The National Union of Students (NUS) arrives into NewcastleGateshead this week for the second year running, bringing 1000 delegates to the destination for their National Conference.
Taking place 12-14 April, the event is just one of four major conferences taking place in NewcastleGateshead this month, generating an estimated £2m for the local economy.
Jessica Roberts, head of business tourism at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, said; “We’re delighted to welcome the National Union of Students to NewcastleGateshead. For NUS to commit to bringing their showcase conference to NewcastleGateshead for two consecutive years demonstrates faith from the industry in our capacity to deliver such high-profile events.
“The NewcastleGateshead events are the first NUS National Conferences to be held outside of the North West in over 20 years and have provided a unique opportunity to showcase North East England as a place to learn and live to the country’s future opinion formers”
The high-profile conference gathers student leaders from across the UK to set NUS policy for the year ahead and elect national student representatives. It attracts eminent speakers and leading education policy-makers to debate education issues and the ongoing crisis facing young people.
Aaron Porter, president of the NUS, said; “Last year’s NUS National Conference in NewcastleGateshead was a great success and kick-started an amazing year for NUS. The facilities at The Sage Gateshead are excellent and the welcome we receive in the North-East is fantastic. We can’t wait to come back.
“At this year’s conference we’ll be reflecting on the past year and voting in a new generation of NUS officers to take our campaigns forward.”
Last week (05-06 April) RenewableUK, Britain’s largest renewable energy association, held their annual International Small Wind Conference and Exhibition at The Sage Gateshead, where more than 400 delegates from farmers and landowners to schools were inspired to learn more about the financial and environmental benefits of installing small wind turbines.
Director of Communications for RenewableUK, Charles Anglin, said: “The event was a great success, with more than 40 exhibitors from Europe and North America demonstrating the latest products, networking and sharing information about the fast-growing small wind industry. The Sage Gateshead is a superb venue with a great atmosphere in which to do business.
“Our keynote speakers were warmly received in the main halls and we also invited members of the public to free seminars to find out more about installing wind turbines. They were well attended, and prompted some lively question and answer sessions. Support from NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau was fantastic as was the welcome we received during our visit to the North East.”
April will also see NewcastleGateshead welcoming 420 delegates from over 30 countries for the Regional Studies Association Annual International Conference, 17–20 April at Newcastle University and Newcastle Civic Centre and the International Geodetic Student Meeting which will 200 delegates from across the globe to Newcastle University, 15–19 April.
Combined, these four high profile events will generate an estimated £2m for the economy in NewcastleGateshead. Jessica Roberts added “Conference delegates spend significant sums in the destination while they’re here, and this expenditure will filter through NewcastleGateshead’s visitor economy, benefiting a diverse range of businesses, not just conference venues and hotels, but also taxi firms, retailers, bars, restaurants and those businesses within the supply chain.”
Ends
Media Contact
Shelley Staines, Media & PR Manager – Destination and Business, NewcastleGateshead Initiative
T. 0191 440 5739 E. shelley.staines@ngi.org.uk
Follow NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau @MeetOnTyne via Twitter
Notes to Editors
• NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) is the destination marketing agency for NewcastleGateshead. Its mission is to position and promote NewcastleGateshead as a leading European destination for leisure and business visitors through cultural programming, event bidding and high-profile, targeted destination marketing and PR activity. Created in 2000 by Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council as a publicly and privately funded business, NGI has developed a strong brand for the area – promoting it nationally and internationally as a place at the forefront of innovative culture-led regeneration and a world-class place to live, learn, work and visit.
• NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau uses local knowledge and expertise to help organise conferences, meetings or events in NewcastleGateshead and the surrounding area. It provides a free service including arranging everything from venue sourcing and booking to accommodation, transport and entertainment for delegates. With a huge choice of state-of-the-art venues NewcastleGateshead is fast becoming one of the UK’s most popular destinations whether it’s for a meeting of 10 people or a conference for thousands.
• United by seven bridges across a spectacular riverscape, Newcastle (a city on the north bank of the River Tyne) and Gateshead (a town on the south bank) form a single, diverse and extremely vibrant destination for leisure and business tourism visitors. World-class conferencing facilities, award-winning dining, inspiring heritage and acclaimed architecture are combined here like nowhere else, by the famous Geordie spirit which is symbolised by Antony Gormley’s iconic Angel of the North as it welcomes travellers to the area.
• It is estimated that visitors to NewcastleGateshead from around the UK and overseas contribute £1.23bn to the local economy.
• Economic impact has been calculated using figures from VisitBritain’s Delegate Expenditure Survey 2006.
• Press releases and copyright-free hi-res images on NewcastleGateshead are available from our website www.NewcastleGateshead.com/Meet