£3 million invested in University conference centre

£3 million of University funds is expected to be pumped into Scarman House, one of the University’s conference centres.

The development is specifically to create a large flat-floored open theatre room, which it is hoped will boost the conference center’s trade.

The proposal was passed at the Finance and General Purposes Committee (F&GPC), however the University have stated that “the proposal has yet to go through the University Committee approval process and so is not yet rubber-stamped”.

Student Union Development Officer George Whitworth told the Boar he had questioned “the priority of spending in face of the upcoming fees regime and rising student expectation”. Whitworth said that the Vice Chancellor responded by “pointing out that if the new space met the figures presented in the accompanying business plan, then it would generate more income in the medium term which could then be reinvested into buildings and services which do impact on students. So, hopefully it meets the business plan!”

“The money is justifiable when sat next to the revenue it will generate within a few years of operation – should the new space meet the plan the payback is actually quite good.”

Whilst the University was reluctant to comment on the proposal before it was fully approved, Communications Manager Kate Cox said: “The proposal should be viewed in context: Warwick Conferences had a turnover of £15.5 million with a surplus of £5 million in 2008. The surplus is ploughed directly back into the University towards teaching, research and student facilities.”

Warwick Conference Centres play host to leading businesses and companies. The Royal Bank of Scotland described Warwick Conferences as “an excellent venue for our needs. The best aspect is having all support facilities in one place, which is most convenient.”

Whitworth commented on the need for the University to invest in other areas too: “I would personally like to see the University investing in redeveloping the indoor sports facilities. We have fantastic outdoor facilities but the indoor facilities are below par and definitely out of date. Given that it’s such a huge part of student life for so many, it really needs sorting out.”

“To be fair to the University, they are constantly looking to invest in infrastructure that will have a positive impact on students. There is a new section of the business school in the planning stages, current conversations around improving the library service and space are very promising, and the plans to re-landscape the bus terminals and highway access to and from gibbet hill road are all to be applauded.”

Scarman is one of the largest residential Training and Conference Centres in the UK, holding over 54 specialised meeting rooms and 204 luxury en suite bedrooms. It also boasts 12 state-of-the-art lecture rooms and 42 syndicate rooms, as well as an 120-seat tiered lecture theatre and the University markets the centre as a “world- class events package”.