The Scottish Event Campus sits proudly on the banks of the River Clyde, less than a mile away from the centre of Scotland’s culture and commerce capital, Glasgow.

The venue has gone through somewhat of an evolution in recent years, leading it to become one of the most iconic venues in the country. The original Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre was established in 1989, and consisted of one building which housed exhibition halls.  In 1997, as a result of the increasing market demand, infamous architect firm Foster + Partners designed the Clyde Auditorium – a 3,000-seater venue encased in an iconic shell.

Fast-forward 17 years and the campus became the only site in the world to host two Foster + Partners buildings as it opened The SSE Hydro. The 13,000-capacity arena, which was built based on principles used to build The Colosseum, shot to world acclaim, reaching top spots on Billboard and Pollstar arena listings – and it has remained there ever since.

The SSE Hydro has had a profound impact on the neighbouring area, Finnieston. Previously a victim of the deindustrialisation of the Clyde, the area has been transformed into a bustling neighbourhood, mirroring London’s Shoreditch. As such, it’s been named The Hippest Place to Live in the UK by The Times and boats over 40 bars and restaurants.

With three world-class facilities on site, a flourishing neighbourhood and a hugely diverse portfolio under it’s belt, the venue felt it was time to rebrand to something more fitting. So, in January 2017, the Scottish Event Campus was revealed – a flagship for the events industry.

Since the rebrand, the Campus has continued to go from strength to strength in all sectors. In Live Entertainment, the Hydro has continued to grace the top of global venue charts, welcoming international A-List celebrities over countless evenings. Two record breaking nights of Metallica (most tickets sold) and Celine Dion (highest grossing concert) and most recently a zero waste-to-landfill show from Mogwai have delighted hundreds of thousands of fans over the year.

Recently recognised with a Silver award at the M&IT Awards, the conferences sector continues to excel in hosting national, international and corporate meetings of all sizes.

On the exhibitions side, the SEC has been crowned the Best Venue over 8,000sqm on more than one occasion, and is celebrating a 97% retention rate this year.

Ultimately, the success of the SEC is down to the teams within it. Passion, cross-sector experience and strong working relationships with city bodies, such as Glasgow Life, Glasgow City Council and Visit Scotland mean that events are brought to life. It’s this team approach which has contributed to year on year growth and outstanding relationships with clients.

To find out more about the Scottish Event Campus, please visit www.sec.co.uk.

Adam Parry
Author: Adam Parry

Adam is the co-founder and editor of www.eventindustrynews.com Adam, a technology evangelist also organises Event Tech Live, Europe’s only show dedicated to event technology and the Event Technology Awards. Both events take place in November, London.