Conference Cambridge
New Team Member
There's a new face here at Conference Cambridge, Jo Withrington joined the team in March as our new Admin Assistant. Jo came to us with a wealth of admin experience and she's quickly become an indispensable member of our small team. She's been very busy visiting all of our venues to familiarise herself with the vast range in our portfolio, which is no small feat as we had 550 at the last count! Jo handles all the enquiries that come into our office via the phone and the website, so if you're looking for a venue in one of the Colleges give us a call and we'll do all we can to help you find the perfect setting for your meeting, conference or dinner.
We listen to what you say
We value the feedback you send us and we're always looking for ways to improve our service, so we're pleased to report that we've implemented two new facilities as a direct response to your requests...
Standard Response Forms
You told us that it was sometimes difficult and time consuming to compare offers from Colleges, particularly when more than two or three responses are received. From July 2007 we're introducing a standard response form that all Colleges will complete when they respond to your enquiry; they'll send it to you along with their usual information pack. The new forms will ease the decision making process, allowing you to compare several offers at a glance. They will provide a summary of the College’s proposal and highlight key details such as tarrifs, capacities and parking information.
Find Your Feet
Find Your Feet is our new online tool for anyone who needs to find their way around the Colleges. You can access this useful, new facility from our web page, choose the name of the College you want to get from and to and click... in an instant you’ll receive comprehensive directions about how to get from A to B on foot. Indicating just how accessible Cambridge is, this unique tool will help anyone who is planning events over two or more Colleges. Put it to the test and let us know what you think...
Did you know that we can fast track your enquiries?
If you have access to the internet you can complete our online enquiry form on our website and this will allow us to fast track your enquiry through our system, fielding it out to our venues in an instant. And very soon we'll be adding a postcode facility to the enquiry form, which will save you having to enter address details making the process quicker still. However, we do still welcome your enquiries by email and by phone, as we realise that sometimes you may like to talk to one of us about your requirements, you can be assured that any enquiries taken this way will be dealt with immediately too, it just won't be quite as fast as our online facility.
Looking for a supplier
Next time you need the services of a specialist at your event take a look at the Partners section of our website. You'll find the contact details of a whole host of associated services from AV suppliers to Cambridge tour guides; fireworks to florists; musicians to toastmasters; indeed everything you might require to make your event a success.
Supplier? Get in touch to see how we can help
If you're a supplier and your details aren't already on our site, get in touch and we'll send you details of how to include your company; over 300 unique browsers visit our site every day, so it’s a great way to get your company name out there and increase your exposure on the web.
Venues
Downing College rings the changes...
The Conference Department at Downing College went live with their new web site on 4 June. The site, which aims to capture the special ambience of the College, has some fantastic photographic shots of the grounds, the buildings and the accommodation. With detailed information about rooms, sample menus and a helpful online enquiry form, browsers looking for a meeting, conference or wedding venue now have a wealth of information at their fingertips. To take a look at the new web site visit www.downingcambridge.com/conferences
Downing College are also embarking on an ambitious and exciting project to refurbish and restore the Hall to a state befitting its history and its integral role to the College. The plan is bold. The new colour scheme is very different, being informed by similar interiors of the period and the recently exposed entablature, decorated with the original colours and patterns. The aim is to restore, reinvigorate and pay homage to the vision of William Wilkins, the creator of the unique neo-classical architecture of Downing College.
The Ionic columns and pilasters will be restored and the existing chandeliers will be replaced with new models, which will provide versatile and adaptable lighting for different occasions. In addition the acoustics in the Hall will be enhanced with a new ceiling and acoustic treatment to the north wall. A new limestone floor will complete the project with concealed power and under-floor heating.
Works will commence in December 2007 and the anticipated completion date is December 2008.
If you are interested in holding an event at a Cambridge College, give us a call 01223 740578 – we’d be very happy to help you find the perfect venue.
More en suites at Fitzwilliam College...
Fitzwilliam College will commence redevelopment work next month in New Court when 85 bedrooms will be upgraded to en suite. Opened in 1986, this accommodation provides guests with greater degree of comfort and spaciousness; the excellent design of both the building and the bedrooms make New Court a popular choice with both students and conference guests alike. Work is due to be completed by September 2007, bringing Fitzwilliam’s total on site accommodation to 175 en suite, 98 semi en suite and 88 standard bedrooms.
Christ's College's double renovation...
Christ’s College, in the heart of the City is just about to begin a major refurbishment of the Lasdun Building. Due for completion in July 2009, the College will boast a further 60 en suite bedrooms and a fully refitted theatre equipped with state-of-the-art audio visual technology for up to 100 conference delegates.
In addition, and in conjunction with the City centre redevelopment of Christ’s Lane and Bradwell’s Court, the College has just completed a renovation of three smaller accommodation blocks adding a further 16 en suite bedrooms to its facilities.
St John's - improvements in facilities and training...
The College of St John the Evangelist, set on the Backs of the River Cam is currently undergoing extensive enhancement programmes, including refurbishments, improvements and training making it even more attractive as a conference destination.
After the summer guests at St John’s will enjoy breakfast in the refurbished Buttery Dining Room and dinner on new chairs in the impressive 16th century Dining Hall. Additionally plans are in place to redecorate the smaller, intimate Wordsworth Room; now 450 years old, this room housed William Wordsworth when he was an undergraduate in the 1780s and is mentioned in his autobiographical poem, The Prelude.
The Fisher Building has been re-carpeted and the audio visual, lighting, chairs and the bar/reception area will also be improved over the coming months; and very soon, Merton Hall, a 16 century timer-framed building, will be available for conferences too.
Accommodation-wise, the College already offers 300 bedrooms, 148 of which will have en suite facilities from 2008. The College is also in the early stages of investigating the refurbishment of the Cripps Building in a four year programme starting in 2009, with the potential to provide a further 72 en suite bedrooms.
Alongside the improvement to the facilities, the Conference and Catering teams have been attending various training programmes to develop their skills. Two chefs have been to the Emirates Academy in Dubai, one of the best hospitality schools in the world, and a third will travel to a hotel school in Saigon, Vietnam next year. Advanced food level hygiene is standard and the waiting staff recently attended a Silver Service Waiting Course in Glasgow, as well as basic and intermediate wine training with the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. All this and the Catering and Conference Manager, Bill Brogan has passed Level One Chinese!
Robinson College completes Auditorium revamp...
Robinson College had a busy start to the year with a complete refit of their Auditorium. Work commenced in January with the stripping out and disposal of all 270 seats, quickly followed by the carpet. Whilst the room was empty – a cavernous shell – the ceiling was re-treated and painted to ensure appropriate fire-proofing. All areas of the timber floor were re-surfaced preparatory to the fitting of a new carpet complete with lit stair nosings. Somewhere underneath all of this a new hearing loop was installed to upgrade accessibility for hearing-impaired delegates. New seats arrived in February and were fitted within the week.
In the meantime, the large beech stage was fully re-structured to allow for easy retraction of the apron. In its usual setting, with the apron fully extended, 240 delegates are comfortably seated. For larger events up to 270, the apron can be retracted. The College then took the opportunity to install power, sound and data cabling with under-floor management to cable access points around the stage. Complimenting this safe, convenient cable management is the new stage furniture, which includes a multi functional speakers’ podium.
Much of the technical equipment within the Auditorium has also been replaced, notably the fitted high-level data-projector and the wireless hubs. The Auditorium has always been a very comfortable venue with a truly great feel – now it’s just that extra bit special!
Gonville & Caius College honours Professor Stephen Hawking...
Goville & Cauis have renamed their new building at 5 West Road. Now called the The Stephen Hawking Building, the development was renamed in honour of Professor Hawking who last year received the 2006 Royal Society Copley Medal. Professor Hawking, one of the College’s most celebrated living Fellows, used to live in a Victorian villa on the site of the new development. Indeed, the new building was expertly designed as a flowing curve to accommodate the mature trees that grew in the garden of the Professor’s former garden. Opened officially by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in April 2007, the Stephen Hawking Building is now home to 75 students and eight Fellows, with conference guests able to use the fantastic modern facilities during vacation periods.
The Møller Centre opens new Study Centre...
The Møller Centre is delighted to announce that its Study Centre development will open in July. Located alongside and linked to the existing study centre, the new area has been designed in consultation with clients and stakeholders to offer a total solution to meeting or training requirements.
The flexible space offers six additional rooms, break-out rooms and office space for event organisers. The communal area, flooded with natural light, is perfect for informal working and relaxing with refreshments. Delegates are able to use the six station business centre with free broadband internet access at any time.
Created as a collaborative learning environment, trainers and facilitators have the space and resources to enable participants to enjoy interactive learning experiences, with the flexibility of the space ensuring that layouts can be changed swiftly and unobtrusively throughout the day. All of the rooms have the latest in audio visual equipment including built-in projectors and technical support is available before and during your event.
If you are interested in holding an event at a Cambridge College, give us a call 01223 740578 – we’d be very happy to help you find the perfect venue.
Cambridge Chef's scoop Gold Medal...
Cambridge chefs returned triumphant from the recent catering competition organised by The University Caterer’s Organisation in Blackpool. They won the coveted Gold medal for their dessert entry. Standards were very high with York emerging as overall winners. Planning is already underway for next year’s event with Bill Simmonet from Selwyn College leading the team.
Partners
Clarion Interpreting for Deaf and Hearing-impared people...
Clarion is a specialist provider of interpreting and communication services for deaf and hearing-impaired people, including British Sign Language interpreters, Speech to Text Reporters and pallantypists.
With the advent of the Disability Discrimination Act, their services are increasingly required at conferences and events of all kinds; accessibility for deaf people is as important as for people in wheelchairs, and should always be on the checklist when organising events!
Based in Cambridge, they support many companies and organisations with their conferences and events, including BT, Pavilion Publishing, the British Computer Society and Transport for London.
Their interpreters are highly qualified and experienced in conference and event work, and Clarion can provide the correct and most appropriate support for your requirements. No two events are the same, so please contact the helpful and friendly office team to discuss your requirements.
To find out more about the services offered by Clarion contact Sally Chalk on 01223 870840 or email office@clarioncall.net
Heffers Bookshop Conference Service
Heffers, the Cambridge bookstore, can provide bookstalls at conference and training events of all shapes and sizes whatever the subject. Established in Cambridge sine 1876, the store has 130 years of experience as academic specialists and general bookselling in the City.
Their expert booksellers will work closely with conference organisers and tailor the books they bring to match the theme of the meeting; with the appropriate books the learning experience can be extended and reinforced far beyond the training course or the conference.
If a particular book isn’t available on the day their helpful team have a comprehensive ordering service, most items can be supplied from the extensive stock of one of the country’s largest bookshops.
For larger groups Heffers can offer the use of their shop, free-of-charge, for evening receptions and after hours shopping.
To find out more about how Heffer’s bookstall service can enhance your conference contact Suzanne Jones at the store on 01223 568568 or email suzanne.jones@blackwell.co.uk
Events
Away Days
Cambridge is very much on the map for corporate away days and the Cambridge Colleges offer the perfect solution to finding inspiring and distinctive venues.
With competitive rates, a vast range of rooms, outside spaces and accommodation, our venues are the ultimate destination for an away day to remember. From meeting areas with the latest in audio visual technology, to tiered lecture theatres and intimate rooms for smaller groups, they present a whole host of options. They're also perfect for social gatherings and team bonding activities; croquet on the lawns, dancing in the halls, punting along the famous Backs, treading in the steps of famed alumni on a College tour, or sumptuous dining in oak-panelled, historic dining rooms... it may be a cliché, but there really is something for everyone, whatever the focus of the day.
Over recent years the Colleges have invested massively in their facilities with huge improvements. The buildings are unique, the atmosphere relaxing and the service attentive, indeed the entire experience is a world away from the corporate constraints of commercial conference and training establishments. The tranquil surroundings have a special ambience where delegates can leave the chaos of the office behind to truly get away from it all, and there really is no better way to experience Cambridge than from the inside of one of its magnificent Colleges.
If you're planning an away day in Cambridge College contact Conference Cambridge, we'd be more than happy to help you find the perfect location. www.conferencecambridge.com gives comprehensive details of all of the venues and an online enquiry function, we can also be contacted on 01223 740578.
* Image courtesy of Big Beat
Happy Clients
Helen Statham, CU Centre for Family Research
‘The system of you circulating everyone is wonderful – I’ve told people about it who didn’t know, thanks for all your help.’
Jan Date
‘I wanted to let you know that I had my 60th birthday party at Lucy Cavendish on Friday night and it was fabulous. Nothing could have been done better - superb venue, food, wine and wonderful staff. I cannot praise them enough and thoroughly recommend it to anyone. Thank you for your help in identifying a suitable place.’
Patricia Smith Terell, University of Kentucky
‘Thank you so much. I am so pleased with the level of customer service displayed by all the colleges who responded to me so thoroughly and so quickly. Best wishes.’
Chocolate Draw
This month's prize draw winner was Fiona Chaplin of Astex Therapeutics Limited.
Fiona received a large box of Hotel Chocolat treats. Everyone who completes and returns one of our post-enquiry questionnaires is automatically entered into our draw, so if you receive a questionnaire it’s worth filling it in… you never know!
T: 01223 740578
