October 2023 - University of Leeds Conferences and Events

Having launched our brand-new city centre venue, Cloth Hall Court, we’ve seen some catering trends gaining popularity with our clients. We chatted with Head Chef – Aaron Tong from our in-house catering service, Great Food at Leeds to find out more about the top requests we’re increasingly seeing for conferences and events.

Food for the brain, not just the stomach

Gone are the days of buffets comprising of heavy, carbohydrate-based foods, which can make delegates feel lethargic. Now we’re seeing lots of requests for light and healthy foods such as salads, protein skewers, tarts and terrines, using a range of ingredients including different vegetables, pulses, and grains.

Working with fantastic local suppliers like Hebden & Poole Fine Foods, we can design menus around the best seasonal ingredients and make dishes as inventive and ‘brain-food friendly’ as possible.

Cost-sensitive without compromise

There are many sensitivities around budget currently. Planners are looking for cost-effective options that still tick a lot of other boxes to satisfy the latest trends.
When we started seeing more and more requests for the lighter, healthier buffet dishes, I started researching how this might affect costs. It seemed that by switching from selections of wraps and sandwiches to sharing salads and platters, the overall costs might not be reduced by very much. So, I started exploring special offers and seasonality more with our suppliers, to design the menus based on the availability of the most cost-effective ingredients at the time. This has worked extremely well for our customers and enables us to remain very competitive in the market.

Freedom to enjoy shared experiences

After having our social interactions so heavily restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic, clients really seem to be embracing shared food options once again.
We are seeing increased requests for food grazing stations and buffets with larger quantity bowls or platters of items – such as cheeses, meats, or desserts which guests can all share. This lends itself really well to networking and collaboration-style events, which are also proving very popular, as we are all making up for lost time!

Sustainability in practice

Customers increasingly want to know more about our sustainability credentials. We are proud to support Fairtrade and we’re committed to ensuring ethical and sustainable procurement across our supply chain. Most of our fresh ingredients are sourced via local suppliers, such as Hebden & Poole, or Artisan Bakes, who share our goal of minimising the environmental impact of events.

For the AFN Network+’s “Big Tent Event” event, we designed a bespoke menu mainly around plant-based foods, but for any meats included, we sourced organic produce via a local supplier.

Back when we launched Cloth Hall Court, the first event held in the venue was the CHS Leeds Welcome Reception. This event represents the whole UK events industry, but we showcased traditional Leeds fare through a menu of canapés, bowls and grazing stations. We kept it nice and local, working with our suppliers to source produce from Yorkshire pork pies and cheeses,
to locally-grown rhubarb. Desserts included an ice cream station from Northern Bloc and brownies from Brown & Blond.

Where possible, we also try to encourage ‘Chef’s choice’ when designing menus, such as a fish main course rather than meat with vegetarian or vegan options. This works well when there are more people adopting pescetarian or flexitarian diets these days and means that again we can think more eco-consciously in our approach.

Bespoke, bespoke, bespoke

Special requests used to be based on allergies and specific diets. However, we are now seeing a much higher number of requests from delegates, which are more centred around their individual preferences.

There are also more dietaries than ever before, as people are adopting vegetarian or vegan, pescatarian, flexitarian and even the Planetary Health lifestyles. A lot of this is influenced by the wealth of information out there now about conscious diet choices for the good of the planet.

Sometimes we work with clients where there is a need to design a whole menu around very specific delegate requirements. For example, the Communications Matters Conference, where several of the attendees were AAC users with a range of complex disabilities, who required easy wheelchair access to catering areas and adapted menus. For this event, we worked very closely with the client to devise a menu and layout that ensured a consistent experience for every delegate.

View our new Autumn Winter 2023-2024 menus.

To find out more, arrange a site visit or discuss your specific requirements for your next event, contact University of Leeds Conferences and Events:
Telephone: 0113 343 6100
Email: conferences@leeds.ac.uk

The University of Leeds’ Conferences and Events has been recognised at the Meetings Industry Association awards (miaList 2023). Scooping the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award at the ceremony last Friday, additionally the team were also nominated in two other categories. The award is voted for by industry peers and the team saw off competition from Hilton, Inntel, The Teachers Union and REACH.

Sam Glenister-Batey – Head of Conferences and Events at the University of Leeds said: “I am so proud that the team’s efforts in promoting accessibility and inclusion at conferences and events have been recognised.

“We consider ourselves passionate rather than experts in this area and thus remain dedicated to further developing our DEI practices to help make Leeds one of the most accessible, diverse and inclusive event locations.”

Promoting diversity and inclusivity in the events sector

Beyond enhancing the delegate experience at their own events, the team has taken steps to drive DEI initiatives across the industry. Their long-standing partnership with Communication Matters, who support people who find it hard to communicate because they have little or no clear speech and Conferences Leeds has positioned them as advocates for enhanced access initiatives throughout the sector.

The team adopts a comprehensive approach to customising event experiences, ensuring they align with various communication aids and cater to dietary requirements. This includes providing secluded breakout areas for privacy and the implementation of Communication Access UK training for staff engaging with delegates.

The positive outcomes of these initiatives include heightened awareness of DEI practices within Leeds and the industry. Head of Conferences and Events Sam Glenister-Batey was invited to present at the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) UK and Ireland conference.

Helen Whittle – Chair of the Board of Trustees, Communication Matters said:

“In all our time hosting the annual International AAC Conference at the University of Leeds, we have been blown away by the team’s friendly and collaborative approach. It’s clear they take accessibility seriously, always working flexibly and with a can-do attitude to satisfy all our needs as an organiser but more importantly, those of our delegates.

“Their commitment to improving the delegate experience by becoming a Communication Accessible venue, instilled confidence in our attendees that all of their needs will be met. This faith in the venue really helped maximise registrations for our conference.

“The University of Leeds Conferences and Events team works like an extension of our own, which helps us to put the delegate experience at the heart of what we do. They have also provided further support by introducing us to key industry partners, which has helped increase awareness of the Communication Access UK initiative. This has proven very beneficial to us, resulting in an increased rollout of the training across hotels and organisations in Leeds.

“I look forward to hosting future Communication Matters events at the University.”

Nominated in three categories

In addition to winning the DEI award, Jacob Seddon, Conferences and Events Assistant in the team, was recognised in the Star of the Future category. A category that recognises new talent in the business and meeting sector. Sam Glenister-Batey was shortlisted for mialist Individuals for his work launching Cloth Hall Court, the University of Leeds city centre conference venue. Looking ahead, the University remains steadfast in its commitment to DEI practices, aligning with the university’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy. They actively engage in user focus groups to ensure ongoing accessibility and inclusivity.

Get in touch today

Ready to plan your next event with us? Contact our team to discuss your needs, explore our inclusive facilities.

Catering Trends at the University of Leeds: Insights from Head Chef Aaron Tong