UKSPA Spring Conference 2023

UKSPA members and stakeholders will gather for the Spring Conference at The University of Southampton Science Park on Thursday 16th & Friday 17th March 2023. Following on from the last UKSPA Conference at Circle Square, Manchester in December, the two days will consider and debate current national and regional trends. 

The Conference will start at lunchtime on Thursday, with tours of the campus for delegates arriving before lunch, and conclude with keynote speeches on Friday afternoon.  Throughout the two days, leading speakers from the UKSPA network and key partners and stakeholders will discuss in depth the challenges, opportunities, and innovative ways the sector continues to further engage, inspire and grow.

Conference Programme

The full conference programme is now available – click here to download. 

Informal Drinks Reception and Dinner

There will be a drinks reception and informal networking dinner on Thursday 16th March from 19:00-21:30 in the Old Coach House at the Best Western Chilworth Manor Hotel, which is also the designated Conference hotel, and is located on the Science Park campus.  

Sponsorship and Exhibition

Please note there are limited sponsorship and exhibition opportunities. Please contact Adrian Sell – adrian.sell@ukspa.org.uk to discuss availability. 

Hotels

The designated Conference hotel is the Best Western Chilworth Manor Hotel, which is conveniently located on the Science Park campus.

Rooms are available at discounted rates, from £90 per night (breakfast included) for conference delegates on both the Wednesday and Thursday nights.  Room numbers at the hotel are restricted, and are likely to sell out well in advance of the Conference, so it is recommended to make your reservation as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

To book your room at the Chilworth Manor Hotel please call the hotel directly during office hours, on either of the numbers below, quoting Booking Code ‘UKSPA’:

• Tel: 023 8076 7333
• Tel: 023 8076 3030

Alternative hotels in the locality are as follows:

DoubleTree by Hilton Southampton: Bracken Place, Chilworth, Southampton, SO16 3RB.

• Tel: 023 8070 2700
• Email: events.southampton@hilton.com

The Village Hotel Eastleigh, Bournemouth Road, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh, SO53 3YJ.

• Tel: 02382 027 760
• Email: reception.eastleigh@village-hotels.com

About our Hosts

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023, Southampton Science Park is home to around 100 technology businesses at all growth stages, from start-ups to leading multinationals.  It is closely linked to the research-intensive Russell Group University of Southampton and to SETsquared, the globally renowned business incubator. In 2022, it was named Commercial Landlord of the Year and a regional ‘Jewel in the Crown’.

Just minutes away from the vibrant coastal scene and the New Forest and South Downs National Parks, the Park is enviably located. Yet, it offers excellent commercial connectivity to London and Europe via rail, the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth and Southampton Airport.

Across 19 buildings, the Park offers a wide range of commercial offices, laboratories, meeting and conferencing facilities including a dedicated Conference Centre, Axis. Surrounding these are acres of landscaped green space, including a protected conservation area. Two coffee shops, a children’s nursery and gym are also on site.

A varied events programme helps to bring the resident community together, while comprehensive business support, including the Catalyst business accelerator initiative, helps to empower commercial success for companies on the Park and across the South Coast.

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

Data List Scams 

Please be aware of bogus organisations currently targeting our industry, offering data list sales. Under no circumstances do we sell or rent attendee information to any third party. We would strongly advise not working with any company that claims they have this data.