Rugby player Gavin Hastings, Director of Operations for Campus Services Jilly Court, Managing Director at Bouygues Development Stéphane Slama Royer and Director of Campus Services Geoff Pringle.

Event Exeter win 'Commercial University of the Year'

Event Exeter have won 'Commercial University of the Year' at the first College and University Business Officers Awards.

The winners were announced at a gala dinner at Edinburgh University on Wednesday 20 June, as part of the College and University Business Officers (CUBO) 2012 conference.

The awards were launched this year to help recognise and reward the non-academic areas in Higher Education which through business and innovation, support the core work of a university. 

Jilly Court, Director of Operations for Campus Services at the University of Exeter, said: “I was honoured to collect the award on behalf of Event Exeter and the whole of Campus Services. Event Exeter impressed the judges by demonstrating their ability to exceed their commercial targets over the past three years, by securing some of the UK’s largest conference business which allowed them to become finalists. It was then the votes of other CUBO members which made the University overall winners.”

Event Exeter is the commercial trading arm of the University of Exeter, representing its portfolio of venues. As well as providing a marketing and sales service to promote products and services, this includes the operational management of venues ranging in size from a day conference centre accommodating 100, to the largest hall seating 1400; and full event co-ordination from web based registration, to overseeing the event throughout its duration.

Speaking about the CUBO Award, Registrar and Deputy Chief Executive for the University of Exeter, David Allen, said: “At a time of private sector recession and a period of unprecedented change on the Exeter campuses, Event Exeter has continued to meet and exceed expectations by planning, reviewing and adapting to the challenges this change has brought about.”

The CUBO award comes just seven weeks after the University’s £48m centrepiece the Forum, was opened by Her Majesty The Queen as part of the Jubilee tour. As well as providing a central point for student services, this flagship building will provide a variety of vibrant and technology-rich event spaces. 

Date: 1 July 2012