting at CHASE. Taking place at the Business Design Centre, London, on 17 and 18 February the event brings together senior decision makers from this sector giving them the opportunity to meet with suppliers focused on providing services to charities and membership bodies.

imago has hosted many events from the sector with previous clients including those from the youth, sporting and disability sectors. 

Based in Loughborough, Leicestershire, imago is a leading provider of meeting and event spaces. Its portfolio of venues includes 

• Burleigh Court; which has 26 meeting rooms, 225 bedrooms and 150sqm of exhibition space. 

• Holywell Park; a dedicated conference centre for up to 300 delegates. 

• Loughborough University; with conference, training and exhibition facilities for up to 2,000 delegates. 

• The Link Hotel; an excellently located hotel for delegates to meet and network. 

Organisations looking to hold events with imago can take advantage of two exclusive offers when booking at imago’s facilities. For events being held on Loughborough University Campus, for every 15 delegates, organisers using the code Spring15 will receive one place free of charge.* 

The second offer is available for weekend events taking place at Burleigh Court. Special 24 hour and day delegate rates are available for groups of up to 100 delegates and groups of more than 100 delegates wishing to take advantage of its extensive facilities for residential events such as leadership workshops, spiritual retreats, team building, training and networking. Both include the use of up to two complimentary syndicate meeting rooms (subject to availability). 

imago has received industry wide recognition for its services - including achieving AIM Gold, the highest level of venue accreditation - and the facilities available on Loughborough University Campus have been widely acknowledged as some of the best academic facilities for meetings and events in the country. 

Emma Boynton, head of sales and marketing at imago comments: “We have taken a strategic approach to how we can increase business. And the not for profit sector is just one area where we are looking to grow. Our portfolio of venues, particularly Loughborough University Campus, are suited to the needs of charities and associations holding events in the East Midlands. CHASE provides us with the opportunity to showcase our venue offering in a dedicated business environment, and we’re looking forward to meeting with senior decision makers and highlighting how our experience in organising meetings and events can benefit them and their members.” 

imago venues recognised by BDRC Continental VenueVerdict

Two of imago’s venues have been recognised in the latest BDRC Continental VenueVerdict results. 

Holywell Park has achieved BDRC Continental VenueVerdict Gold Standard Accreditation which is given to those 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 January to December 2014. Furthermore, each of the four calendar quarters is required to contain at least ten responses. In the last two years, the dedicated conference centre in Loughborough, Leicestershire, has achieved BDRC Continental VenueVerdict Gold Standard Accreditation on four occasions.

In addition to Holywell Park achieving Gold accreditation, Burleigh Court – its four star conference centre and hotel - achieved Highly Commended under the scheme. 

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. Being awarded BDRC Continental VenueVerdict Gold Standard Accreditation is recognition of the high standards we are achieving at Holywell Park. As it is calculated by responses from people who have attended events held here the accreditation is even more valuable. It is also pleasing that Burleigh Court has achieved Highly Commended and we look to build on this in future.”  

Launched in 2003, 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 manages Burleigh Court, Holywell Park, Loughborough University’s conference and events facilities and The Link Hotel. 

For more information call 0845 230 1414 or email info@cceonline.co.uk