Business boost for Telford

Owners of one of the Midlands' leading conference and exhibition venues have seen a multi-million pound investment bring an immediate business boost.

Southwater Event Group owns The International Centre, Telford, which has unveiled a £10 million expansion to create additional event suites. And now, three major associations have signed up to hold their events at the venue.

SEG chief executive Tom Gray, said: "We're very pleased that our investment has seen such immediate and impressive results, and it's great news that our commitment to continually upgrade our facilities is paying dividends."

The British Veterinary Nursing Association will be the first of the three new events at the venue when they bring their event to Telford from October 5 to 7, 2012.

Association manager, Angela Mariconda, said: "The decision to change the location of a well-established and successful event was not an easy one to make. But The International Centre offers many advantages over the previous venue, including purpose-built lecture theatres, excellent exhibition space and a wide selection of hotels."

Next on the events calendar will be the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers who will hold their 2012 annual convention from October 26 to 28.

Margaret F de Wolf, for LABBS, said: "We have had 35 conventions across England and Wales, and we look for venues that are suitable for our members and their travelling requirements.

"And of course, venues that fulfil our requirements for space and an auditorium. We have tried to keep everyone happy by alternating between north and south, but we find a centrally located venue is very popular."

The third new deal is with the British Cattle Veterinary Association who will come to The International Centre on November 15, 2012.

Dee Little, for the Association, said: "We currently hold congress in Torquay and Southport, and we needed somewhere in between. We chose Telford because we were looking for a more central venue which could give us good quality facilities with a large exhibition space and conveniently placed conference hotel facilities."

As well as The International Centre, SEG comprises The International Hotel, The Holiday Inn, Grays Hotel and Stagecraftuk, an events production company.