UKSPA Winter Conference: Thurs 1st & Fri 2nd December 2022, No.1 Circle Square, Manchester

UKSPA members and stakeholders will gather for the Winter Conference at No.1 Circle Square, Manchester on Thursday 1st & Friday 2nd December 2022. Following on from the last UKSPA Conference at Charnwood Campus in September, the two days will consider and debate current national and regional trends. The Association will also host its Annual General Meeting on 1st December 2022. 

The Conference will start at lunchtime on Thursday, and conclude on Friday afternoon.  Throughout the two days, leading speakers from the UKSPA network and key partners will discuss in depth the challenges, opportunities, and innovative ways the sector continues to further engage, inspire and grow.

In addition, key topics being discussed over the two days include:

• The Global Energy Crisis: UKSPA members discuss possible measures to mitigate energy costs
• Innovation Districts: Driving inclusive urban growth 
• Growth: The case for devolution of innovation and skills to raise regional productivity & UK growth 
• Sustainable Life Sciences: Creating and delivering research facilities
• Cyber Resilience: The challenge for the science and innovation sector
• Innovation Support & Growth: City Perspectives

The draft conference programme is available for download HERE.

Informal Drinks Reception and Dinner

There will be a drinks reception and informal networking dinner on Thursday 1st December from 19:00-23:00 in the ‘Den’, a private function room within The Refuge, part of the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, an amazing renovation of the Grade II listed former Refuge Assurance headquarters, built in 1895 – map link here.  

Sponsorship and Exhibition

To discuss sponsorship and exhibition opportunities please contact Adrian Sell – adrian.sell@ukspa.org.uk. Please note that space is limited so early registration is strongly recommended to guarantee your place.

Hotels

The designated Conference hotel is the Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre, 60 Charles St, Manchester, M1 7DF, which is a 2 minute walk from No.1 Circle Square.

Rooms are available at a significantly discounted rate of £112 including breakfast for conference delegates on both the Wednesday and Thursday nights. To book your room at the Maldron Hotel please visit the hotel’s website, click on ‘Book a Room’ and enter the promotional code below when prompted:

• Website: www.maldronhotelmanchestercitycentre.com 
• Promotional Code: UKSP301122
• Tel: 0161 398 0230

Other hotels you may wish to consider in the area:

• Holiday Inn Express Manchester City Centre, 2-4 Oxford Rd, Manchester, M1 5QA
• Premier Inn Manchester City Centre, 2 Brook St, Manchester M1 7BJ
• Hotel ibis Manchester Centre, Charles St, Manchester, M1 7DG

About our Hosts

Bruntwood SciTech is a 50:50 joint venture between Bruntwood and Legal & General. Their network of innovation districts across Birmingham, Cambridge, Cheshire, Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow and Manchester are committed to driving inclusive, sustainable economic growth through investment in a vibrant science and technology infrastructure. As part of the UKSPA conference programme, you will hear some of Bruntwood SciTech’s exciting development plans in the pipeline. 

Circle Square is an exciting new neighbourhood for digital and tech businesses in the heart of Manchester’s innovation district.

Circle Square offers flexible workspaces and bespoke programmes of business support, helping creative, digital and technology businesses to form, scale and grow. Part of Circle Square is Manchester’s Tech Incubator, home to a unique cluster of some of the region’s most disruptive, fast-growing tech businesses.  Ideal for start-ups, scale-ups and global corporates in Creative, digital tech, cyber security, AI, blockchain, VR, Engineering and more.

Please Consider the Environment

The Conference venue is within 5 minutes walk of Manchester Oxford Road train station, and is also easily accessible by bus or tram from Manchester Piccadilly station. Furthermore, the designated hotel and the venue for the evening drinks & networking dinner have all been selected to be within 2-3 minutes walk of the venue, in order to ensure that as many delegates as possible feel able to leave their cars at home and travel by public transport, in order to reduce the event’s overall carbon footprint.

All UKSPA Members are entitled to up to two free places at the Conference. There are a limited number of non-member places (or for the booking of an additional delegate place for Members) with delegate fees shown on the Eventbrite registration page.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND TO BOOK