New conference centre celebrates first milestone
Venton Conference Centre in Summercourt has celebrated a successful first year in business. A year that might never have happened if it wasn’t for the vision of Managing Director, Georgina May, and specialist support from the Access to Finance programme to get the exciting venture off the ground.
Georgina opened the Venton Conference Centre in May 2021 and has seen bookings continually increase ever since. Receiving five-star reviews on Google, the centre’s reputation has gone from strength to strength and now attracts a range of clients from both the private and public sectors. In fact, the popularity of the centre has already resulted in the recruitment of an additional member of staff to manage the day-to-day running of the venue.
Although the centre is clearly a success today, like many businesses it faced a funding challenge in the early stages. Its founder Georgina May started Venton Accountancy firm over seven years ago. During this time she increasingly noticed a need for meeting and event space close to the A30. Having identified a gap in the market for a purpose built conference centre, Georgie set about exploring the finance she would need to make this project a reality. This is where the team at Access to Finance came in.
After contacting the Access to Finance programme, which is fully funded by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice, Georgina was assigned a business finance specialist to work with her to achieve her ambitions.
Georgina explains: “The expertise of the team at Access to Finance is second to none. I come from the world of finance, but I found it challenging as I tried different banks and no one would take the chance on funding this project. The knowledge of the Access to Finance team was vital in securing the finance I needed to get my idea off the ground. They really do have their finger on the pulse when it comes to the funding available.
“An expert from Access to Finance, Jackie, identified the grants that were available to me. She helped me with my business plan, advised me on what finance providers would be looking for and provided guidance throughout the application process. For example, we were asked to put together an environmental policy, projections and timescales – all of which Jackie was able to help with.”
Georgina successfully secured just under £74,000 worth of funding from CLLD to cover 45% of fit out costs for the centre, which offers flexible modern rooms featuring the latest technology. This includes screens, projectors, IT, an air-conditioning system, flooring, tables and chairs.
“I don’t know if I would have got the grant if it wasn’t for Access to Finance.” claims Georgina. “It can be a long process and I think it would have taken me a year longer without their support. They were able to guide me through the process, from start to finish. It felt like they were an extra member of our team. They took time to understand what I wanted to achieve and nothing was ever too much trouble.”
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Venton Conference Centre has seen even more companies seeking meeting space as many have scaled down their own office buildings or dispensed with them altogether. With clients already booking well into 2023, the future looks bright for the centre.
Georgina concludes: “If it wasn’t for Access to Finance, I think many business owners might not take the time (or have the confidence) to apply for grants so they miss out on the opportunity to grow or start their business. The expertise the programme provides makes a real difference. It is second to none.”
Since it was established in 2017, the Access to Finance programme has supported over 2,400 businesses across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and helped local businesses raise over £36 million over the last five years. As well as delivering workshops, the team provides tailored one-to-one support and can assist with everything from financial forecasting to identifying and applying for funding.
For further information on the Access to Finance programme, visit www.a2fcornwall.co.uk
For further information on Venton Conference Centre, visit www.ventonltd.co.uk