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Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre in Berkshire, arguably the world’s greenest conference centre has recently been assessed for the Green Tourism Business Scheme and immediately achieved their highest rating of Gold.
GTBS Senior Grader, Martin Webb said: “Sheepdrove Eco-Conference Centre must be one of the most sustainable venues – they are a shining light in showing how it is possible to bring sustainability to the conference/venue market. They have looked at every aspect of running a green conference business and taken steps to ensure that any impacts are minimal. Any delegate coming to the site should be blown away by not only the green-ness of the place but the excellent and high quality service they provide.”
This award is just another example of the centre’s dramatic growth and success. Under Russell Downing – the driving force behind their entry to the scheme, the conference centre has gone from strength to strength, bringing in a plethora of bookings for well known household names such as Vodafone, Innocent and EON; all looking to align their brand with the centre’s superb environmental policies.
To ensure this growth continues in all elements of their business, including their Organic Farm, Meat Hamper Range and Butchers shop, the owner – outspoken environmental campaigner, Peter Kindersley, has promoted Russell Downing to a newly created role overseeing all elements of sales and marketing across their whole business.
Downing comments on his new role: “The conference centre alone is a unique product, constantly developing and a joy to sell and market. Adding these new elements to the role with be both challenging and interesting, particularly as we start to expand our offering and work more closely with the likes of Waitrose and other high street retailers.”
Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre
The Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre was opened by HRH Prince of Wales in 2002 at the Sheepdrove Organic Farm owned by world renowned environmental campaigners and publishers, Peter and Juliet Kindersley and his wife.
From the outset their aim has been the creation of a sustainable conference space and is best described in their own words:
“Sheepdrove Eco-Conference Centre is more than a series of rooms, its uniquely creative atmosphere inspires fresh thinking and generates real innovation…
Our conference rooms enjoy refreshing natural daylight and ventilation, have flexible room layouts and accommodate up to 200 delegates. The incorporation of renewable materials, quirky quotes and environmentally friendly energy ensures a truly dynamic setting, guaranteed to motivate better performance and drive creativity.”
Meeting rooms range in capacity from two to 200 and various initiatives throughout the site include:
- Fresh food, cooked in an open kitchen from fruit, vegetables and meats from the 2,500 acre organic farm
- Sustainable rammed chalk walls
- CO2 sensors removing the need for air-conditioners
- Fresh water drawn from an onsite bore-hole
- Reedbed water purification systems
- The structure, fixtures and fittings are made from both renewable and recycled materials
- Luxurious sheepskin beanbags in the Rook’s Nest for creative meetings
Sheepdrove’s clients include: Vodafone, Landrover, Innocent, Friends of the Earth, Neal’s Yard Remedies, EON and more.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
