uk.superbrands.com Superbrands UK Vol. 24 Market Whilst impacted heavily in recent years, the event industry is making its return to pre-pandemic activity as a key contributor to the UK economy, which generated £70bn and employed more than 700,000 people. Business Design Centre (BDC) also operates in a unique position as a trade centre, welcoming not only hundreds of meetings, conferences and exhibitions each year but is also currently home to over 150 permanent showroom and office spaces. Its story began in 1986, when the former Royal Agricultural Hall was reopened, following years of restoration, into its current business model as the BDC. The venue’s initial concept was to create a collaborative environment for design companies and events to network and grow their businesses under one roof. This purpose has largely diversified over the years and now welcomes an expansive portfolio of events and residents from across a range of various sectors. Achievements In recent years, the BDC has won many industry awards for its team, the venue as well as numerous initiatives. Most notably at the Exhibition News Awards for Best Employer (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015), the ECO Award (2016), the CSR Award (2018 & 2019), Best Venue under 8,000 sq m (2019), Company Culture (2020) and the ESG Award (2022). The conference side of the business equally has been recognised at the Conference Venue & Supplier Awards as Best Venue Customer Service (2013, 2016, 2017), Best Mid-Size Conference Venue (2014) and the Sustainability Bronze Award (2020). At a wider industry level, the BDC has received AEO Excellence Awards for Venue Team of the Year (2013 & 2016) and Venue of the Year <20,000 sq m (2019 & 2020) as well as the ESSA Venue of the Year (2021). History In 1861, Lord Berners laid the foundation stone of what was to become the Agricultural Hall or ‘The Aggie’. Four years later, it hosted the Great Reformatory Exhibition which was opened by HRH Prince of Wales, later to become King Edward VII. Charles Dickens was amongst the visitors. In 1885, The Agricultural Hall earned its ‘Royal’ prefix. The following year, Charles Cruft organised his first ever dog show – Cruft’s was held in the Royal Agricultural Hall and continued to be hosted at the venue until 1939. In 1894, Charles Blondin, the man who crossed Niagara Falls on a tightrope, performed at ‘The Aggie’ crossing the hall at the age of 70. During WWII in 1943, the Inland and Foreign Parcels Offices at Mount Pleasant was destroyed by a fire bomb and was moved to ‘The Aggie’. After 16 years of standing derelict, the Royal Agricultural Hall was restored and reopened as the Business Design Centre in 1986. Two years later, Princess Diana attracted huge crowds and paparazzi when she opened the New Designers exhibition. In 2010, The BDC became a certified CarbonNeutral® venue. Following a year of closure due to the pandemic, the BDC reopened in 2021 as a mass vaccination centre, supporting the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccine. 2022 saw the BDC launch its roadmap to becoming a net zero business by 2030. Product Based in the heart of the London Borough of Islington, this Grade II listed venue has over 6,000 sq m of conference and exhibition space and a maximum capacity of 5,300 people, welcoming upwards of 900,000 guests a year. Its multi-award-winning team has over 150 years of combined event management experience and work alongside events, some of which have remained at the venue since 1987. As well as its impressive barrel-vaulted mezzanine space, the venue also benefits from a large and flexible conference centre that runs alongside the main hall. In addition, the BDC has a large on-site car park, Hilton hotel, gym and two restaurants as well as being positioned in a prime location on vibrant Upper Street. The range of showrooms, studios and office spaces that surround the perimeter of the main hall, benefit from the significant footfall of the events held. Across the building, these spaces are home to businesses ranging from start-ups and hybrid teams to tech companies, banking, fitness and industry leading design companies. Over 25% of the businesses that call the BDC home have been based within the building for over 10 years.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzM4MjU2