Great service is at the heart of everything we do at St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge.   We are pleased to announce that the winner of our Employee of the Quarter for October to December 2023 is Paul Weston.   As Premises Supervisor, Paul has performed his role in an exceptional manner and exhibited a positive and supportive attitude to all his colleagues at both St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge.   Paul was presented with a certificate and £150 Love2Shop gift card from Business Director, Nigel Jobson.   Congratulations Paul!

CAFÉ NO:7, which is located next to the Guildhall and Leicester Cathedral, has created its own unique coffee brand to support One Roof Leicester - a homelessness charity who are deeply rooted in Leicester.   Founded in 2012, the charity provides accommodation and support to single people who are homeless in Leicester to recover, reset and rebuild their lives.   Run by the team at St Martins House Conference Centre, CAFÉ NO:7 will serve One Roof Coffee for customers to enjoy in its café, to take-away or buy to take home. The espresso blend is sustainably sourced from small cooperatives around the globe and is made up of 100% arabica coffee beans, with notes of cherry, chocolate and toffee.   The coffee is supplied by Jute Coffee, an award-winning coffee supplier who roast all of their beans by hand from their small roastery in the Northamptonshire countryside. They are also the UK’s first coffee supplier to introduce a zero-waste system whereby the coffee beans supplied to commercial customers is delivered in reusable tubs.   For every coffee sold, CAFÉ NO:7 will donate money to One Roof Leicester to support their vision of eradicating homelessness through positively transforming people’s lives.   Nigel Jobson, Business Director of St Martins House Conference Centre, said “We’re proud to support One Roof Leicester and help them ensure that all people experiencing homelessness are provided with sustainable housing and ongoing relevant support. Every cup of One Roof Coffee our customers buy will help change someone’s life for the better.”   Salma Ravat, CEO of One Roof Leicester, said “We’re so excited to have a coffee brand named after our charity and we are very grateful to the team at CAFÉ NO:7 for choosing to support One Roof Leicester in this way. We are experiencing a significant increase in demand for our accommodation and support, therefore every penny we receive in donations goes towards providing safe and secure homes and intense support which enables our residents to positively move into long-term accommodation.”   CAFÉ NO:7 is open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 3.00pm and 9.00am to 3.00pm on weekends at 7 Peacock Lane, Leicester LE1 5PZ.   To find out more about One Roof Leicester please visit www.oneroof.org.uk

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Sean Ryan as Operations Manager for St Martins House Conference Centre & St Martins Lodge.   Sean who is originally from Birmingham has a hospitality career spanning 23 years, starting off as most do in the industry as a kitchen porter and working his way up the ranks over an impressive portfolio of corporate and independently owned businesses.   Most recently, Sean was Group Operations Manager with an independent hotel chain and now brings his experience and skill set to us here St Martins House Conference Centre & St Martins Lodge.   Nigel Jobson, Business Director of St Martins House Conference Centre & St Martins Lodge says “We are delighted that Sean has joined our team. He brings a wealth of expertise to our business which will further enhance our customer and guest experience.”   Sean’s late mother Karen was in the trade for over 20 years as a chef with Hilton hotels, who Sean trained under for 2 years, and his sister Emma, is also in the hospitality industry working in hotels at a senior level.   It’s safe to say that hospitality is in Sean’s genes!

Great service is at the heart of everything we do at St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge.   We are pleased to announce that the winner of our Employee of the Quarter for July to September 2023 is Marie Redden.   As Front Desk Receptionist, Marie has performed her role in an exceptional manner by exemplifying outstanding service, going the extra mile and exhibiting a positive and supportive attitude to all her colleagues at both St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge.   Marie was presented with a certificate and £150 Love2Shop gift card from Business Director, Nigel Jobson and Front Desk Manager, Veronica Ponte.   Congratulations Marie!

St Martins House Conference Centre & St Martins Lodge in Leicester have been awarded the Greengage ECOsmart 2023 Silver Award in recognition of their work towards achieving greater sustainability. To achieve this award, businesses undertake an extensive accreditation process.   Greengage ECOsmart is a business travel and events industry certification that recognises organisations who can demonstrate a comprehensive approach to environmental sustainability within their business and who promote a green approach with their clients.   It is increasingly recognised as the credible and affordable marque that organisations can display to demonstrate their commitment to environmental sustainability and achievement of recognised standards.   For the last few months, St Martins House Conference Centre & St Martins Lodge, have been following the extensive Greengage accreditation process to enable them to gain this award which reflects their commitment to sustainability.   St Martins House Conference Centre & St Martins Lodge has strived to make lasting changes in their business and sustainable measures implemented include selecting locally sourced suppliers with sustainable practices wherever possible, environmentally friendly cleaning products and installing electric vehicle charging points.   Nigel Jobson, Business Director of  St Martins House Conference Centre & St Martins Lodge says “We are proud to be recognised in our work towards adopting sustainable practices and lowering our carbon footprint. St Martins House Conference Centre & St Martins Lodge are among the many UK businesses leading the way towards greater sustainability and in offering clients and guests a more eco-conscious choice. We are continually striving towards adopting more sustainable options across everything we do.”

St Martins House Conference Centre are delighted to be a venue partner again this year for the Leicester Business Festival which runs from the 6th to 17th November 2023.   Returning for its ninth year, the Leicester Business Festival is an annual fortnight of business events, held right across Leicester and Leicestershire in the Autumn.   Events are free and anyone can attend. They vary in type, structure and size, across digital and in-person platforms, and from workshops and seminars to product demonstrations, showroom tours and round table debates, to name but a few!   The agenda is exciting and diverse and there really is something for everyone!   Local businesses and organisations are behind the events, which aim to offer help and support, educate, share information and knowledge or create forums for networking, engagement and business growth.   The festival has been running since 2015 and each year, it sees hundreds of events and thousands of attendees.   As a firm fixture in the business calendar, the LBF is also known across the UK and it draws a spotlight on Leicester and Leicestershire, demonstrating the region’s business strengths, innovation, and highlighting its huge investment potential.   Not only is the LBF the largest business event in the region, but it has become Leicester & Leicestershire’s annual economic showcase and is cited as an important part in the post-Covid economic recovery plan.   If you are looking for a venue to host your LBF event then St Martins House Conference Centre offers 5 flexible spaces which can accommodate from 2 to 200 people, all of which have natural daylight and are complete with AV facilities.   If you are looking stay in Leicester for the LBF then we also offer luxury boutique accommodation at St Martins Lodge with 28 bedrooms and free on-site car parking for the duration of your stay. Add to this our location in the heart of Leicester’s historic Cathedral Quarter and your LBF event is primed for success!   Find out more about the Leicester Business Festival here: www.leicesterbusinessfestival.com

Located in the heart of the historic Cathedral Quarter in Leicester, St Martins House is the perfect venue for your festive celebrations.   The Grand Hall provides a stunning and unique venue for your Christmas event so why not treat your team this year to a sumptuous three course Christmas dinner or hot buffet, your own DJ and private bar.   - Exclusive use of the beautiful Grand Hall - Three course Christmas dinner or hot buffet - DJ - Private bar facility - Coloured uplighters to match your corporate branding - PA system & microphone   Private parties are for a minimum of 60 guests. Upgrades and drinks packages available.   Early Bird Gets The Prosecco! Confirm your Christmas party at St Martins House by 31st August 2023 and we will upgrade your package to include a complimentary bottle of Prosecco for every table. Meaning you can truly bring in the Christmas cheer with your team! In addition, the person who books the event will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Love2Shop Gift Card.   Get in touch with our team to discuss your Christmas event.

Great service is at the heart of everything we do at St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge.   We are pleased to announce that the winner of our Employee of the Quarter for April to June 2023 is Shrijana Bhandari.   Shri has performed her role in an exceptional manner by exemplifying outstanding service and exhibiting a positive and supportive attitude to her colleagues at St Martins House Conference Centre and CAFÉ NO:7.   Shri was presented with a certificate and £150 Love2Shop gift card from Operations Manager, James Hayter.   Congratulations Shri!

Great service is at the heart of everything we do at St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge.   We are pleased to announce that the winner of our Employee of the Quarter for January to March 2023 is Clare Marson.   As supervisor of CAFÉ NO:7, Clare has performed her role in an exceptional manner by exemplifying outstanding service and exhibiting a positive and supportive attitude.   Clare’s warm, friendly attitude and helpfulness has been reflected in the outstanding feedback she has received from both CAFÉ NO:7 customers and her colleagues.   Clare was presented with a certificate and £150 Love2Shop gift card from Business Director, Nigel Jobson.   Congratulations Clare!

Planning a meeting, conference or training event might not be the most exciting activity, but it is essential for many businesses and organisations to have well-organised events. With so many options available to organisers, knowing how to choose the perfect meeting venue can be difficult.   There are various things to consider, including catering, transport and facilities. In order for the meeting to be a success, everything needs to be properly thought through before any final decisions are made.   To make the whole process a little bit easier, we are sharing our top tips on how to choose the perfect meeting venue:     1. Remember the size of the delegate list Meetings can vary from a small 1-2-1 to large conferences, and the venue you choose needs to properly reflect the number of guests attending. If you are planning a board meeting or interview space for a single person, then you won’t need too much space and an intimate meeting room will often do. If you are hosting a large staff training event or trying to impress stakeholders, then you will need a venue that can easily cater for your numbers. There is little worse than being cramped into a too small meeting room and enthusiasm will never be sparked in an uncomfortably squashed situation. When it comes to how to choose the perfect meeting venue, be sure to check with your prospective venues what the minimum and maximum numbers are for their space.     2. Location is key The last thing you want to do is force your guests to make long and difficult journeys just to attend your meeting. When you are considering meeting venues, be sure to think about where your guests are travelling from and how easy their journey will be. Always try to choose locations with excellent transport links, and if some guests are travelling from overseas, make sure the airport is easy to reach. Also think about how many guests will need to stay in the area if they are travelling in for the meeting, and try to pick a location where people will enjoy spending some down time too.     3. Don’t forget about accommodation Many meeting organisers get so focused on the meeting room itself and the various other aspects of the day that they forgot to consider what guests will do at night. If you know a lot of guests will need to travel and stay over for the meeting, then ensure your venue has accommodation nearby or onsite - we have St Martins Lodge.     4. Get technical It is so important that you choose a venue for your meeting which has all the required equipment and technology for your event. Almost every meeting will need a decent WiFi connection in order to allow presenters and guests to stay connected throughout. Most meeting venues will offer WiFi but remember to ask if there is any additional charge for this feature. If you need presentations or a live stream for your meeting, then make sure your meeting venue has projectors and audio-visual technology for this.     5. Food can make a difference No matter how amazing your meeting has been, one of the main things that attendees will remember is the food options provided. When it comes to planning a meeting, one of the most important things to think about is what and when people will eat. If you are planning on starting a meeting early, be sure to provide some breakfast snacks and coffees first thing. If you’re meeting is running over lunch, make sure you have something delicious for everyone to enjoy. The last thing you want is your delegates to go hungry. Pick a venue with in house catering, as they can ensure there is always enough food and at the correct times. Having the venue and catering provided all under one roof also gives you one less thing to organise.     6. Think about branding When you plan a meeting for your business or organisation at an external venue, the venue you choose will be a reflection of your own brand. When it comes to how to choose a meeting venue, you need to consider both the practicalities and how it can benefit your brand image. It is important to choose a venue that is well-presented, high quality and with friendly staff members. When you are visiting potential meeting venues, try to look at them through your guests eyes and see if that is the image you want to portray for your business or organisation. With so much to consider for choosing the perfect meeting venue, it can be difficult to know where to start.     Here at St Martins House Conference Centre, we offer 5 flexible meeting spaces which can accommodate from 2 to 200 people, all of which have natural daylight and are complete with AV facilities. With an elegant mix of period features and contemporary styling, St Martins House Conference Centre stands out from the crowd giving you something truly unique.   We also offer luxury boutique accommodation at St Martins Lodge with 28 bedrooms and free on-site car parking. Add to this our location in the heart of Leicester’s Historic Quarter and your next meeting is primed for success!   Contact our team to discuss you next meeting on 0116 261 5200 or say hello@stsmartinshouse.com.

Great customer service is at the heart of everything we do at St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge.   We are pleased to announce that the winner of our Customer Service Employee of the Month for August, and for the second consecutive month, is Myron Nykolyszyn.   As Concierge, Myron has again demonstrated excellent customer service through his professionalism, helpfulness and ensuring customers have a great experience.   Myron was presented with a certificate and a £50 Love2Shop gift card from Operations Manager, James Hayter.

Great customer service is at the heart of everything we do at St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge.   We are pleased to announce that the winner of our Customer Service Employee of the Month for July is Myron Nykolyszyn.   As Concierge, Myron has consistently demonstrated excellent customer service through his professionalism and helpfulness which has been reflected in the outstanding feedback he has received from both customers and his colleagues at St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge.   Myron was presented with a certificate and a £50 Love2Shop gift card from Business Director, Nigel Jobson.

Great customer service is at the heart of everything we do at St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge.   We are pleased to announce that the winner of our Customer Service Employee of the Month for June is Darren Underwood.   As Premises Officer, Darren has demonstrated excellent customer service through his professionalism and helpfulness which has been reflected in the outstanding feedback he has received from both customers and his colleagues at St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge.   Darren was presented with a certificate and a £50 Love2Shop gift card from Business Manager, Nigel Jobson.   Congratulations Darren!

Great customer service is at the heart of everything we do at St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge.   We are pleased to announce that the winner of our Customer Service Employee of the Month for May is Clare Marson.   As supervisor for CAFÉ NO:7, Clare has demonstrated excellent customer service through her warm, friendly attitude and helpfulness which has been reflected in the outstanding feedback she has received from CAFÉ NO:7 customers.   Clare was presented with a certificate and a £50 Love2Shop gift card from Business Director, Nigel Jobson.   Congratulations Clare!

St Martins House Conference Centre are proud to serve life-changing coffee from Change Please, a social enterprise that uses profits from its award-winning coffee to train people experiencing homelessness to be baristas.   Founded by Cemal Ezel in 2015, Change Please’s Life Changing programme builds skills, pays a living wage, provides housing and therapy support, and crucially, onward employment opportunities - all funded by 100% of the profits Change Please make from selling their coffee.   Change Please has won several coffee awards including the Great Taste Awards, World’s best social enterprise and in 2019, the Queen’s Award for Enterprise promoting mobility.   Since partnering with Change Please in May 2021, St Martins House Conference Centre has served the life-changing coffee to conference delegates in addition to customers at Café No:7.   In the first twelve months, the amount of coffee purchased by St Martins House Conference Centre has directly contributed in helping lift 1.5 people out of homelessness and go through the Change Please Academy.   The Change Please Academy is a Speciality Coffee Association accredited training centre where a Change Please trainee’s journey will start. They cover every aspect of coffee making, from green beans and roasting through to latte art and customer service. The aim is to equip their trainees with the skills and experience they need to start a new career and have a secure place to live.   In addition to work-based skills, Change Please focus on the trainee’s wider needs. A secure income means they can help improve living circumstances and also assist with any therapy needs. Change Please also help with some of life’s admin, getting through the paperwork of returning to work and managing finances.   St Martins House Conference Centre look forward to continuing their partnership with Change Please - where every award-winning cup they brew - and every cup you buy - helps change someone’s life for the better.   For further information: Change Please: changeplease.org

Great customer service is at the heart of everything we do at St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge.   We are pleased to announce that the winner of our Customer Service Employee of the Month for April is Paul Weston.   As Premises Officer, Paul has demonstrated excellent customer service through his professionalism and helpfulness which has been reflected in the outstanding feedback he has received from both customers and his colleagues at St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge.   Paul was presented with a certificate and a £50 Love2Shop gift card from Business Director, Nigel Jobson.   Congratulations Paul!

Great customer service is at the heart of everything we do at St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge.   We are pleased to announce that the winner of our Customer Service Employee of the Month for February is Nigel Bromfield.   As Night Concierge, Nigel has demonstrated excellent customer service through his professionalism, helpfulness and ensuring guests have a great experience when staying at St Martins Lodge.   Nigel was presented with a certificate and a £50 Love2Shop gift card from Business Director, Nigel Jobson.   Congratulations Nigel!

Great customer service is at the heart of everything we do at St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge.   We are pleased to announce that the winner of our Customer Service Employee of the Month for February is Nigel Bromfield.   As Night Concierge, Nigel has demonstrated excellent customer service through his professionalism, helpfulness and ensuring guests have a great experience when staying at St Martins Lodge.   Nigel was presented with a certificate and a £50 Love2Shop gift card from Business Director, Nigel Jobson.   Congratulations Nigel!

Great customer service is at the heart of everything we do at St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge.   We are pleased to announce that the winner of our Customer Service Employee of the Month for January is Vicky Weston.   As Front Desk Assistant, Vicky has consistently demonstrated excellent customer service and in particular how she assisted one of our guests who became ill during their stay.   Vicky was presented with a certificate and a £50 Love2Shop gift card from Business Director, Nigel Jobson.   Congratulations Vicky!

We are delighted to announce that Leicester artist Sarah Kirby has brought her work to St Martins House Conference Centre in a permanent exhibition.   A large part of Sarah's work features the buildings in and around Leicester that are part of the fabric of city life. These are a mix of iconic public buildings (such as New Walk Museum and Leicester Cathedral) and those more familiar yet nevertheless architecturally notable (such as Blunts Shoes or the Turkey Café).   Much of Sarah’s work explores how buildings are imbued with meaning as a consequence of repeated use across different generations; how they acquire emotional significance for local inhabitants; and how they become repositories of memory. With so many inspirational buildings in and around Sarah’s city, her work with iconic landmarks is ongoing.   The works on display at St Martins House Conference Centre are all original linocut prints and are available to purchase.   You can see more of Sarah’s work on her website here:   View Sarah's Website

St Martins House Conference Centre & Lodge are delighted to announce that it has joined companies and organisations such as Aviva, Deloitte and Oxfam in signing up to the Good Business Charter (GBC), an accreditation that seeks to raise the bar on business practices for employees, tax, the environment, customers and suppliers.   St Martins House Conference Centre & Lodge are also proud to be the first hospitality business in the City of Leicester to join the GBC. It has never been more important for businesses to regain trust and show they care about more than just profit.   The Good Business Charter exists for all companies, charities and public sector organisations across all industries and sectors and works through a simple online self-certification process. At a time when people are caring more about who they work for and who they buy from, the Good Business Charter offers a straightforward accreditation which recognises organisations which prioritise and care for their employees, the environment, customers and suppliers, whilst also paying their taxes according to the spirit of the law. The GBC and its members seek to inspire many other businesses to follow suit.   The Good Business Charter has the support of both the CBI and the TUC which both have trustee representation on its board. Other partners of the GBC include the Living Wage Foundation and the Prompt Payment Code. The GBC has been set up by a charity called the Good Business Foundation and accreditation will be free for all companies in the first year.   The GBC consists of 10 components and more details for each of these components can be found on their website: www.goodbusinesscharter.com   Chairman of the GBC board, Simon Fox, said: “The Good Business Charter brings together 10 standards, most of which already exist, but in separate places. We have brought them together to give a coherent overall position for businesses to aspire to. We believe that the GBC has enormous potential to change business practice for good. We hope that because of its simplicity and cost effectiveness, it will quickly gain support.”   Business Director of St Martins House Conference Centre & Lodge, Nigel Jobson, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that St Martins House Conference Centre & Lodge has been accredited by the Good Business Charter. We are proud of attaining this certification as recognition of our commitment to our employees, customers, suppliers and the environment.”   We commit to paying our directly employed and regularly contracted staff the real living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation. We commit to only using zero or minimal hours contracts when it is mutually beneficial and accepted by both us and the employee. We will actively support and encourage employee well-being treating those with legitimate sickness in a fair and respectful manner and promote access to impartial support and advice for employees with physical and mental health needs. We commit to having a way where every employee can make suggestions or raise issues with senior management. We commit to having robust measures in place to encourage diversity at key stages of recruitment, selection and retention of employees and to prevent harassment or victimisation in the workplace. We care about the environment and encourage the development of good environmental practices as an organisation, seeking to minimise our impact and commit to improving it. We commit to paying our taxes where applicable, only use tax allowances for the purpose intended, and be transparent in our relationship with HMRC. We have a clear commitment to our stakeholders and prioritise addressing and learning from stakeholder feedback, seeking to put negative issues right. We commit to ethical sourcing of anything we purchase, such as by applying standards set out in the Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code where relevant. We commit to paying our suppliers promptly, and within at least 30 days.

St Martins House Conference Centre has joined the Meetings Industry Association (mia) – one of the fastest growing associations in the conference, meetings and events sector.   Nigel Jobson, Business Director of St Martins House Conference Centre comments: “Joining the mia will bring many benefits to St Martins House Conference Centre including useful networking opportunities and a valuable industry benchmarking tool. The meeting and events sector is responsible for thousands of jobs and I think it is incredibly important to work together as an industry, in order to continually improve the standards of the service we are offering.”   As part of its membership, St Martins House Conference Centre has secured the mia’s highly acclaimed AIM accreditation. AIM is the UK’s nationally recognised standard for venues and service providers in the meetings, conferences and events industry and has 50 strict criteria that venues must meet to achieve accreditation.   Jane Longhurst, mia chief executive, says: “We’re delighted to welcome St Martins House Conference Centre as our latest member. Securing AIM accreditation acts as a guarantee to buyers that when they choose St Martins House Conference Centre they’re choosing a venue that cares about best practice and actively strives to meet and exceed their expectations. With so many dedicated conference centres and hotels, sporting and academic venues to choose from nationwide, it offers a smart method to quality control their selections that could ultimately save them time, anxiety and reputational risk later down the line.”   The mia facilitates meetings, debates and gatherings with some of the brightest minds in the industry to solve business problems, to encourage learning and to create valuable networking opportunities.   Notes to editors:   About venue Located at the heart of the historic Cathedral Area in the City of Leicester, St Martins House Conference Centre is the perfect venue for meetings, conferences, weddings and events offering 5 flexible spaces which can accommodate from 2 to 200 people. The venue also offers luxury accommodation at St Martins Lodge with 28 bedrooms, including a top floor suite. St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge are Divisions of Leicester Diocesan Board of Finance.   About the mia The mia is one of the fastest growing associations in the conference, meetings and events sector, founded by a proactive group of hotel and conference centre operators and booking agents to lead the conference, meetings and events industry, providing accreditation, industry awards, research and a voice to government. It has 530 accredited members.   The mia supports members by: Providing extensive regional networking opportunities on a monthly basis. Helping them to achieve the highest standards of facilities and service through achievement of AIM, the industry standard of quality and excellence. Providing a library of best practice and quality standards guidelines. Promoting AIM to industry buyers. Delivering tangible benefits which support members in the achievement of their own business goals. By the provision of information, education, research and advice all of which lead to improved business performance. By sharing issues of sector importance with them. By raising the profile of business tourism with government.   www.mia-uk.org   For media enquiries, please contact Nigel Jobson on nigel.jobson@stmartinshouse.com or call 0116 261 5200.

Leicester’s much-loved White Rose Café, located next door to the Guildhall and Leicester Cathedral, will re-open on the 17th May as Café No:7 serving coffee that helps people experiencing homelessness.   With summer only just around the corner and lockdown restrictions easing the timing has never been better.   The café will be run by the team at St Martins House Conference Centre, part of the Church of England Diocese of Leicester, and has been refurbished to create a comfortable, contemporary environment offering a great location for customers who want to relax with a cup of tea and a slice of cake or pop in to grab a coffee on the way to work.   Café No:7 will offer customers Fairtrade teas, scrumptious sandwiches and a tempting range of cakes and pastries in addition to award winning coffee from Change Please, a social enterprise that uses profits from it’s award winning coffee to train people experiencing homelessness to be baristas.   Founded by Cemal Ezel in 2015, Change Please’s Life Changing programme builds skills, pays a living wage, provides housing and therapy support, and crucially, onward employment opportunities.   Change Please has won several coffee awards including the Great Taste Awards, World’s best social enterprise and in 2019, the Queen’s Award for Enterprise promoting mobility.   Nigel Jobson, Business Director at St Martins House Conference Centre, said “We’re delighted to partner with Change Please, an award-winning coffee company making a social impact by helping people move out of homelessness through training them as a barista. It aligns with the Church of England Diocese of Leicester values and commitment to reducing homelessness.”   Julian Burnham, Managing Director at Change Please, said “We are delighted that Change Please coffee will be served at Café No:7 and equally pleased to be working with St Martins House Conference Centre and the Diocese of Leicester. Every cup of Change Please coffee sold helps to change someone’s life for the better, lifting people out of homelessness and giving them another chance to be themselves. Homelessness strips away so much more than just a roof over someone’s head and by helping people get back into work as well as housing Change Please builds people confidence, pride and hope for the future.”

As Leicester rebuilds its economy after the lockdowns, there are things that all of us in the locality can and are doing to boost it and help it to restore. Emily Miller visits St Martins House Conference Centre & Lodge to see just how a conference at the venue can help the local community.   Events and conferencing venue in the heart of the Leicester’s city centre, St Martins House, suffered the effects of lockdown greatly. Like all in the hospitality sector, the lockdown had a very quick and almost devastating immediate effect on the organisation as a whole. As a not-for-profit organisation, the funds created by St Martins House as a business are ploughed straight back into the Diocese of Leicester. Much of the work that they do within the Leicester community has suffered too.   Leicester’s Diocese is a family of more than 18,000 Christians who worship in church buildings, houses, community spaces and schools. With over 320 churches, 234 parishes, almost 100 schools and academy trusts, and a rapidly growing number of fresh expressions of Church, taking in villages, market towns and the city of Leicester, they describe themselves as a rural diocese with urban heartlands.   The Diocese does extensive charitable work within the local community including a great deal of effort to combat the growing homelessness in the city working with One Roof Leicester and Leicester Homelessness Charter. This work was of course vital during the pandemic and moving forward, will be more so.   Nigel Jobson, Business Director at St Martins House Conference Centre and Lodge, said: “Community has always been a huge part of the work at the Diocese.   Our communities need to come together to support each other in the aftermath of COVID, whether through financial challenges or relationship and mental health effects, the work will become more prevalent and essential than ever before.”   St Martins House offers the opportunity to give back to the local community. As well as helping to support churches in the city and towns and villages across the county, hosting a large conference or small meeting here aids the Diocese of Leicester in continuing the charitable work they carry out. With an elegant mix of period features and contemporary styling St Martins House provides four spaces which are all COVID safe and have been accredited with Visit England’s ‘We’re Good to Go’, confirming that they are taking all possible measures to keep everyone safe.   “Now though, as Leicester is starting to return to a new normal, we are seeing a growing demand for our conferencing facilities and meeting rooms. “Whilst the requests for video conferencing go down, of course it was a much needed tool whilst the pandemic meant business was being run from homes, the desire to now meet face-to-face once again, with social distancing measures in place, is growing. We can more than meet this demand and have the space and availability to accommodate.”   St Martins Lodge, a luxury accommodation just a short stroll across the courtyard overlooked by the Cathedral, offers beautifully appointed non-serviced accommodation and lends itself perfectly to social distancing with the building free of public spaces such as a lobby and bar area. With exceptional levels of cleanliness in every detail, St Martins Lodge is a safe and welcoming location for those looking to stay in the city for business or leisure.   “The lodge allows for delegates to travel from further outside of the city and provides a welcoming and additional convenience for holding a conference at our venue. Delegates have enjoyed being able to once again relax and enjoy the accommodation after a busy day of business. And, in supporting the lodge guests will once again be providing support for the vital work that the Diocese does in and around Leicester in this challenging time.”   Hosting your conference at St Martins House does more than help our local economy it helps our community too. Call 0116 2615200 or visit stmartinslodge.co.uk to see how your conferencing and accommodation needs can be met.

At St Martins House Conference Centre, we have put in place a range of COVID secure practices to keep everyone safe which have been accredited with Visit England’s ‘WE’RE GOOD TO GO’ industry standard.   Given the ever-changing nature of this situation, our operational procedures will also keep changing and evolving to ensure they remain up to date, relevant and effective.   It means that we have to do things differently and some of our usual standards and levels of hospitality have been temporarily amended, but rest assured we will still be putting you first, doing whatever we can to make your time with us as enjoyable as possible but all focused on keeping you, along with our hard working and extremely dedicated team members safe.   It is a legal requirement to wear a face covering in all public areas in St Martins House. St Martins House operates the NHS Track & Trace App and all delegates are required to register on arrival. There are hand sanitiser points throughout the building. Room capacities of all conference rooms have been changed to allow for social distancing of two metres between people. Cabaret layout now has 3 delegates per table Theatre layout gives 2m space between chairs Boardroom layout now means each delegate has their own desk A ‘one-way’ system for clients to move around once in the building is in operation so that close delegate proximity is minimised. Registration for events will have to be carried out prior to arrival at St Martins House so that delegates are ticked off on a list by the organiser as they enter the building to avoid queuing. For access to The Grand Hall, the lift is monitored so that it is only used by delegates with mobility issues. Similarly, the use of the ground and first floor toilets is monitored so that queues cannot form, and the facilities provided have been modified to avoid close proximity. We no longer provide writing pads, pens and wrapped sweets. Water coolers and individual bottles of water are provided instead of larger bottles water on tables. All catering is served in a room separate to the room in which the event is being held. The catering offer has been modified to COVID safe packaged items for clients to collect (grab and go), no utensils are used. Additional hand sanitiser and anti-bac wipes is available for delegates use on touch point areas of the collection station. All staff wear appropriate personal protective equipment and observe social distancing measures. Where possible, a one-way system is operated whereby delegates enter the catering room through one door, file past the catering station(s) and exit through another door taking the food back into their meeting room to be consumed there. Clients will be advised that refreshment breaks will take longer than usual and to make sufficient time allowance in their agenda for the day. Clients will be advised of the ways in which technology can help them deliver their event. Questions and answer sessions will be conducted from fixed points within the meeting room to avoid the use of roving microphones. The use of lapel microphones will be discouraged in favour of fixed microphones. Anti-bac wipes and hand sanitiser is available in all meeting rooms. All tables and chairs in meeting rooms are sanitised after reset. All furniture and equipment is sanitised after reset, including: Phones and remotes Thermostats Cabinetry, pulls and hardware Doors and doorknobs AV accessories Windows, mirrors and frames There is a constant cleaning presence throughout the day.   Responsible Delegates We rely on all our delegates, guests and team members to do their bit in ensuring the safety of all. As such delegates will be given prior to and on arrival written instructions on respecting physical distancing protocols in the meeting room and social areas, including refreshment break areas.   Meeting organisers are asked to outline protocols for entering/leaving meeting rooms, congregating at breaks and meals times, at the beginning of the meeting.   Delegates are asked to remain in allocated seats, for the duration of the meeting/event.   Call 0116 2615200 or visit stmartinslodge.co.uk to see how your conferencing and accommodation needs can be met.

St Martins House Conference Centre offers a range of facilities with immediate availability for long term meeting room hire. Temporary office work spaces are ideal for regular weekly catch-ups to bring together remote teams in order to strengthen talent, enable creativity and collaboration through face-to-face social interaction and a break from remote working. The benefits of long-term meeting room hire at St Martins House Conference Centre:   Temporary cost-effective office meeting space negating the need for a permanent office. Meeting facilities with a mix of period features and contemporary styling. Convenient meeting facilities with all you need for working smart, including free Wi-Fi throughout the building. A central location for client meetings in the heart of the historic Cathedral area in the City of Leicester. Meeting rooms designed with natural daylight along with quiet and green surroundings in the beautiful Cathedral Gardens. Assurance of COVID-safe operations having successfully been accredited with the Visit England ‘We're Good To Go’ Industry standard.   For more information please contact our team on 0116 261 5200 or email bookings@stmartinshouse.com

Overnight the Leicestershire hospitality industry, like everywhere else in the UK, went from flourishing to nothing. Hotels, pubs, restaurants, and event venues shut their doors and had no clue when they would be able to reopen them, if ever. Now, as hospitality starts to open its doors, recover, and adapt to the changes, St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge tells us how they look forward to welcoming visitors and guests again in the near future.   As a conference and events venue, café, and hotel, for St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge in the heart of Leicester, the news of lockdown was huge. “Like everyone in the industry and indeed all businesses, we were concerned as to what it would mean for us. We are more than a business, and our work with the Diocese of Leicester means that we are community company too and we were naturally concerned about that work within the community stopping so abruptly,” Nigel Jobson, Business Director told us.   With the current uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge has adapted in many ways, both quickly and efficiently, to ensure the safety of everyone entering the building and hotel. With in-house event technology to help event organisers combine the benefits of both face-to-face and virtual communications, as close to live audiences can get, the technology will allow for delegates to meet from all over the world. “This is important to event organisers as we prepare for a post Covid events world where physical and live in-person audiences might be limited due to social distancing guidelines,” Nigel adds.   Plans for the introduction of new modern event technology within the stunning Grade II listed surroundings, physical barriers are effectively removed to reach a wider audience with no geographical limitations and the ability to host remote keynote speakers. This means that one event can then cover an entire audience which in turn, increases ROI for events and its cost-effectiveness. For event organisers, the opportunity to host hybrid occasions means that their events will have a lower carbon footprint and be more sustainable by avoiding delegate travel more than a set number of miles from the physical venue.   St Martins Lodge offers beautifully appointed non-serviced accommodation and lends itself perfectly to social distancing with the building free of public spaces such as a lobby and bar area. With exceptional levels of cleanliness in every detail, St Martins Lodge is a safe and welcoming location for those looking to stay in the city for business or leisure.   “St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge will soon be once again open to customers and guests. Everything has been carefully arranged so that we can do so safely and in accordance with government guidelines. We are very much enjoying seeing the buildings bustling with people once again,” Nigel adds.   Call 0116 2615200 or visit stmartinslodge.co.uk to see how your conferencing and accommodation needs can be met.

At St Martins House Conference Centre, we have set out some guidelines when running your events to keep everyone safe. These guidelines detail the specific measures that we are taking to ensure that meetings and events resume once more.   Given the ever-changing nature of this situation this plan will also keep changing and evolving to ensure it remains up to date, relevant and effective.   It will mean we have to do things differently and some of our usual standards and levels of hospitality will temporarily be amended, but rest assured we will still be putting you first, doing whatever we can to make your time with us as enjoyable as is possible but all focussed on keeping you, along with our hard working and extremely dedicated team members safe.   The room capacities of all the rooms will be changed to allow for social distancing of two metres between people  Cabaret layout now has 3 delegates per table Theatre layout gives 2m space between chairs Boardroom layout now means each delegate has their own desk A ‘one-way’ system for clients to move around once in the building will be in operation so that close delegate proximity is minimised. Registration for events will have to be carried out prior to arrival at St Martins House so that delegates are ticked off on a list by the organiser as they enter the building to avoid queuing. For access to The Grand Hall, the lift will be monitored so that it is only used by delegates with mobility issues. Similarly, the use of the ground and first floor toilets will be monitored so that queues cannot form, and the facilities provided will be modified to avoid close proximity. We shall cease to provide pads, pens and wrapped sweets. Water coolers will be provided instead of bottled water on tables. All catering will be served in a room separate to the room in which the event is being held. For smaller groups, this can be served in the White Rose Café which will offer exclusive use. The catering offer will be modified to packaged items for clients to collect (grab and go), no utensils will be used. Additional hand sanitiser, gloves and anti-bac wipes will be available for delegates use on touch point areas of the collection station. All staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment and observe social distancing measures. Where possible, a one-way system will be operated whereby delegates enter the catering room through one door, file past the catering station(s) and exit through another door taking the food back into their meeting room to be consumed there. Clients will be advised that refreshment breaks will take longer than usual and to make sufficient time allowance in their agenda for the day. Clients will be advised of the ways in which technology can help them deliver their event. Questions and answer sessions will be conducted from fixed points within the meeting room to avoid the use of roving microphones. The use of lapel microphones will be discouraged in favour of fixed microphones. There will be hand sanitiser points throughout the building, including meeting rooms. Anti-bac wipes will be available in all meeting rooms. All tables and chairs in meeting rooms will be sanitised after reset. All furniture and equipment will be sanitized after reset, including:  Phones and remotes Thermostats Cabinetry, pulls and hardware Doors and doorknobs AV accessories Windows, mirrors and frames There will be a constant cleaning presence throughout the day.   Responsible Delegates We will rely on all our delegates, guests and team members to do their bit in ensuring the safety of all. As such delegates will be given prior to and on arrival written instructions on respecting physical distancing protocols in the meeting room and social areas, including refreshment break areas.   Meeting organisers will be asked to outline protocols for entering/leaving meeting rooms, congregating at breaks and meals times, at the beginning of the meeting.   Delegates will be asked to remain in allocated seats, for the duration of the meeting/event.

On Maundy Thursday Her Majesty The Queen came to Leicester Cathedral to complete her Maundy Visits to English Anglican Cathedrals. The Royal Maundy Service is a tradition from Medieval times, when the Sovereign washes feet and gives alms to the poor. This is a service of the Chapel Royal, and Leicester Cathedral was hosting the event which was led by the Lord High Almoner with music that included singing from the Chapel Royal Choir.   After the service, a group photograph with all the Yeomen of the Guard joining the royal party preceded a walk to St Martins House. There Her Majesty The Queen attended a small private reception with canapés, made in-house and prosecco. This was followed by a ‘community lunch’ with guests including leaders and representatives of charities together with celebrities which included Rosemary Conley and Englebert Humperdinck.   The Royal Party and guests were served by staff from St Martins House assisted by students and staff from Leicester College.   The menu was principally from local produce including Rutland trout, chicken with a stilton pate, and vanilla pod crème brulee with iced berries.   Give yourself the ‘Royal’ treatment at St Martins House and ring 0116 261 5223.