For the fifth consecutive year Ponds Forge welcomed Sheffield Hallam University students for their Annual Sports Awards Ball.

Sport has always played an important part of University life at Hallam and what better way to celebrate their achievements than by hosting an Awards Ceremony in the largest banqueting venue in the region.

Why Ponds Forge

Committed to delivering an exceptional event, the Sports Union faced capacity problems in 2004 and decided to find an alternative venue that would enable the event to grow.

Ponds Forge, the largest banqueting venue in the region and city centre location was a natural choice for event organiser and Hallam's Sport Union Manager, Rick.

The union department has not looked back since this decision and in five years they have developed a close and effective relationship with the SIV banqueting team. Together they develop an event that continually surpasses the expectations of guests each year.

Rick says that not only have they created an event that becomes ‘smoother' but it has increased the team's confidence to ‘play around with the running order of the event' and this year, it ‘really paid off'.

Challenges
Every year brings a tight budget and tickets to the event have to be affordable for students. This year was tougher than usual due to the economic climate and the team anticipated lower attendance figures on previous years and planned for this eventuality.

Ensuring the event takes place each year is a shared goal for the event organiser and the SIV team and a ‘comfortable compromise' was achieved to allow Rick the flexibility to go ahead with arrangements without guaranteed numbers in the hope that ticket sales would increase closer to the event date.

Execution
This year the events team decided to transform the entrance foyer into a welcome lounge bar with live pianist. Rick commented that ‘we only heard positive feedback about the performance at the start of the night' and that it is ‘definitely worth having as part of the event'.

Rick explains that this new live lounge bar option was ‘not only a spectacle but a strategic part of the night to settle the audience in preparation for the dinner'. Guests then ventured into the majestically transformed International Hall. (To view transformation of the hall, click on video below).

Guests enjoyed a fine dining experience with silver service, Rick commented that the food which was 'fresh and tasty' came in 'great portion sizes'.

The awards ceremony took place after some dazzling pyrotechnical entertainment and all formalities were ‘finished on time'. The guests then enjoyed a disco until the early hours.

Overview
Rick claims that there were too many highlights from the event to mention, but he and his team were impressed with the ‘smooth execution of the event' and that they ‘look forward to working with SIV again for the 2010 event'.

Rick and the Sports Union would recommend Ponds Forge to any organisation wishing to hold a similar event.

To enquire about hosting a dinner dance at Ponds Forge call:
0870 121 3690
Or make an online enquiry

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