A networking event to impress
Last month, we welcomed Pelican Procurement and a VIP guest to The Exchange for a a fabulous evening of networking and Birmingham’s finest food and drink.
Each year, Pelican Procurement hosts a special event on the eve of the ISBA (Independent Schools’ Bursars Association) Annual Conference, which sees experts from the education sector come together to pave the way for better education for future generations.
This can only be done through collaboration, and there’s no greater way to build the required connections than with a knock-out networking event. The Pelican Procurement team came to us to help them deliver just that.
The aim of the event was simple: to thank Pelican’s existing clients and meet prospective ones. As such, it was important that the event was not only a success but impressed from start to finish. And what better way to make a statement than with some of Birmingham’s best food and drink in extraordinary surroundings?
A night to remember
Held on 16 May in The Exchange, the dinner was attended by over 30 representatives from UK private schools. Guests were greeted with platterfuls of canapés and cocktails in the venue’s spacious lounge – which boasts great views across the city – before enjoying a three-course meal in the elegant Assembly Room.
Coffee from our independent supplier, Yorks Coffee Roasters, and liqueurs followed, allowing guests to mingle further before being inspired by VIP guest speaker, Ellie Simmonds OBE, former Paralympian swimmer.
Carefully crafted by our food and drink team, Food Fellows, the evening’s menu was a true celebration of Birmingham and helped set the right tone for such an important event. But don’t just take it from us. Here’s what Ian Holliday, Director of Pelican Procurement, had to say: “the venue, food, drinks, and staff were absolutely amazing. Everyone from The Exchange team was outstanding, very accommodating, and could not have done any more to make the evening a success.”
A unique venue for a unique event
When it comes to hosting a flawless event, great food and drink are only half the story. To make their dinner truly spectacular, the Pelican team were on the lookout for a quirky venue that would showcase the best of Birmingham. Fortunately, The Exchange delivered just that.
As the Municipal Bank’s former HQ, The Exchange couldn’t have been a more apt venue for the occasion. The Vaults – one of the most extraordinary spaces in the UK, let alone The Exchange – with its original bank vaults, was a particular highlight, and the attendees’ connection to education was celebrated with a history tour of the building by our venue team.
The Exchange’s location also sets it apart from other venues. Based in Centenary Square, the venue sits at the very heart of the city that will host the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and will play an essential role in Games-related activities this summer.
There was therefore no better place to embody the spirit of the dinner’s key message: to enable future generations to achieve whatever they want, whatever their ability. With Birmingham 2022 just around the corner, and the city home to some of the best event facilities in the UK, nowhere inspires and dazzles quite like Birmingham.
Photos courtesy of Nicola Gotts Photography.
