Nourish conference comes to Norwich
Meetings at Barnham Broom
When you’re hosting a big conference, the venue has to do a lot more than look nice. You need space that works for a packed agenda, rooms that can flex between talks and workshops, catering that keeps people energised, and a team who can handle the details without drama.
When it came to planning its first-ever food and drink all-day conference, the Broadland Food Innovation Centre knew they needed a location that would be large enough to host a range of afternoon workshops as well as seating over 120 attendees, with nearly 50 also joining virtually, for the morning key-note speakers. Thankfully, Barnham Broom could offer just that!
The Broadland Food Innovation Centre was established by the University of East Anglia and is described in the original article as an European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) project, created to support food and drink SMEs within the region.
The centre’s wider aim is to help businesses grow and develop supply chains, with an Innovation Cluster that connects organisations across Norfolk and Suffolk through networking, support, collaboration and workshops.
For the Centre’s Innovation Cluster, Nourish was designed as a busy, content-rich day with speakers, workshops and structured networking, which meant the venue needed to handle multiple formats without any compromises.
Event organiser Charlotte-Louise Beach, Marketing & Events Coordinator for UEA’s Research and Innovation Division, summed up what they were looking for:
“We wanted to find a location within Norfolk and Suffolk, a hidden gem, and Barnham Broom perfectly fit the bill. Having so many suites and beautifully decorated rooms, with such spectacular views, we knew it would be the perfect place to hold the Nourish Conference, which utilised all rooms for the afternoon workshops. We have Cluster members from all over East Anglia, so ensuring there was adequate parking was essential in order for all attendees to be able to access the venue and make the most of such an exciting day.”
For an event like this, that combination matters: enough suites to split into breakout workshops, plus a main space that can comfortably seat a large audience, with areas for registration and networking around the edges.
The conference agenda was designed to keep the day moving. Delegates arrived to register and network over breakfast and coffee, before settling in for a morning programme of keynote talks. With remote attendees joining virtually, the technology and set-up needed to support a hybrid element alongside the in-room experience.
The speaker line-up included Cassandra Stavrou MBE, founder of PROPER snacks, and James Averdieck, who built the Gü desserts brand. Later sessions featured Hannah Springham, co-founder of Farmyard Frozen, and Joseph Cordy, Head of Commercial at Paddy & Scotts, followed by a talk from Andrew Fearne, Professor at Norwich Business School.
After lunch, the event shifted into afternoon workshops, with delegates moving between smaller sessions hosted across multiple rooms around the venue. The day then finished with a drinks reception, giving attendees another chance to connect informally after the workshops.
Large, multi-room events don’t run smoothly by accident. They need planning support in advance and a calm, capable presence on the day.
Charlotte also highlighted the team’s involvement throughout the process:
“Nothing was too much for the team at Barnham Broom. We felt incredibly supported, from initially booking the venue… through to organising final details… and finally with the team having constant smiles and a can-do attitude on the day. What a team to be surrounded by!”
That kind of feedback is especially meaningful from organisers who are juggling speakers, delegates, timings and workshop logistics all at once.
Attendee feedback was described as overwhelmingly positive, with delegates appreciating that the workshops were held in separate rooms, making it easy to move between sessions. There were also compliments on the variety and quality of the catering, including how well dietary requirements were accommodated.
The event was a roaring success and Barnham Broom was pleased to play our part in its success. With the highest of standards in food, we are thrilled the delegates enjoyed the catering we offered, whilst the versatile spaces, the location and the setting of the venue worked perfectly for the agenda of the Nourish Conference.
If you’re organising an event with multiple sessions, workshops and networking built in, the most helpful next step is to talk through the shape of your day with the Barnham Broom events team. That includes your expected delegate numbers, whether you need breakout rooms, your preferred catering format, and whether any elements need hybrid support.
For more information on hosting an event at Barnham Broom, contact the team at events@barnham-broom.co.uk or call 01603 759393.
With thanks to Lesley van Dijk for the use of the photography
