36 . Glasgow Business August 2014


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theatre-style meeting in our Arts Room for 70, the same amount of work and service goes into each booking. “You will be met by one of the


team to ensure everything runs smoothly and that the day goes the way you want it to run.” With the growing number of


the city’s business people hosting meetings off-site, there is a demand for meeting spaces and conference facilities away from the bustling city centre. Just off the M8, at the junction


for the Erskine Bridge in Bishopton, Renfrewshire, there’s one such conference facility. Surrounded by parkland, the


Erskine Reid Macewen Training and Conference Centre is a restored stable block offering a location for events, meetings or conferences. Traditional outside and


modern inside, the 19th century gothic-style building (which is part of Erskine Hospital for ex-serviceman and women) is just a five-minute drive from Glasgow Airport and 20 minutes from Glasgow city centre. With catering available, seating


The Beardmore Hotel and Conference Centre


for up to 100 guests, and full conference facilities, Erskine Reid Macewen is used for meetings, seminars, exhibitions and training events. Adele McKillop, Events


Administrator at the centre, said: “Since we are surrounded by parkland, during breaks visitors to the centre can walk around our grounds or even down to the Clydeside. “Tere’s plenty of free parking


How to plan an effective meeting


1) Consider an off-site venue – Taking colleagues or delegates away from the usual office environment can be productive as it allows people to focus more on the task in hand. The temptation to nip back into the office from the on-site boardroom, while on a comfort break, is too much. And at an off-site meeting all ringing desk phones will be out of earshot and “urgent” emails/queries from colleagues can wait.


2) Accessibility – Is the meeting room accessible for everyone attending? Consider those who may be flying in to a nearby airport, those who may be travelling by public transport and those who will be driving. Some venues, particularly conference centres adjoining hotels, offer free airport pick-ups for meeting guests, others have free car parking for delegates.


3) Agenda – As any businessperson knows, preparing an agenda makes for a smooth-running meeting. It’s always advisable to set clear goals in an agenda. Beforehand, it is beneficial for attendees to have access to the agenda that will be covered on the day, so ensure you distribute an electronic copy well in advance.


4) Prepare beforehand – Besides distributing the agenda, it is also important to arrive early at the venue and check the meeting room has everything you requested, including the appropriate technology, internet access, paper/pens, and refreshments. Some meeting rooms offer free WiFi (especially if connected to a hotel) so this could be an added benefit and could make your meeting more interactive.


5) Comfort breaks/lunch – Whether your meeting is scheduled to run over a couple of hours or a couple of days, it is essential to have refreshments for guests. Most venues offer catering so can be built in to the cost of the booking. It is worth finding out in advance if anyone attending has any special dietary requirements.


(up to 100 delegates) and it’s easy to get to.” Need another reason to


consider Erskine Reid Macewen? All profits made by the conference centre are reinvested back into Erskine Hospital and go towards the care of its residents. Also located a few miles


outside Glasgow, and popular with clients across Scotland, is Te Beardmore – which was named Scotish Conference Hotel of the Year in 2011 and 2012. Located in Clydebank on the


banks of the River Clyde, the four-star hotel offers the high standard of service you’d expect from a Conference Centre of Excellence – one that is specifically designed to deliver a world-class standard of conferences. Bronagh Bell, Director of the


Beardmore Hotel and Conference Centre, said: “Conferences and events are a priority here and we have a dedicated team who will work closely with clients to make sure they understand what clients are aiming to achieve, and design the event to make sure these


objectives are accomplished.” A lot has been going on at the


Beardmore, that’s owing to its “model of continuous improvement”. Meeting spaces have been redeveloped; technology has been upgraded; last year a new Central Plaza was launched, offering a versatile space for networking; and soon it will open its new Innovation Centre. Running an effective meeting


takes meticulous organising and preparation beforehand and some things are oſten overlooked. Bronagh added: “I would urge


businesses to beware of the hidden extras venues charge, particularly for WiFi and parking. Tese can both add substantial additional costs to your event. “So once you have chosen


your venue, and have considered location, size, costs, clients, and hidden extras, you can rest assured that your needs will be taken care of by your chosen venue’s helpful staff. Now all you have to consider is preparing the format and content of the event that lies ahead.”


The Arthouse Hotel


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