This September, Spaces at The Spine is celebrating its third anniversary as the Royal College of Physicians’ (RCP) event venue in the North. Since opening on 8th September 2021, we’ve become one of Liverpool’s leading destinations to host world-class events, and our wonderful team has been key to achieving this success. 

To mark the special occasion, we’re chatting with three members of the team who have helped make the venue what it’s become today. We caught up with two of our Meetings and Events Planners, Alison and Emily, and our Head of Commercial Events, Natacha, to learn more about their roles and to find out how Spaces at The Spine has evolved since it first opened. 

How long have you worked at the RCP and Spaces at The Spine?

Natacha: 23 years at the RCP, with the last six years involving working on the concept, building and then opening of Spaces at The Spine - it’s been a long but very rewarding journey! I started as a Meetings and Events Planner in our London venue, RCP London Events, moving to sales and then incorporating marketing into my role. I started leading the team in 2019, and since then we’ve expanded and launched our second venue in 2021. 

Alison: Seven years ago - I started my journey at our first base in Liverpool, located in the William Henry Duncan building, then moved to Spaces at The Spine just before we launched the venue. 

Emily: I started on the very day we launched Spaces at The Spine, I had the opportunity to help out with the execution of the launch event.

What do you love most about your jobs? 

Natacha: I love how the venue is constantly evolving and growing. We have a super creative and innovative team who are always keen to incorporate the latest trends, so we have a lot of fun collaborating on new ideas. Plus, seeing the team get recognised for these achievements is very satisfying. 

Alison and Emily: We love seeing an event come to life and helping clients turn their visions into reality. It’s an extremely rewarding process and each successful event gives you more confidence, which can help you when planning the next. Plus, showing off our fabulous venue is a bonus! 

How has your role changed since joining Spaces at The Spine?

Natacha: As Spaces at The Spine continues to evolve and establish itself as a world-class events venue, our team has likewise grown in tandem. We’ve gone from a team of one to six, which now includes event planning, business development, sales and marketing as well as supporting managers who work across both our sites.

Alison and Emily: Spaces at The Spine is continually growing, meaning that we’re welcoming more and more national and international conferences and clients each year. This has allowed us to become more experienced planners as we learn to adapt to each new event as well as expand our knowledge through working with our operational front-of-house team.

Describe three personality traits that make a good event planner

Alison and Emily: Most importantly, being friendly. We need to show all of our clients that they can immediately trust us to plan their events and the best way to do this is by being a friendly face. Next, is being pragmatic - approaching each event sensibly and practically ensures that we can be fully confident in delivering our client’s vision and that their event runs smoothly. Finally, be a good listener, because if you can’t understand their basic requirements, the event is going to have more than a few hiccups. 

Natacha: I agree with being a good listener and I also think confidence in your ability and your product is important as it builds trust. Resilience is also key, as this allows you to juggle the many elements and pressures that incorporate this action-packed role.

As a collective, what are your golden rules of event planning? 

• Be prepared and organised. As the saying goes: fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Plan as much as possible and your future self will thank you 
• Set deadlines and reminders (and stick to them) 
• Be clear and set expectations right from the start
• Clear and consistent communication to avoid misunderstandings is vital
• There’s no such thing as too much information

What’s the most outstanding feature of Spaces at The Spine for anyone holding an event?

Alison and Emily: It has to be the views! We offer spaces on floors eleven, twelve and thirteen of The Spine, meaning each event automatically comes with sweeping views of Liverpool and beyond - you can see nearly all of the city’s iconic landmarks, including both cathedrals, Royal Albert Dock, Radio City Tower, and more. 

Natacha: In addition to our fantastic panoramic views, I’d say the next-generation technology, which is mostly built-in, is a game changer. It instantly streamlines programs, takes significant time off set-up and break-down, and has layers of functionality that enable flexibility, which in today’s fast-paced world is necessary.

How has Spaces at The Spine changed since it first opened? 

Natacha: We’re now a multi-award-winning venue. We’ve increased our visibility through the great work of the whole team and have secured our place as one of Liverpool’s finest conference and event venues in three short years! The RCP has also achieved the WELL Standard accreditation at the platinum level, making us one of the healthiest buildings in the UK - who doesn’t want to come out feeling healthier and more rested than when you went in?

Alison and Emily: Our technology capabilities are always evolving thanks to our AV team. They’re constantly developing new concepts and sourcing advanced tech to bring new possibilities to our clients. Similarly, our catering team is very innovative and creates bespoke menus adhering to our WELL Standard concepts as well as current trends. 

How do you think event planning and the industry will change in the years to come?

Natacha: AI tech will play a big part in the future of events, as well as sustainability and environmental practices becoming standardised expectations. 

Alison and Emily: As Natacha mentioned, event planners will have to become more creative with how they adhere to sustainability. We’ve noticed more and more clients wanting to incorporate green elements into their events, and luckily these practices are already front and centre here. We certainly believe that in the future plant-based menus and zero-waste policies will pave the way if they’re not already considered normal practice.