Latest Our Events Spring Convention FAQ for Spring Convention Frequently Asked Questions Please check these FAQs for answers. If the information you seek isn’t here, or in the Full Convention programme contact details are at the end of the page. Where and when is the Convention?The Convention is held at Harper Adams University, Shropshire, TF10 8NB12th – 14th April 2024, with a Welcome dinner at 6.30pm on Thursday 11th Will the 2024 Convention lectures be available virtually?Although the event will mainly be face-to-face, the intention is to record four lectures on Saturday 13th April in the Weston Lecture Theatre and the 5pm Virtual Lecture on Friday. Once edited, these should be available at a later date on the BBKA YouTube Channel. When is the Trade Show?The Commercial Trade Show is on Saturday 13th only: 08.30 – 16.30There is a Not-for-Profit Exhibition on both Friday 12th and Saturday 13th When are online bookings open?Book Here From noon on 29th January to 2nd April, or until accommodation, individual workshops / seminars, dinners, camper pitches etc are fully booked. Harper Adams staff do NOT have Convention wristbands, workshops or dinners for sale. Can I buy tickets at the Convention?You will be able to buy these from Friday 12th April after 09.00, when they can be purchased at the ‘On-the-Day’ rate, at the Convention Reception in Harper Adams Faccenda building (card payments only please). See prices below. How much do wristband tickets cost? In Advance (until 2nd April) ‘On-the-Day’ (Card Payments Only) Convention Three-day Wristband. Admits Friday 12th, Sat 13th & Sun 14th £33 £38 Convention Wristband, Friday 12th £17 £20 Convention Wristband, Saturday 13th £23 £28 Convention Wristband, Sunday 14th £12 £15 Trade Show only Saturday 13th N/A £6 18-25 Years (evidence of age required) N/A Half relevant advance rate 17 Years and under N/A Free Saturday 13th Trade Show Only bands are just £6, and also give access to Speakers Corner, but not to Workshops, Seminars nor Lectures. Full Day / Three-day Convention wristbands range from £12 to £38. Please click Full Convention programme for more details What are the accommodation options?There is limited accommodation at Harper Adams. With no endorsement or recommendation by the BBKA, click here for a list of other local hotels and guest houses. Is there parking nearby?Harper Adams is around 15 minutes from the M54 in rural Shropshire, with large car parks on campus, all just a short walk from Convention venues. Stewards will guide you to park in the most appropriate location. Mobility parking is situated outside the Queen Mother Refectory. Can I charge my Electric Vehicle?There are two EV charging points available at Harper Adams University. These are free to use, but they are on the other side of the campus (on the other side of the main road) and you need to register with Harper Adams as a visitor before you can use one. You can do this before your arrival at the Convention. This is the procedure: On the Harper Adams University website, complete a ‘Visitor Registration Form’ Give your personal details: You are visiting ‘L Plant’ and the ‘BBKA Convention’. Tick that you will be driving to the campus, provide your car registration and tick that you will require EV charging. (NB Convention participants do NOT need to register as visitors unless they require EV charging). You will receive a confirmation of registration email. When you are at the Convention, you will need to contact security (go to the HAU reception) to ensure the charger is available and switched on. Once ‘3’ above is complet, go to the charging point. Turn right off the Convention side of the site on to the B5062, Shrewsbury Road, Turn first left into HAU property and left again and into the car park on your right. The two charging points are in the far-right hand corner. Can I get to the Spring Convention by public transport?Information about public transport is available via the Harper Adams University website . The nearest rail stations are Telford Central and Stafford. One-way taxi fares from these stations are around £25 and £35 respectively. Why are wristband tickets needed?Three-day or full single Day wrist-bands are needed for lectures, workshops, seminars and the Commercial Trade Show. With a wristband (except ‘Trade Show only’ bands) there is NO further charge for lectures, seminars nor to enter the Trade Show. The additional cost of all workshops is kept as low as possible because participants also buy wristbands. How do I make a booking?From Noon on 29th January until 2nd April, please click the Book Here link. Having selected your wristband, please scroll through other options which are in date order, add any you wish to your basket, check-out and pay. You will have an electronic ticket(s) to bring or to print and bring. Do I need my BBKA membership number to book?NO, the Convention is open to non-members. The booking system will not ask for a membership number. How do I book lectures?Unlike Workshops and Seminars, Lectures CANNOT be pre-booked. Please be at the lecture theatre in good time to ensure entry. Latecomers will not be admitted. How can I find out more information about a Workshop or Seminar before I book? A synopsis of each lecture, workshop and seminar is included in the programme. Please read the synopsis of any workshop or seminar you are considering in pages 19-49 of the programme. Before you book a full schedule of these, please remember to check for clashes with lectures – and leave time to patronise the Trade Show on Saturday! What can I do if online workshop booking has ended?Please come to the Convention Reception in the Faccenda building at Harper Adams from Friday 12th, to book any remaining places on Workshops and Seminars. What if I didn't get the booking confirmed by e-mail?Check your SPAM or JUNK folders on your e-mail account. If you still can’t find an e-mail confirmation, please e-mail [email protected] The workshop was fully booked, can I add my name to the waiting list?Yes, please put your name and mobile phone number on the waiting list Ticket 00 WAITING-LIST FOR BOOKED OUT EVENT. If another delegate cancels, we will contact you. Why are there extra charges for some workshops?The extra charges cover materials, or workshops that are specialised or costly to run. The cost of payable workshops is kept as low as possible because participants also buy wristbands. Can I make a booking for some-one else?YES, please provide the name of the person for whom you are booking when this is requested on the booking site. Are there tea & coffee making facilities in bedrooms?Kettles, mugs and sachets for tea and coffee making are provided in the kitchens adjacent to groups of rooms at Harper Adams. Can I request a hairdryer or firm / extra pillow?Sorry, no. We suggest you bring these items with you. Can I camp at the Convention at Harper Adams?Yes – but you must pre-book on the Spring Convention website and camp only in the permitted areas. Please collect your camping permit from the Hospitality Kiosk in the Queen Mother Refectory foyer on arrival and display it on your van (or keep it available for checking in your tent). Overnighting in cars / vans / lorries, other than in the designated areas and on display of a permit, is not allowed. Can I buy something to eat at Harper Adams instead of the bookable dinners?On Thursday 11th the Graze café will serve sandwiches, cakes and hot drinks until 16.30. However, there will be no hot food after 14.00 other than the Welcome Dinner. Graze will be open until 17.30 on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th. Confectionery and snacks are available from vending machines in Graze and residents can make tea / coffee in their kitchens. Will there be vegetarian alternatives at dinners?Yes, please give details of special dietary requirements when booking and suitable alternatives will be provided. On Thursday and Saturday evening you will make your selection from the servery. The Convention Dinner on Friday evening is served at the tables with a seating plan. Can I sit with friends at the dinners?Yes, on Thursday and Saturday there is no seating plan for dinner. Please sit wherever you prefer. Unless you are at a pre-selected table as a Speaker or Trustee, we ask you to choose your dining companions for Friday’s Convention Dinner before noon at the Hospitality Kiosk in the Queen Mother Refectory foyer. There will be a named label which we will ask you to affix to the table plan. How late can I collect my accommodation room key?Harper Adams Room keys can be collected from the Hospitality Kiosk in the Queen Mother Refectory foyer until 18.30 on Thursday. If you arrive after 18.30, your key will be with a member of the SC Committee dining in the refectory. After dinner finishes (about 21.00) the Harper Adams Security Staff will hold any remaining room keys. If you arrive after dinner has finished, please phone 07980 061128 / 01952 815321 to contact Security. I'm now unable to attend the workshop/meal/room I booked. Can I cancel rather than waste a place?Wristbands are not refundable but if you book workshops, accommodation, dinners etc and find you are unable to attend, you can make a request to cancel by contacting sce[email protected]. Please do this as soon as possible, in order to free up the place for others. Can I bring a trolley to the Trade Show?Trolleys will only be allowed as far as the three rear traders’ entrances. For safety reasons they are not permitted in the Trading Halls. I’m planning to buy some heavy kit. How close can I get my vehicle?Please aske the trader you are purchasing from for a vehicle pass to access the rear entrance to pick-up your purchases. Please then return the pass to the trader and remove your vehicle. Can I drive up to the wax exchange and pre-order collection area?Yes. But only on Friday afternoon and Saturday. 8.30-4.30. How late can I come to the Welcome Dinner on Thursday 11th?The servery opens at 18.30 on Thursday 11th. Booked dinners should be available until 19.30. Will I receive a complimentary anniversary hive tool if I’ve bought my wristband in advance or if I’m a steward, speaker, honorary member or trader?Yes - While stocks last. Please enquire at Faccenda reception. How can I buy 150-year Anniversary MerchandiseIn the booking website, select the first option: Merchandise. Please enter 1 for the number of Merchandise tickets, (entry wristband tickets should be purchased on other lines of the site). Thereafter select the size / number of items you wish and check-out, or continue shopping for wristbands, workshops, seminars dinners etc. Your merchandise should be collected from the Weston building foyer during the Convention. Please show your printed or electronic purchase receipt. If I buy a sweatshirt but I find it is too small, will I be able to exchange it?A few extra sweatshirts will be available to enable exchanges – but only whilst a suitable replacement remains available. Please be guided by the sizes shown when you make your purchase. I’ve bought 150-year Merchandise but can no longer attend the Convention. Can a friend collect it for me? Yes, collection of items by / for friends is fine. The participant making the collection will need to show the printed or electronic purchase receipt On-line purchases of 150-year Anniversary Merchandise have closed. Can I buy them at the Convention?Purchases at the Convention cannot be guaranteed. However, if there is surplus stock, it may be available to buy at the Merchandise Collection point in the Weston building foyer. Can I bring my dog to the Convention?No dogs other than Assistance Dogs are permitted on the Harper Adams site. Harper Adams adheres to stringent animal welfare policies. Consequently, dogs and other pet animals must NOT be left unattended in vehicles. I have mobility / other access needs. How can I ask for assistance at the Convention?If you require a ground floor bedroom, please request this when booking. If you may need other assistance on campus, such as help to evacuate in the unlikely event of an emergency, please advise a member of staff in reception on arrival and the lead steward for any workshop or lectures you are attending. If you would like to discuss your requirements in private, please contact Joyce Nisbet, the SC Chair (details below). First Aid, Emergencies and Medical helpDuring Convention hours, first aid support at Harper Adams is available from BBKA reception, in Faccenda reception. Out of hours, contact the SC Chair on 07798 680398 or Harper Adams Security on 07980 061128. For emergency medical treatment call 999 and also notify Harper Adams switchboard of the emergency via 01952 815599 or 5599 internal. What do I do if there is a problem with my room?Accommodation issues at Harper Adams should be reported to the Short Courses and Conferences Office: 01952 815324 and to BBKA reception in Faccenda. Out of hours, to Security 07980 061128. Contact DetailsBBKA Office: [email protected] or 02476 696679Accommodation, Campers, Dinners (SC Volunteer): [email protected]Workshops (SC Volunteer Convenor): [email protected]Cancellations & Other Enquiries (SC Chair): [email protected] / 07798 680398 Please note:BBKA Spring Convention volunteers will respond to emails as soon as they can. However, particularly in the week before the Convention they have many competing demands. Your understanding of any delays is appreciated. Visit the Planning your Spring Convention page for more information on the event Manage Cookie Preferences