onference creches are becoming increasingly popular as companies realise that parents want to attend external conferences or educational events and need onsite care available . The Harvard Business Review reports that senior business leaders now realise that childcare benefits are essential to employees ’ productivity and success at work , with 63 % of senior leaders saying that they plan to increase their company ’ s already existing childcare benefits .

The Association of British Neurologists ( ABN ) is a professional body for 1,700 neurologists in Britain . Its aim is to promote excellent standards of care and champion high-quality education and world-class research in neurology . It inputs into clinical guidelines development , offers training opportunities and a bi-monthly journal for its members .

“ Like many organisations we are looking at the inclusivity of our conferences . Our last in-person main annual meeting in 2019 attracted over 750 delegates , many of whom are of an age where they could be parents / carers to young children ,” says Dr Carolyn Gabriel , chair of the ABN Meetings Committee . “ Next year will be our first three-day in-person meeting since then , due to the pandemic . We are delighted to be offering delegates childcare for the first time . Neurologists often work part-time , or in different settings , so they won ’ t necessarily have childcare in place ,” she adds .

Janthea Brigden

Childcare demand will boom “ Having an onsite creche ensures parents have the peace of mind of knowing that their child is safe and close by while they are at an event ,” says Janthea Brigden , CEO of event childcare company Nipperbout .

“ The pressure of having to rush back home in order to pick children up from a local day creche or organise childcare is removed .”

Conference childcare must be professional , Ofsted regulated , and offer a high level of care , education , and safety for children ; parents must be confident that their children are in safe hands and having fun .

The National Education Union holds an annual members ’ conference that moves each year to a different UK venue . 2021 ’ s event was in Bournemouth and the Nipperbout creche looked after children aged 0-17 .

“ We have used Nipperbout for many years , just because they ’ re good . It ’ s reassuring to know your delegates ’ children are being cared for and having a fun and educational time , too ,” commented David Kimber , central events manager .

Brigden predicts that as more conferences return in 2022 , the conference industry will see an

increased demand for onsite conference childcare .

“ We are already seeing a significant increase in the number of enquiries we are receiving for conference creches – from pharmaceutical companies and associations to blue chip corporates and big brands – because their delegates are asking to bring their children to their events ,” explains Brigden .

“ The lockdowns have changed the way employees and employers regard family life ; no longer are children and families kept at arm ’ s length from a workplace . Working from home created a more fluid approach to the work-life balance and how our families ’ impact on it .

“ Employees now need a more flexible approach to their working life and employers are acknowledging this need . Smart employers realise that their teams are far more productive if they know their children are happy and well cared for .

“ We don ’ t want a lack of childcare to be a barrier to attending our meeting – it is often viewed as the annual must-attend event for UK neurologists . We are excited to see what difference this service from Nipperbout makes to our delegates ,” adds Gabriel .

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