International Association of Conference Centres
Accreditation
International Association of Conference Centres
All Sundial’s venues are accredited members of IACC. Setting standards for the dedicated meeting environment this organisation brings together some of the best specialist business meeting venues in the world, helping members stay well informed of developments and trends and responsive to the needs of clients.
Investors in People
Accreditation
Investors in People
The Investors in People Standard is a business improvement tool designed to help organisations improve performance and realise objectives through the management and development of their people. Sundial Group has been accredited since 1999
Hotel Booking Agents’ Association
Accreditation
Hotel Booking Agents’ Association
Sundial Group’s Venues are Charter Partners of the HBAA, meaning they abide by the organisation’s code-of-conduct. The HBAA represents the interests of booking agents in the United Kingdom
Conference Centres of Excellence
Accreditation
Conference Centres of Excellence
Highgate House is a member of CCE, a consortium of dedicated, specialist conference and training venues.
The Institute of Management
Accreditation
The Institute of Management
Sundial Group is a Corporate Partner of the Institute, the UK's leading professional body for managers. Its work and resources are devoted to ensuring that managers, at all levels and in all disciplines, continually develop their full potential to achieve success for themselves and for the businesses which they manage.
The British Chambers of Commerce
Accreditation
The British Chambers of Commerce
Each Sundial business is a member of its local Chamber of Commerce. These organisations support local businesses, acting as the network and voice for over 126,000 members working to reduce burdens and create a more favourable business environment .
The Meetings Industry Association
Accreditation
The Meetings Industry Association
Sundial is a member of the MIA which is the recognised professional trade organisation for the conference industry in Great Britain and Ireland. It seeks to raise the profile of the UK as an international conference destination and establish the ethical standards and codes of conduct for the industry.
The British Quality Foundation
Accreditation
The British Quality Foundation
The British Quality Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit, membership company. Its mission is to be the driving force for sustainable excellence in organisations throughout the UK. Sundial Group has been a member of the foundation since 1993 and is fully committed to its aims.
Training Venue of the Year
Award
Training Venue of the Year
Highgate House has won the ‘Training Venue of the Year' title in the World of Learning Awards 2007.
Leading industry figures gathered at the World of Learning Awards ceremony held at the Birmingham NEC on the 14th November 2007. These awards are among the training industry's most prestigious, and the ‘Training Venue of the Year' category recognises a venue that offers the best services and support for training needs.
This award called for a venue that could both offer and tailor its services to individual training needs, with a particular commitment to focus, dedicated customer service, technical support and high quality catering. This is a concept that is highly regarded throughout the Sundial Group portfolio where strong values and high attention to detail provide the basis for the first class meeting experience we offer.
The award was accepted with great honour and delight, and it is a great achievement to be recognised at such a remarkable event. This accolade is the second in two months for Sundial Group's head office, having been credited with a Gold award in the ‘Meet England' category of the Enjoy England Excellence in Tourism Awards (East Midlands region) early in October.
Six of the eight finalists in the category, including Highgate House, were members of Conference Centres of Excellence (Britain's leading consortium of dedicated specialist conference and training venues) confirming the notion that a dedicated conference environment is the optimal choice for a focus on training needs.
Enjoy England, Excellence in Tourism Awards 2007
Award
Enjoy England, Excellence in Tourism Awards 2007
Woodside has been named runner up in the ‘Meet England' category of the Enjoy England Excellence Awards 2007 - Heart of England Region.
Our Kenilworth property received a silver award at a magnificent ceremony held at Birmingham Town Hall on the 23rd October. Presented by local TV and radio presenters Sarah-Jane Mee and Ed James, the awards celebrate the successes and achievements made to deliver excellence to the Heart of England region.
The ‘Meet England' category was formerly titled Business Tourism of the Year. The award acknowledges a thriving business tourism market in the UK, and recognises in particular those attributes that contribute to unrivalled success. These include a commitment to excellence, customer care, environmental initiatives and a devotion to the training and development of staff.
It is an honour to be recognised and rewarded in such a prestigious event. Woodside enjoys this title through its dedicated conference centre environment and strong emphasis on values and the delivery of a quality service.
Highgate House Strikes Gold
Award
Highgate House Strikes Gold
Highgate House is a Gold Award winner in the 'Meet England' category of the Enjoy England Excellence Awards 2007 - East Midlands Region.
Previously titled ‘Business Tourism of the Year', this award acknowledges the thriving business tourism market in the UK, with particular recognition of a commitment to excellence, customer care, staff training and development and care for the environment.
Godiva Awards 2007
Award
Godiva Awards 2007
Woodside have received a bronze award under the Best Conference Venue title
The award was decided by a panel of Industry specialists and announced at a glittering ceremony held at the Belgrade Theatre on the 25th October 2007.
The awards promote and reward excellence in the Coventry and Warwickshire region; paying particular attention to the lifestyle, business, and leisure industry.
This recognition follows earlier success in the same week when Woodside was named as runner-up in the Enjoy England, Excellence in Tourism awards (Heart of England region), gaining a silver award in the ‘Meet England' category.
Sundial Chef wins IACC Copper Skillet
Award
Sundial Chef wins IACC Copper Skillet
Lee Gaskins, recently-appointed head chef at Highgate House, our Northamptonshire venue, has won the UK heat of the International Association of Conference Centres ‘Copper Skillet' competition and will go on to represent the UK at the world final in America this April..
IACC represents bona fide conference centres across the globe, with member centres belonging to chapters in the UK, North America, Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands and Australia. A standards-driven association rather than a marketing organisation, its stringently-assessed members represent the elite of the UK's dedicated conference centres, committed to providing superior working environments to corporate guests.
The Copper Skillet is an annual competition that invites the best chefs across the chapters to compete for the international honour of IACC 'Chef of the Year'. The winner from each Chapter's heat competes in a cook-off at the IACC International Conference, which, this year, will be held in New Jersey.
The 2007 theme for the event is Thai cuisine, and Lee's pan-fried pommfret (a classic fish extremely popular in Thailand) served with stir fried noodles, crisp soft-shell crab and red curry sauce finished with kaffir lime leaves impressed the judges sufficiently to make him the top chef at the UK heat.
Previous accolades for Lee include numerous medals at Hotelympia and Hospitality Salon Culinaires, and he was also the inaugural winner of the Conference Centres of Excellence ‘Chef of the Year' competition. Lee has moved to Highgate House from Woodside, our Warwickshire venue, where he has worked for the last 13 years, becoming Head Chef in 2002. Just last year he mentored his chef de partie at Woodside, David Webb, to the same honour. The UK cook-off was judged by Peter Griffiths, President of the British Culinary Federation.
Jerry Toth, our Operations Director (and himself a multiple award-winning chef) praised Lee's talent and commitment. 'We are very proud to have Lee as our head chef at Woodside. Time and time again he is judged to be a top chef, and he is always dedicated to advancing the careers of young chefs lucky enough to work with him. The standards we maintain across our Group ensure unforgettable dining experiences.'
Heart of England ‘Excellence in Tourism’ Awards
Award
Heart of England ‘Excellence in Tourism’ Awards
Woodside, our Kenilworth-based venue, has won the 2006 Gold Award in the Business Tourism Category.
The venue has landed the Gold Award in the Business Tourism of the Year category in the Tourism Excellence Awards - considered the biggest and best tourism awards around.
In a ceremony at Coventry Cathedral staff from the venue collected their accolades and progress to the national "Enjoy England - Awards for Excellence", where they will represent the region and compete for the national award.
Woodside, set in 32 acres of beautiful Warwickshire countryside, is a residential conference centre that creates a superb environment for business travellers with its 74 en-suite bedrooms and extensive leisure facilities.
Joanna Chudley, Sundial Group's Marketing Director praised the venue's team and their dedication: "It's what we are here to do and it justifies our commitment to developing the standards, the people and the service across our locations. We are confident that we are good at what we do, we know we work very hard and it's nice to have that recognised.
It's great to win in such a competitive category - fingers crossed for the national awards!"
National Training Awards 2006
Award
National Training Awards 2006
"Through the Customer's Eyes", the training programme we deliver to our staff, has landed us our second East Midlands training award.
Since February 2004, more than 300 of our staff have undergone the ‘Through the Customer's Eyes' programme, which is a bespoke training tool delivered and managed by our Training and Development team.
Team members are invited on to the ‘Through the Customer's Eyes' course with joining instructions and a £5 note towards completing a pre-course visit to a food outlet to test customer service! This experience opens the debate on professionalism. All participants tour the venue with digital cameras to take photos of good or bad examples of features from a customer's viewpoint, while ‘Reflections of You' uses a mirror to help them identify areas for improvement in appearance and self-confidence. The participants also use masks in one session to demonstrate how facial expressions show what we are feeling.
Linda Roberts, Group Training and Development Manager, who is based at Highgate House in Creaton, Northamptonshire, said: "Through the Customer's Eyes' is a unique hospitality customer service programme which inspired and motivated all staff leading to Sundial Group maintaining its position as one of the leading venue suppliers in the UK."
Sundial Group was an East Midlands winner in the 2004 National Training Awards, and in 2005 won ‘Best Venue Group Meeting Product' in the Meetings & Incentive Travel Magazine Awards, remaining in the top two for 2006. Additionally, Woodside's chef was named "IACC/CCE Chef of the Year" for 2006 and Barnett Hill won a Surrey Sustainable Business Award for its environmental and social responsibility initiatives.
This latest accolade was announced in the same week Woodside in Warwickshire, won gold in the Business Tourism Category of its region's "Enjoy England - Awards for Excellence" competition.
Further success for Sundial Group Chef
Award
Further success for Sundial Group Chef
We are delighted to announce that Woodside, our Warwickshire venue, is celebrating further success in the kitchen after David Webb, Chef de Partie, took home the Gold Award in the CCE/IACC Chef of the Year Competition 2006.
Of the eight years that this competition has been staged by Conference Centres of Excellence and the International Association of Conference Centres, Sundial Group's chefs have been victorious four times. Lee Gaskins, Woodside's Head Chef, was the inaugural winner, and he has mentored David since he started his career at Sundial Group last February. In fact, this is something of a third-generation success for Sundial Group, because Lee himself was trained by our Operations Director, award-winning chef Jerry Toth.
Jerry, who following the publication of the Sundial Group Cookbook late last year, pens regular articles in meetings industry magazines about the importance of quality cuisine, was delighted with this most recent success, "We take food very seriously across our venues, and I am thrilled for David, Lee and all at Sundial Group that their talents have been recognised in this way. He was up against some pretty stiff competition from a selection of excellent chefs and won not only the Gold Award, but also the ‘Best Main Course' certificate."
"Competitions such as these are great for raising the profile of the cuisine provided by dedicated conference centres, and help challenge the perception of our venues in the marketplace."
This award follows hot on the heels of the Silver medal that David won at this year's Midlands Salon Culinairé, held at the NEC, in the senior Duck class. For coming first, David wins a gold medal, silver salver, £150, a case of fine wines and the prestige of being CCE/IACC Chef of the Year for 2006.
Godiva Awards 2005
Award
Godiva Awards 2005
Woodside, in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, was a finalist in the 'Best Conference Venue' category of the 2005 Godiva Awards
Meetings Industry Marketing Awards 2005
Award
Meetings Industry Marketing Awards 2005
The Sundial Group was honoured at the Meetings Industry Marketing Awards with the silver award in the "Best Public Relations Campaign" category in recognition of the Chudbus, the promotional red London bus the company uses to tell its family story.
Tim Chudley, Managing Director (and Bus Driver) received the award at the presentation ceremony in London and spoke of how pleased he was that the Chudbus had received further industry recognition.
'It's great to win another award for a campaign very close to us all. The Chudbus acknowledges the fact that Sundial Group has always been a family business of which we're all very proud. It's a story we enjoy telling, mainly because it differentiates us from the other large operators in the industry: we're not driven by the demands of institutional investors or the stock market -; only by those of our customers -; and, having lasted over forty years already, we are here to stay'
The Chudbus was launched at the National Venue Show in 2004 and the subsequent campaign included features on BBC Radio, ITV Regional News and local newspapers as well as in meetings industry press. A promotional DVD, replica miniature Routemaster buses and even t-shirts follow the Chudbus whenever it travels either to present to customers and venue finding agencies at their offices or to exhibit at trade shows: the next of which is November's World of Learning Exhibition in Birmingham.
The Chudbus was also successful in the International Association of Conference Centres "Forum for Great Ideas" in March this year, picking up three awards at the organisation's annual conference in the USA.
Coventry Evening Telegraph Business Awards 2005
Award
Coventry Evening Telegraph Business Awards 2005
Woodside has won the 'Training Excellence Award' category of the Coventry Evening Telegraph Business Awards.
This accolade comes hot on the heels of Sundial scooping the top award for "Best Venue Group Meeting Product" category at the 2005 Meetings & Incentive Travel Awards and two "Forum for Great Ideas" awards at the annual conference of the International Association of Conference Centres (IACC) in the USA.
As part of the family-owned Sundial Group, one of the UK's leading venue operators, Woodside represents Sundial's highly acclaimed culture based upon a distinct customer care philosophy; looking after guests better than anyone else. It is through the Group's commitment to training that the team and the environment at Woodside embody these values. The Training Excellence Award highlights this commitment and the investment the Sundial Group offers employees with training and development.
Woodside's general manager, Julie Hammond, was extremely excited and proud to receive the Training Excellence Award and commented; "The thoughtful planning, attention to detail and dedication of Sundial's human resources director Lucy McGibbon and training and development manager Linda Roberts, have provided management and staff training opportunities across the Group that contribute to Sundial's continued success."
Woodside provides the ideal environment for conferences, meetings, learning events and corporate hospitality. The purpose built conference and syndicate rooms offering state-of-the-art equipment, are complemented by excellent accommodation, extensive leisure facilities and award-winning catering.
IACC ‘Forum for Great Ideas’ 2005
Award
IACC ‘Forum for Great Ideas’ 2005
The Chudbus was honoured with three awards by the International Association of Conference Centers. Having impressed the judges in the Sales and Marketing Category it was then awarded a 'Best of the Best' prize before being voted the conference delegates' favourite entry in the 'People's Choice' award.
The Chudbus, the promotional vehicle we use to tell our unique family history, has been recognised by the International Association of Conference Centres (IACC) at its Annual Conference in Virginia.
Each year the Association runs a "Forum for Great Ideas", and this time we ‘drove' (well, actually we flew) away with three awards; celebrating success in the forum for the third year running.
After winning the Sales & Marketing category, the Chudbus was given one of two special "Best of the Best" awards by the judges, before winning the popular vote of the "People's Choice" award at the three day event. Previous Sundial Group innovations recognised by IACC include our Sunetic® Walls display system and delegate ‘Goody Bags'.
Tim Chudley, Sundial's managing director and for six years a member of the IACC Global Board, was also honoured at the conference, being presented with a cut-glass trophy in recognition of the end of his term as Global President. Speaking first of the Chudbus's success, he was thrilled with what had become of his initial idea. "We'd been trying to find a unique way to tell the family story behind Sundial Group for some time when I stumbled across some old family film of our bus trip to America in the 1950s. In my other role as Sundial Group Bus Driver, my Sales Team and I have taken our message to exhibitions and clients all over the country, while our Marketing Team, led by my sister, Jo, has gained us tremendous exposure on TV, Radio and in the press."
Meetings and Incentive Travel Magazine Industry Awards 2005
Award
Meetings and Incentive Travel Magazine Industry Awards 2005
Sundial Group was ecstatic to win the "Best Venue Group Meeting Product" category at the 2005 M&IT Awards, particularly as the other finalists, hotel giants Hilton and Marriott, offered such stiff competition.
As the awards are decided solely by customer votes, the result clearly demonstrates just how highly regarded dedicated conference venues have become. Sundial Group's four venues are known not only for superb facilities in beautiful locations, but also for their unrivalled approach to customer hospitality, and this recent success shows that the long-established operator will continue to lead the marketplace in 2005.
Sundial Group sales & marketing director Jo Chudley was delighted to receive the award and immediately thanked all who voted for the Group. "I am so grateful to our customers." She said, "We enjoy excellent relationships with all who use our venues and this award shows they feel the same way. It's quite humbling to think that they felt strongly enough about our product to take the time to vote for us." Also in line for thanks was the company's workforce, with Jo adding "this award is for everyone at Sundial, and I really cannot praise the staff highly enough".
Managing director Tim Chudley, a champion of the conference centre concept, was also thrilled with the company's success. "The foundation of our business is the belief that dedicated conference venues offer a better service," he commented "and it is great to know that those who receive that service agree."
Meetings and Incentive Travel Magazine Industry Awards 2005
Award
Meetings and Incentive Travel Magazine Industry Awards 2005
Highgate House was a finalist in the 'Best Conference and Banqueting Staff' category.
Meetings and Incentive Travel Magazine Industry Awards 2005
AwardMeetings and Incentive Travel Magazine Industry Awards 2005
Highgate House was a finalist in the 'Best UK Management Training Centre' category.
Surrey Sustainable Business Awards 2004
Award
Surrey Sustainable Business Awards 2004
Barnett Hill, just outside Guildford, was 'Highly Commended' for its environmentally-friendly approach to business in the 2004 Surrey Sustainable Business Awards
Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards 2004
AwardNorthamptonshire Business Excellence Awards 2004
Highgate House, last year's winner, was again a finalist in the 'Best Customer Service' category of its local excellence awards.
National Training Awards 2004
Award
National Training Awards 2004
Sundial Group was named as an East Midlands Regional Winner of the National Training Awards 2004 for a training programme designed to ensure management skills are consistent across the company.
The business began at Highgate House (Northampton) in 1964, and over the last ten years grew first into Barnett Hill (Surrey), then Woodside (Warwickshire). With this expansion came many challenges, including the need to transfer management from the family's "hands on" approach to new management teams, the creation of a new strategy for management development, and the necessity to create a learning culture for all staff.
Workshops, master classes, one-to-one coaching and ‘Teamscapes®', Sundial's own outdoor team-building activities, were all used by Lucy McGibbon (HR Director) and Linda Roberts (Group Training and Development Manager) to deliver the management development programme.
Said Linda: "As a large percentage of managers are appointed internally the programme is now being used to prepare potential managers with the necessary skills.
Managers have personal development plans and their training needs are reviewed every six months and they are encouraged to conduct regular team training events. Managers have completed NVQs in management and team leadership and have also encouraged their teams to pursue other qualifications."
One of the main outcomes of the programme has been that the family values and culture are now replicated at all four of the Group's venues (in Bath, Surrey, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire) and, Linda adds: "The management development programme has greatly contributed to the continuing success of Sundial Group in becoming the leader in the meeting venue industry."
Hotelympia Conference Chef of the Year 2004
Award
Hotelympia Conference Chef of the Year 2004
Woodside's head chef picked up the bronze medal in these prestigious catering awards.
Lee Gaskins presented grilled fillet of sea-bass on wilted greens, provençal vegetable tortellini and a fine herb dressing followed by a duo of beef (roast sirloin and pan-fried blade), served with truffle mash potato, roast vegetables and a Madeira jus.
Meetings and Incentive Travel Magazine Industry Awards 2004
Award
Meetings and Incentive Travel Magazine Industry Awards 2004
Highgate House, our Northamptonshire venue, was victorious in the 'Best Conference and Banqueting Staff' category of the M&IT Industry Awards.
IACC ‘Best Practices Forum’ 2004
Award
IACC ‘Best Practices Forum’ 2004
Sundial Group's Goody Bags were recognised by the International Association of Conference Centers at its annual conference. The prize was in the Conference Services/Planning Category.
Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards 2003
AwardNorthamptonshire Business Excellence Awards 2003
Highgate House was delighted to be given the 'Best Customer Service' award of the 2003 Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards.
IACC ‘Best Practices Forum’ 2003
Award
IACC ‘Best Practices Forum’ 2003
Sunetic Walls, Sundial's patented magnetic walls display system, has won the 'Conference Room Design' category of the International Association of Conference Centers 'Best Practices Forum'
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