Arden University

Pre-Conference Delegate Welcome Information

​Dear Delegate,
We are exciting to welcome you to our special celebratory 10th Anniversary Academic Conference, to be held at the iconic National Conference Centre (NCC), Coventry Road, Bickenhill, Solihull, West Midlands, B92 0EJ, Birmingham on Monday 27th October. Pre-arrival we would like to take this opportunity to share a little information with you.

Event Schedule:
A full programme of presentations (subject to potential small changes on the day), can be accessed on our Intranet pages. Hard copies (A4) will be available in your conference packs (please note the text will be small), and larger versions (A2) will be available for viewing at the registration desk and various locations around the venue.

Conference Intranet / Webpages:
Full details of venue location, menu choices, and schedule, are accessible on the current site: https://arden10thanniversaryacademicconference.powerappsportals.com

Transport:
Please book your travel via the University system.
For delegates arriving at Birmingham International, Conference Team Staff will be on hand to direct you to complimentary 49-seater coach shuttle service will run to and from the conference venue, from 8.00-9.30 am, and again between 16:30-18:00pm.

Coats, Cases and Cloaks:
As you move into the NCC, located on the first floor, before you proceed to registration, please use our free service, hosted by NCC Venue Staff, to secure you bag, coats and cloaks.

Registration:
Venue registration opens at 8.15am, with coffee and breakfast items including pastries, bacon sandwiches and fresh fruit available. To avoid cross-contamination, GF and other dietary requirements will be kept in the kitchen. During breakfast service please make yourself known to venue staff and they will bring your food choices directly to you.

Support during the day:
A colleague will be stationed at our Registration Desk throughout the day. For anything from a sewing kit to first aid or lost and found, please visit the desk. IT Support is available for presenters, alongside Conference Chairs who will be on hand to help ensure the smooth running of each conference session. Venue staff will operate a cloak room service, and be on hand, especially around refreshment breaks, and finally, in addition members of the Conference Team (who will be wearing teal coloured Polo-Shirts) will be available throughout the day for any other questions or queries.

Photography, Social Media, and Wi-Fi Code:
We have a designated photo area, plus our official photographer will take photographs during the day. If you do not wish to be photographed, please let one of our colleagues know at the point of registration.
For social media please use the hashtag: #Ardenturns10
The conference venue Wi-Fi code is: nccvisitor

Breakfast, Lunch Service and Refreshments:
During breakfast and lunch service (buffet style) colleagues with GF and other specific allergens not listed on the main buffet choices please ask the venue staff who will go into the kitchen and bring out special meals. This is to prevent cross-contamination and ensure special meals aren’t accidently taken. Following breakfast, before and after lunch there will be two schedule comfort breaks where tea and coffee will be served. Water will be available throughout the day, including via designated stay hydrated stations located in each conference presentation room. Should you have any additional requirements outside of schedule times, please let a member of our team know and we’ll do our best to help.

Dietary requirements:
To avoid cross-contamination, GF and other dietary requirements not listed on the menu will be kept in the kitchen. During breakfast and lunch time service, as required, please make yourself known to venue staff and they will bring your food choices directly to you.

Conference Close:
At the end of the event, drinks and networking will take place from 4pm. With coach shuttle service returning delegates back to Birmingham International from 4.30pm.

Venue Floor Plan and Meeting Points:
Please visit the intranet webpage for the conference floor plan, and to aid networking, we have designated five spaces, A,R,D,E and N as ‘Meeting Points’ which are located throughout the venue and highlighted on the floor plan.

If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch, and we look forward to seeing you in Birmingham on the 27th October.
Kindest
The Conference Team

For more information please email: The Centre of Excellence in Learning & Teaching (CELT) celt@arden.ac.uk