5
Academic Venues
Case study
Client: DHL | Event:
Relationship Essentials
Training | Venue: Warwick
Conferences – Scarman
Objectives
Training sessions are part of a
20-month programme run by
DHL for its supervisors. The
sessions focus on leadership
skills and how to build better
relationships in the workplace.
Between 12-18 delegates
attend each session.
Meanwhile, Emma Kennard,
operations manager at
drpvenuepot, says there are three
key advantages of choosing an
academic venue. She says: “There
are many advantages of using
academic venues, whether it is for
their great fl exible spaces, the
option to have on-site
accommodation (for clients who
may have travelled to your event
from another city), to having
reasonable cost in relation to what
you’re getting.
“Also, there is the opportunity to
entertain guests in larger rooms,
which are better for big events.
Historical universities, and even
the most modern ones, frequently
have the most outstanding
architecture and stunning
rooms to showcase to
clients.”
Like Turnor, Kennard says
the main disadvantage
often relates to term-time
availability, and also that in
some cases
accommodation is not to a
high standard. She says:
“The disadvantages can
vary, whether it is not being
able to get availability during
school term time, or that the
accommodation being
offered is not to the high
standards of the clients’
needs, or even being unable
to be fl exible in negotiations
or requirements, can be
quite tough.”
Finally, Kennard reassures
that clients aren’t always
after academic venues with
perceived ‘prestige’, and
that most will have a unique
selling point. She concludes:
“We do not believe that
event bookers are generally
more interested in ‘prestige’
venues. Especially for larger
events and academic
venues, most academic
venues can offer something
a little different from the
norm, which all clients seem
to want.”
www.conference-news.co.uk
The space
Scarman has been well
received. Delegates expected
a more formal environment so
were delighted with the
comfortable meeting space
and the bright areas.
One challenge faced was
ensuring that the venue was
available on a regular basis for
DHL to run up to two training
sessions per week. Through
consistent and effective
communication with the
Warwick Conferences team,
this has been easily
accommodated.
Client comment
Robert Bramley-Buhler,
learning and development
manager – CIS at DHL
Express, says: “We have been
using Scarman at Warwick
Conferences since 2013. Our
delegates love the venue
because the rooms are light
and airy and catering is great.
The setting on campus allows
them space to wander and to
explore after the course is
done for the day, and they
have access to the facilities.
Facilitators love coming back.”