“Fit for the Future – the ABPCO Festival of Learning, SEC Glasgow 29-30th April
Bringing the association events industry together to promote and encourage excellence, share, learn and collaborate
The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers, (ABPCO) is the UK’s leading professional body for association conference and not-for-profit event organisations. We are excited to announce that our flagship Festival of Learning event is returning in 2024 and it will be taking place in person from Monday 29 to Tuesday 30 April 2024.
The Festival of Learning brings the association events industry together and provides opportunities for sharing, learning and collaboration. After unprecedented change in our industry its more important now than ever that we come together to support each other and the theme of ‘Fit for the Future’ reflects that.”
The Festival of Learning will be attended by over 100 leading PCOs in the UK and a range of industry partners. Sessions include:
- Dr Tharaka Gunarathne ‘Dr T’ , a TV psychiatrist and expert on motivation and mental health, challenges us to unlock a future of heightened productivity and reduced stress with cutting-edge brain science tips designed for event managers. Elevate your skills, amplify your success, and embrace a future fit for unparallelled event management excellence.
- Event Power – A Force for Good. This interactive session with key industry leaders will promote discussion and debate and takes a deep dive into how the wider impact of events reaches beyond the financial margins.
- The winning combination: Balancing technology with Human Expertise in Events led by Cvent and Sammy Connell from the NASUWT
- Adapting for the future with limited resources – Join the team from the EICC and Jai Mistry, MICE organiser as they look at how conferences can actively contribute to the UN SDGs.
- Tips & Hacks: Embracing Public Speaking – using science, understanding, wellness and some neat tricks Cally Willoughby-Ward, Chatty Penguin shares her knowledge.
- Cultivating Success: The transformative impact of mentoring – an informal panel discussion with Sarah Vaughan, CITMA, Sammy Connell, NASUWT, Rebecca Towell, Full Circle and Cally Willoughby-Ward, Chatty Penguin
- Avoid the pitfalls and dodge the disasters – stay future fit by minimising risk with Emma Robson, Alzheimer’s Research, Lee Morgan-Jones, James Hallam, Leanne Bladen, Eastside Rooms and Adam Baggs, SoaringWW
- 'Putting Together an Accessibility-Led Event' - Accessibility will be one of the major trends for 2024. Next to AI and Authenticity it is the third ‘A’. Join Jo Powel, Macmillan Cancer Research and a panel of experts to discuss how we understand and adapt to intellectual accessibility.
We would like to thank the SEC and Glasgow Convention Bureau in their support of this event. Also GES, Harrogate Convention Centre and Aberdeen Convention Bureau and Brightelm,for their support of our lunch, refreshments, networking and event tech.
We have negotiated hotel rates - please follow the banner on the 'directions' tab. Our allocation will close onthe 15th April - so please book before that!
Click here to view our exclusive Festival of Learning assets which are ready for you to share on your social media channels.
We also have some student places available - thanks to the sponsorship of ACC Liverpool.
Thank you to our industry partners for their ongoing support.
View Event Resources
Arriving
Arriving into Glasgow Airport
The Glasgow Airport Express bus service runs frequently from just outside the terminal.
Tickets and information are available here:
https://www.firstbus.co.uk/greater-glasgow/routes-and-maps/glasgow-airport-express
This service drops off next to Glasgow Central (see below for onward travel), Glasgow Queen Street and Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station.
If you would prefer to book a taxi, you can call Glasgow Taxis on 0141 429 7070.
A set fare from the airport to the SEC or city centre is available at £30 by quoting code ‘GCB1’ when booking.
Arriving into Glasgow Central station
Trains to Exhibition Centre station run frequently from lower level platforms at Platform 17.
A taxi rank is also situated at the Gordon Street exit.
Arriving into Glasgow Queen Street station
You can take a short walk to Glasgow Central station for a train onwards to Exhibition Centre station (see above).
You can also transfer by bus between stations: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/travel-connections/glasgow-stations-link-bus
There is a taxi rank opposite the station on George Square.
Departing
Airport transfer
Glasgow Convention Bureau are arranging a departure coach from the Scottish Event Campus to Glasgow Airport on Tuesday 30th April at 4.30pm.
If you would like a place available on the airport coach, please let us know your travel arrangements in advance by emailing heatherlishman@abpco.org by Thursday 11th April.
Departing by train
Frequent trains run from Exhibition Centre station on campus at Platform 1 into Glasgow Central station.
Plan your journey here: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/
Departing by taxi
You can pre-order or order a taxi with Glasgow Taxis on 0141 429 7070.
A set rate for an airport transfer is available at £32 by quoting ‘GCB2’ when booking.
You may wish to share a taxi with colleagues departing at the same time.
We have some negotiated rates - please book before the 15th April as our allocation will close then.
Prices
Please find a list of tickets for this event below.
| Ticket |
Price |
|
ABPCO member
|
£50.00 |
|
Non-member PCO
|
£100.00 |
|
Non-member supplier
|
£195.00 |
Attendees
The following delegates are already attending this event.
Mr Adam Baggs
Soaring Worldwide
Mrs Nichola Bartlett
AUGIS
Ms Pauline Beattie
Conference Care Ltd
Ms Linda Best
Birmingham and West Midlands Convention Bureau
Ms Hannah Beynon
DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole
Mr Mark Blair
InEvexco Ltd
Ms Katie Bolton
MCI Group
Ms Danielle Bounds
ICC Wales
Mr Andrew Bowers
MICE Concierge Ltd
Mrs Georgina Bula
Compleat Group
Ms Sarah Byrne
Mosaic Events Ltd
Mr Greg Carew
Abbey Conference & Events
Mrs Sammy Connell
NASUWT - The Teachers' Union
Ms Jude Cosway
JC Connects Ltd.
Ms Aileen Crawford
Glasgow Convention Bureau
Mrs Alison D'Allessandro
ACC Liverpool
Mr Steven Daun
ASM Global
Mrs Michelle Davidson
EICC
Ms Winnie Dehaney
Independent
Mr Jake Dennett
Cvent
Ms Jemima Dewhurst
Manchester Central
Mrs Sarah Dietrich
Warwick Conferences
Ms Therese Dolan
Professional Conference Organiser
Mrs Emma Duffy
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Mr Dan Edwards
Whitespace Group
Mrs Louise Edwards
Offshore Energies UK
Ms Jenny Elliot
Fitwise Management Ltd
Mrs Gaynor England
Abstract Events
Mrs Heather Enticott
Compleat Group
Mr Rob Eveleigh
Brightelm
Ms OLIVIA CHARLOTTE GARVEY
Manchester Central
Ms Leanne Griffiths
GES
Ms Jennifer Henry
EICC
Ms Kaylie Hodges
NASUWT
Ms Charlotte Homa
Freshwater
Ms Davina Keen
NUS Students’ Unions Charitable Services
Mr Garry Kinnear
Seren Events
Mrs Heather Lishman
ABPCO
Ms Caroline Mackenzie
The Conference Consultancy Limited
Ms Madalina Marincas
Opening Doors and Venues Ltd
Ms Fiona McGillivray
Abbey Conference & Events
Miss Rebecca McIntyre
Aberdeen Convention Bureau
Mr Kai McKechnie
Whitespace Group
Ms Sally McNamara
Conference Care Ltd
Ms Elaine Miller
EICC
Mr Jai Mistry
MICE Organiser Ltd
Miss Rachel Mumford
Aberdeen Convention Bureau
Dr James Musgrave
Leeds Beckett University
Ms Rachel Neil
Abbey Conference & Events
Ms Nicola Pearce
University of Aberdeen
Mrs Jessica Penney
BSI
Mr Jerilee Pinto
Brightelm
Ms Leanne Planche
ACC Liverpool
Ms Jo Powel
Macmillan Cancer Support
Mr Jason Rade
K.I.T. Group
Mrs Marion Rankin
James Hallam Limited
Ms Caroline Reed
NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau
Ms Samantha Salisbury
Jonsam Events Ltd
Mrs Kate Sargent
Bioscientifica Ltd
Mrs Gemma Savage
ICC Wales
Ms Samantha Shamkh
ExCeL London
Ms Margaret Sherry
In Conference Ltd
Mr Charlie Smith
Barbican Centre
Ms Melissa Sobo
Nottingham Venues - East Midlands Conference Centre
Ms Shelley Spencer
Fitwise Management Ltd
Mr Paul Swain
Visit Flanders
Miss Hana Taylor
AUGIS
Ms Rebecca Towell
Full Circle Events & Exhibitions
Miss Louise Anne Watson
Scottish Event Campus
Ms Corinne Weatherup
The Event-Ful Consultancy
Ms Heledd Williams
Welsh Government / Event Wales
Ms Antonia Willis
ICC Belfast
Mrs Laura Wilson
Aberdeen Convention Bureau
Ms Natalie Wing
GES
Ms Kerry Wright
Lime Venue Portfolio
| Name |
Organisation |
| Ms Eloise Alikhani |
Royal College of Psychiatrists |
| Mrs Suzanne Allan |
Edinburgh Napier University Student |
| Mrs Bev Bailey |
Northstar Meetings Group |
| Mrs Carrie Blackwood |
ACS Global |
| Miss Makenzie Brown |
SEC |
| Mr Simon Callaghan |
Callaghan Photography Ltd |
| Ms Glenda Carlyle |
SEC Campus |
| Miss Emma Carroll |
ExCeL London |
| Miss Rheo Clarke |
NASUWT - The Teachers' Union |
| Miss Hannah Cochrane |
SEC Campus |
| Mr Paul Cuthbert |
Glasgow Convention Bureau |
| Ms Helen Davidson |
Glasgow Convention Bureau |
| Ms Jessica Davies |
Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association |
| Miss Rachel Dickie |
Scottish Renewables |
| Mrs Angela Dowdells |
ACS Global |
| Ms Lizzy Eaton |
Oddity Events & Marketing Ltd |
| Mr Martin Fullard |
Davies Tanner - The Business of Events |
| Mrs Georgia Glasswell |
Harrogate Convention Centre |
| Miss Rosalind Godfrey |
Telford International Centre |
| Mrs Lauren Godward |
Thailand Convention Bureau |
| Mrs Kate Hadley |
Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association |
| Miss Jessica Haligah |
London Metropolitan University Student |
| Mr Ali Hormuz |
Hilton Birmingham Metropole |
| Ms Joy Hurrell |
University of Surrey |
| Miss Soma Huy |
MMGY Global |
| Mr Michael Jamieson |
Royal College of Psychiatrists |
| Mr Sanj Kumar |
ELRIG |
| Mrs Kerrin MacPhie |
The Meetings Industry Association |
| Miss Rachael Masson |
P&J Live |
| Ms Cara McIlwraith |
In Conference Ltd |
| Mr Scott McKillop |
Edinburgh Napier University |
| Mr Lee Morgan-Jones |
James Hallam |
| Mr Richard Morris |
Active Media Events Ltd |
| Mr Jack Newey |
Mash Media Group Ltd |
| Mrs Catherine Newhall-Caiger |
Bramcote International |
| Ms Katie Newton |
Royal College of Psychiatrists |
| Miss Lois Ormesher |
Leeds Beckett University |
| Ms Bhavnita Patel |
NBL Solutions |
| Ms Sigita Pjampite |
Unique Venues Birmingham |
| miss Leah Rankine |
Leeds Beckett University |
| Mr Jon Richards |
Brightelm |
| Mrs Aileen Ryan |
De Vere |
| Ms Angela Sanders |
Edgbaston Events |
| Mrs Tara Tattersall |
Imago Venues |
| Mrs Natalie Telot |
Full Circle |
| Miss Natalie Timoney |
Marriott International |
| Mr Alistair Turner |
EI8HT PR & Marketing |
| Miss Katarina Vargova |
Dubai Business Events |
| Ms Kathleen Warden |
Scottish Event Campus |
| Mrs Faye Williamson |
The SEC |
| Miss Sian Williamson |
Visitscotland Business Events |
| Mrs Carolyn Willoughby-Ward |
Chatty Penguin Ltd |
| Ms Rosalind Wilson |
Edgbaston Events |
| Miss Helen Wormall |
Mosaic Events |
| Miss Emilly Wright |
Harrogate Convention Centre |
| Miss Kiya Wright |
Telford International Centre |
Delegate Terms and Conditions
ABPCO are committed to and actively encourage diversity and promote inclusion and accessibility at our events.
We value the participation of each individual and want everybody to have an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. All communication and behaviour should therefore be appropriate for a professional audience.
By attending an ABPCO event, you’re agreeing to respect and be kind to everybody, regardless of their gender, race, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other aspect of what they look like, where they come from or who they are.
For further information and our full code of conduct please visit our website here.