www.blmforum.net BLM GROUP BLM GROUP www.countyconferencing.net Published by YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE 2019 CONFERENCE AND HOSPITALITY GUIDE 01.qxp_Layout 1 09/05/2019 11:14 Page 1Tel: 01427 668508 Email: functions@hemswellcourt.com Lancaster Green, Hemswell Cliff, Lincolnshire DN21 5TQ www.hemswellcourt.com Hemswell Court provides a haven of peace away from the every day pressures of work. Inside you will find a choice of spacious and luxuriously furnished function rooms, providing the ideal location for any business occasion. Our versatile accommodation includes a number of formal meeting rooms, syndicate rooms and additional facilities, which can enable you to present to a larger audience. HEMSWELL COURT We can provide any business services, materials and equipment that you may require, to ensure the smooth running of your event… • Flipchart & Pens • Wipeboard & Pens • Overhead Data Projector & Screen • Television • Lectern • P.A. System • Photocopying • Telephone • E-mail • Wi-Fi Quote conf2019 for great reader rate offers Whether it is a conference, ceremony, a presentation on our cinema screen or a party in our bar and lounge area for a celebration – we can host it all . We have flexible spaces for 10 to 470 people and offer an opulent, quirky and unusual backdrop to any event. Make your conference or awards night extra special with the surroundings of our beautiful Victorian auditorium. The theatre benefits from seating for up to 470 guests and is located in the heart of Lincoln, just moments away from restaurants and hotels. We also have our brand new Stage Door Bistro & Prosecco Bar available for hire. CALL US NOW TO DISCUSS YOUR EVENT please contact emma on 01522 519 999 or email emma@newtheatreroyallincoln.co.uk THEATRE HIRING THE 02.qxp_Layout 1 10/05/2019 09:05 Page 1welcome Welcome to Business Link’s 2019 conference guide, where we look at the conferencing industry with an aim to demystify this often confusing and intimidating aspect of business life. In today’s world conferences can be seen everywhere and are used by businesses, lobbying groups and political parties alike. And yet despite the known benefits, there are many within our region who will have never considered hosting a conference themselves. This handy guide hopes to help combat that by laying out the requirements of a conference in simple terms, highlighting considerations to make and investigating all the different venues one can hold a conference at. It goes without saying that few people enjoy planning and holding conferences – the benefits of them are what we enjoy, not the hard work and consternation of stepping up onto a stage to speak – but the truth of the matter is that in today’s competitive world, the times of sitting back and hoping to get by are no longer going to cut it. Take a step out of your comfort zone and start planning your events today. Our Conference and Hospitality Guide will be with you every step of the way. Good luck! Michael Fisher Editor 03.qxp_Layout 1 09/05/2019 11:19 Page 1contentsEvent Planning6 Conferences are a great way to draw attention to a company, and such events have been held for many years by business owners and managers, particularly by businesses with high levels of expert knowledge – such as legal or financial practitioners. Historical Settings10 There’s nothing quite like a historical setting for your business venture, and our region has plenty to offer in that regard. From stately homes to castles, museums and everything in between, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire are two regions filled with heritage. Business Centres13 Business centres excel when it comes to flexibility, offering a modular service for excellent value and convenience Sporting Venues16 Sporting venues make for attractive conferencing venues for many firms – and for good reason. Attractions20 Depending on the type of event being held, expectations – and the ideal venue – may well change. Residential Venues24 Residential venues have huge experience of hosting events and can make it more than just a meeting The Directory 30 Find Yorkshire and Lincolnshire’s finest with our A-Z guide of venues and specialists 10 13 20 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 09/05/2019 11:22 Page 1Yorkshire-Lincolnshire-Business-Link @blmforumblmforum.net Group Editor: Steve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Editor: Michael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Journalist: Dominic Cuthbert (d.cuthbert@blmgroup.co.uk) Editorial: Tel: (01472) 310305 Sales Director: Angie Cooper (a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk) Advertising: Sam Trott (s.trott@blmgroup.co.uk) Vicky Hunt (v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk) Kerry Randerson (k.randerson@blmgroup.co.uk) Tel: (01472) 310302 Accounts & Circulation: Angela Sharman (a.sharman@blmgroup.co.uk) Tel: (01472) 310301 Design & Production: Gary Jorgensen, Mark Casson (studio@blmgroup.co.uk) Tel: (01472) 310304 Part Of The Business Link Magazine Group Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N E Lincs DN31 2QE Website: www.blmforum.net © All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded or otherwise without express permission of the copyright holder, for which application should be addressed first to the publisher. While every reasonable care is taken, neither the publisher nor its participating agents accept liability for loss or damage to prints, colour transparencies, negatives or other material of whatever nature submitted to this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of those held by the publisher. 24 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 09/05/2019 11:22 Page 26 www.countyconferencing.net EVENT PLANNING With a huge number of beautiful and specialised conferencing venues across out region, it should come as little surprise that the conferencing industry is a booming one – and yet, there are still many companies who have never considered the benefits for themselves. For many, this comes down to uncertainty over how to plan such an event. Planning an event is neither as complicated nor as time consuming as many people think. In essence, it can be boiled down to three core principles: - Choosing and preparing a venue - Deciding and preparing content - Ensuring clientele or guests show up There are plenty of in between things to consider such as volume, acoustics, music, catering or such, but those come within one of the facets of the above three – in the case of the above examples, preparing the venue. Breaking down the onus of organising an event into three manageable steps is the first step to hosting your first. Through this guide we’ll cover everything in detail, but we’ll go over some general points here that might prove useful. Choosing and preparing a venue Choosing a venue is something our Conference Guide will help you do through its pages, but preparing it is going to be a cooperative effort between the venue and the client. It’s worth keeping in mind that venue organisers have done this hundreds of times before and it’s their job to help make sure an event flows smoothly because it’s in their best interests for the customer to want to use their venue again and make these events regular and repeat custom for them. As such, it’s surprising just how much of Conferences are a great way to draw attention to a company, and such events have been held for many years by business owners and managers, particularly by businesses with high levels of expert knowledge – such as legal or financial practitioners. Planning the event 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 09/05/2019 11:23 Page 1www.countyconferencing.net 7 EVENT PLANNING preparing a venue the organisers will be willing to do for a company, and they can often help in planning an event too. From understanding seating and covers to catering and entertainment, they will have enough experience in these aspects to help any new and aspiring event holder. Deciding and preparing content Make it good and they will come. So the old adage goes, but the fact of the matter is that no matter what type of event is being held – from staff party to awards ceremony – the content of the event is up to the company hosting it to provide. Speakers, speeches, music or even entertainment if it is a party or celebratory business event. The difficulty of this often depends on what type of event is being run. A staff party may only need music and an opening speech thanking the staff, whereas a budget or new law analysis to clients may need two to four members of staff to come up one at a time and talk about the implications of the changes, perhaps even requiring PowerPoint presentations or videos. The general rule of thumb is to keep it simple and to be confident. A company will only ever be talking about what they can do, so it’s not as though it’s any different to talking to a client. You simply do it to more people. Ensuring guests show up There’s nothing more embarrassing than paying for and arranging an event only to have © Shutterstock / Matej Kastelic 8 Á 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 09/05/2019 11:23 Page 2EVENT PLANNING CORPORATE EVENTS Corporate evens should be stylish, smart and well organised Whether you’re hosting a Christmas party, a black-tie dinner or a conference, The Lincoln Hotel has all the facilities you need. Our meeting rooms, reception rooms and dining rooms are comfortable and well-equipped. For further details or book online please visit www.thelincolnhotel.com or call 01522 520348 email enquiries@thelincolnhotel.com The Lincoln Hotel, Eastgate, Lincoln, LN2 1PN AA Hotel no one show up. Or we assume it would be, but being so afraid of the prospect, we have never skimped on making sure guests arrive. The event can only work if potential customers, staff or whomever the target audience is, knows where to come. From directions to maps, but also making people aware of the event – if it’s one where they have to pay or choose to attend. Advertise the event online, in local media and newspapers – but also remember to use online resources such as Eventbrite and Facebook to remind guests as the event approaches. Knowing who you want to attend the event helps plan who to target, and that ensures a successful event. © Shutterstock / koonsiti boonnak 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 09/05/2019 11:23 Page 3B i r t hda y WE’RE CELEBRATING WITH EXCLUSIVE OFFERS AVAILABLE WHEN YOU BOOK AN EVENT WITH US IN 2019. For more information, and to see our events calendar, visit www.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk @LincsShowground@showglincs/LincolnshireShowground 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 09/05/2019 11:23 Page 4Next >