International MINT Conference Brings 23 Countries and £300K to Sheffield

Sheffield welcomed over 350 delegates from 23 different countries recently for the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) International Conference – bringing a direct economic benefit to the Sheffield city region of £290,250. This was the first time MINT had been held in the UK since it began in the early 90s. 

The event, which was secured thanks to the innovative Sheffield Convention Bureau Ambassador Programme, included a three-day conference at Sheffield City Hall and a civic reception at Sheffield Town Hall with fringe events at Sheffield Hallam University’s Furnival Building.

Ambassadors Dr. Jeff Breckon –Reader in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Sheffield Hallam University - and Paul Bliss - Senior Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist at Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Trust were vital in securing the event for Sheffield.

Gemma Tissington, Business Tourism Manager, for Sheffield Convention Bureau at Marketing Sheffield, said: “Thanks to our close relationships with our conference ambassadors we are able to secure fantastic international events like these for the Sheffield City region. We first met Paul in April 2009 when he contacted us to help him write a bid to host the 2011 conference. He presented the bid, which outlined the cities strengths as a diverse and forward looking city with a strong regional tourism and conference capacity, in Barcelona. Sheffield was chosen as the host destination.

“The annual MINT conference was a huge success, with delegates finding the Sheffield experience more memorable than previous host cities San Diego and Barcelona. The delegates were very impressed with the close proximity of all the venues in the city, the standard of the facilities as well as the ease of the transport links to Sheffield from Manchester or London airports, taking advantage of the rail offers with East Midlands Trains.”

The innovative Ambassador Scheme, which is jointly funded by Sheffield City Council and Welcome to Yorkshire, aims to help support and grow business tourism within the city by recruiting leading business professionals and academics who can help identify and attract more conferences and events.

Dr. Jeff Breckon, Sheffield Hallam University and Sheffield Ambassador commented: “The Ambassador Programme has provided invaluable support in all aspects of the event planning. We have been able to work closely with Gemma who has provided access and networking opportunities with providers and given the conference planning team fantastic personalised guidance as well as negotiating with providers on our behalf. The whole Convention Bureau team has been extremely patient, flexible and professional throughout enabling us to develop a very specific programme for a very successful conference”.

In addition to MINT, Sheffield hosted the British Open Paralympic Table Tennis Championships at the English Institute of Sport in September 2011, welcoming 440 participants from 42 different countries. In 2016, Sheffield will welcome the European Congress on Glass which is also expected to attract delegates from across the world.

Gemma continued: “Sheffield is an accessible and well equipped destination to manage international events like these and we are working hard both independently and with our ambassadors and partners to secure more events like this in the future.”

As well as the conference, civic reception and dinner, Sheffield Convention Bureau arranged accommodation, a walking tour of the city centre and games of golf at the nearby Beauchief course. Some delegates stayed an extra night and took a day trip to Chatsworth House or visited Edinburgh or York.

In 2012, the MINT Conference will be held in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

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For further information about organising a conference in Sheffield or South Yorkshire call 0871 700 2214 or visit www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/conference

Editors’ Notes:

Sheffield Convention Bureau forms part of Marketing Sheffield and is the official convention bureau representing venues across Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham, Barnsley and The Peak District.

Sheffield Convention Bureau is supported by Sheffield City Council, Welcome to Yorkshire and tourism businesses across South Yorkshire.

Key facts include:

-       Sheffield Convention Bureau welcomed over 1.20 million delegates into the region in 2008 equating to an economic impact value of over £168 million

-       Sheffield Convention Bureau won Best UK Destination at International Confex in 2008 and 2009

-       Sheffield Convention Bureau was awarded Bronze at the 2009, 2010 and 2011 M&IT Awards in the Best UK Convention Bureau category

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a psychotherapeutic approach for supporting people in making health behaviour and lifestyle change. It is recommended by NICE as an evidence-based counselling approach and is used widely across the UK and the rest of the world. The event provides training for new MI trainers and a forum for existing trainers to share evidence, research and practice.

For further media information please contact:

Victoria Sowerby – Welcome to Yorkshire

Email: victoria@bandhcommunications.co.uk

Direct Line: 0113 243 4713

Mobile: 07968 732630

Gemma Tissington – Sheffield Convention Bureau (formerly Yorkshire South Tourism)

Email: gemma.tissington@marketingsheffield.org  

Direct Line: 0114 201 1015

Mobile:  0781 5944 723