Wandsworth Professional Development Centre
Smart space, for smart thinking people.
Welcome
“The staff here look after me tremendously. They set up the computer before I arrive and arrange the room how I need it. And if anything goes wrong I can get their expertise.”
Sam Robb-McKinlaySMART SPACE / Wandsworth Professional Development Centre (WPDC)
Built in 2012, WPDC is a fresh, smart, environment for professional learning in Wandsworth. The purpose-built centre combines contemporary architecture with flexible room spaces, making it the smart choice for professional development events and meetings. The operations team assist with every event, offering support to trainers and welcoming all visitors.
Housed on the top floor of Burntwood School, designed by architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, the building has won numerous design awards. WPDC is full of light with wide windows in every room offering panoramic views across the Wandsworth skyline.
WiFi is available throughout, with projectors, multi-media screens and a boardroom-like ICT suite. Refreshments are served in a large open plan lounge and additional catering can be supplied or purchased by delegates at the on-site café.
Located in Wandsworth, the centre has excellent transport links and is just a short walk from Earlsfield Station and local bus routes (see back cover). In addition there is a small onsite car park & bicycle rack for visitors.
As part of Wandsworth Council, WPDC delivers a high quality, customer focussed service.
Open plan, breakout lounge that is available for delegates to use throughout the day. The space provides a relaxed, comfortable environment for refreshment breaks, lunches and the opportunity to network.
SMART SPACE / Catering to your business requirements
Specifications /
Capacity: Up to 120 people when hired with Battersea Style: Open plan
8.5m x 10m
Seating styles /
This area can be booked with Battersea Room to create a space for up to 120 people, depending on the layout required. Please contact the team at WPDC to discuss options.
Features with Battersea /
Wireless internet
Multimedia projector
Large projection screen
Laptop
Audio speakers
pointer
microphones
stand and pens
Benefits at-a-glance /
Flexible, open-plan layout
seating
Refreshments and lunches on request
daylight
Wifi throughout
Cater the space /
On-site catering facilities offer tasty options, from sandwiches to canapés and buffet style menus.
SMART PEOPLE / Fatima Begum
Lead Tutor & Internal Quality Assurance Officer Trainee in Leadership & Management Wandsworth Lifelong Learning
“I want to be a role model for the people I manage – someone approachable, to be learned from, who is a good mentor,” says Fatima Begum. That’s why she is pursuing Level 3 in Leadership & Management and hopes to move on to Level 5.
For the past two years at Wandsworth Professional Development Centre, Fatima has attended training and outof-office team meetings (there’s 30+ team members in the department so a large space is required) as well as attending her classes. “I’d recommend it. It’s a great place to learn. I especially like the bright, open lounge area, which is the perfect place to catch your thoughts over a coffee between sessions. It’s a comfortable place where I can sit and catch up with emails or chat with colleagues.”
Just as importantly Fatima finds the journey simple. “I live in Tower Hamlets, but it’s easy to get to via the 44 bus from our Tooting Broadway office.”
Book Wandsworth /
Contact our dedicated team of event experts today, for availability, rates and viewing appointments.
enquiries:
Large space, equipped with an expansive projection screen. Flexible and adaptable, to accommodate a variety of room layouts.
SMART SPACE /
Where flexibility meets function
Specifications /
Capacity: Up to 30 people
Style: Flexible
7.5m
Seating styles / Features /
Wireless internet
Multimedia projector
Large projection screen
Laptop
Audio speakers
Wireless pointer
Wireless microphones
Flipchart stand and pens
Benefits at-a-glance /
Natural daylight
Flexible room layout
Projector and large screen
Brilliant acoustics
Comfortable seating
Expand the space /
Opening Battersea room’s dividing wall with Wandsworth breakout lounge, offers the option of creating a larger open-plan space ideal for networking events and conferences.
SMART PEOPLE / Iraklis Kolokotronis
Quality Improvement & Compliance Lead for Early Years & Intervention Support Service Wandsworth Children’s Services
“Once a term we organise meetings for all Early Years providers. The location is central to this. Wandsworth is a large borough. We have people from Battersea, Tooting and Roehampton so Earlsfied station is convenient and Wandsworth Professional Development Centre is just a 10 minute walk away,” explains Iraklis Kolokotronis.
“People always rate the facilities very highly. I know they like the Lounge area as they often arrive early for a hot drink and they can eat their own food here. There are also desks where people work on their laptop before and between meetings. I’ve attended training here as well, so I know it’s comfortable for learners,” continues Iraklis. “If rooms are nice, trainers can train more effectively. Even though it is part of a school – the top floor of Burntwood Academy – you know it’s for adult training. It’s a modern building with great acoustics, so we don’t need mics. In fact the acoustics are brilliant.”
Book Battersea /
Contact our dedicated team of event experts today, for availability, rates and viewing appointments.
Bookings and enquiries:
/ wpdc@wandsworth.gov.uk
/ 020 8871 8775
Expansive, open plan room – an excellent space for larger training sessions. Perfectly sized on its own; however, when combined with the Balham Room, the space can accommodate up to 100 people.
SMART SPACE / The trainer’s choice
Specifications /
Capacity: Up to 40 people
Style: Flexible
Size: 8.5m x 9.2m
Seating styles / Features /
Wireless internet
Multimedia projector
Large projection screen
Laptop
Audio speakers
Wireless pointer
Wireless microphones
Flipchart stand and pens
Benefits at-a-glance /
Natural daylight
Flexible room layout
Projector and large screen
Brilliant acoustics
Comfortable seating
Wall flipchart paper holder
Expand the space /
Tooting and Balham can be hired together to create a 8.5m x 14m space for up to 100 people. Ideal for conferences or large training events.
SMART PEOPLE / Amaragita Pearse
Trainer Grit
For the past three years Grit trainer, Amaragita Pearse, has been working closely with managers from Wandsworth Children’s Services.
Intense training can be exhausting, for trainer and participants, but Amaragita, finds that the Tooting room, with its skyline views, works well for her training sessions. “The room isn’t distracting, as some rooms can be. It gives people a space to focus on what they need to do. Everyone can hear and it feels bright.”
“Tech is not what we’re about, so we haven’t used that,” Amaragita adds, looking towards the huge screen in the room. However one wall of this big room now has a dozen pieces of flip chart paper, covered in course ideas, displayed in a neat row so the trainees can reflect on their learning. On one there’s a forest of yellow post-it notes catching the light, which just makes you want to go over and check it out.
Book Tooting /
Contact our dedicated team of event experts today, for availability, rates and viewing appointments.
Bookings and enquiries:
wpdc@wandsworth.gov.uk
Balham
Professional Development Centre
A compact space with a warm, focused feel, ideal for smaller events and meetings. Flexible in its layout, tables and chairs can be easily moved or arranged, based on an agreed layout. When combined with the Tooting Room, the space can accommodate up to 100 people.
SMART SPACE / Designed to motivate
Specifications /
Capacity: Up to 16 people
Style: Flexible
8.5m x 4.8m
Seating styles / Features /
Wireless internet
Multimedia projector
Laptop
Interactive screen
Audio speakers
Flipchart stand and pens
Wireless pointer
Benefits at-a-glance /
Natural daylight
Flexible room layout
Projector and interactive screen
Brilliant acoustics
Comfortable seating
Expand the space /
Balham and Tooting can be hired together to create a 8.5m x 14m space for up to 100 people. Ideal for conferences or large training events.
SMART PEOPLE / Clare Kanakides
Director of Development Grit
For the past 25 years Grit has helped more than 18,000 young people and 20,000 adults change their world through intense personal development training. “Our approach is particularly unique to us,” says Clare Kanakides. “No one else works with young people and the adults that support them in the way we do. We support young people to change the way they think, through which they are able to radically alter their life trajectory.”
“We’ve used Wandsworth Professional Development Centre several times. In fact, this is our fourth workshop there. Hiring a professional conference centre where there’s a proper set up, the coffee and food is good, the seats are comfortable, the toilets are nice and the spaces are inviting, then the message you are giving to attendees is that you are worth this – we’ve spent money to engage with you. Personal development can be challenging at times for people so if they are looked after in a comfortable environment it shows that we are taking care of them. And it helps people concentrate if they are comfortable.”
Book Balham /
B /
Contact our dedicated team of event experts today, for availability, rates and viewing appointments.
Bookings and enquiries: e / wpdc@wandsworth.gov.uk
8871 8775
A bright spacious room which is flexible in its layout. Tables and chairs can be easily moved or arranged, based on an agreed layout. This room interlinks with Roehampton room. When both rooms are hired together they can accommodate up to 70 people.
SMART SPACE / Enhancing the learning experience
Specifications /
Capacity: Up to 25 people
Style: Flexible
Size: 6.5m x 7.8m
Seating styles /
Features /
Wireless internet
Multimedia projector
Laptop
Interactive whiteboard
Audio speakers
Wireless pointer
Flipchart stand and pens
Benefits at-a-glance /
Natural daylight
Flexible room layout
Projector and portable screen
Brilliant acoustics
Comfortable seating
Expand the space /
Putney and Roehampton can be hired together to create a 6.5m x 14m space for up to 70 people. Ideal for training or large meetings.
SMART PEOPLE / Santino Fragola
Head of Lifelong Learning Wandsworth Council
Wandsworth takes lifelong learning seriously, which is why every year more than 10,000 people benefit from courses. “This building works brilliantly as a training and learning environment. It is award winning, has amazing views and is a calm space for thinking and reflecting. Learners feel safe, relaxed and comfortable here because this is a welcoming businesslike environment with outstanding customer service,” says Santino who is a long-term Tooting resident. “Lonely Planet describes Tooting as ‘one of the 10 coolest neighbourhoods in the world’, (August 2017) but, seriously, living in the borough gives you a bit of an edge because you understand it like a local and experience all the services,” he says.
Santino, who knows the power of location, likes to book courses for this centre not just because it is well-sited or close to uber-cool Tooting, but because, “it’s such a brilliant space and you’ve got everything you need to concentrate on the reason you’re here.”
Book Putney /
/
Contact our dedicated team of event experts today, for availability, rates and viewing appointments.
Bookings and enquiries:
wpdc@wandsworth.gov.uk
020 8871
A double aspect room with large windows, offering a bright space with flexible layouts that can be adapted to a range of focused training or meeting requirements. A bird’s eye view of the treetops through the windows of the room enhance the relaxed and comfortable feel of the space.
SMART SPACE / A room with a view
Specifications /
Capacity: Up to 16 people
Style: Flexible
Size: 6.5m x 6.2m
Seating styles / Features /
Wireless internet
Laptop
Interactive touch screen
plus integrated speakers
Flipchart stand and pens
Wireless pointer
Benefits at-a-glance /
Natural daylight
Flexible room layout
Projector and portable screen
Brilliant acoustics
Comfortable seating
Expand the space /
Roehampton and Putney can be hired together to create a 6.5m x 14m space for up to 70 people. Ideal for training or large meetings.
SMART PEOPLE / Ali Epton
Lead Nurse for Education & Training Wandsworth Community Education Provider Network (CEPN)
Ali Epton is a practice nurse, providing backfill to cover practice nurses attending study days. She’s also the Lead Nurse for Education and Training in the Wandsworth area. With such close contact with nursing colleagues and health care assistants, Ali is clear about what makes a standout training session besides the quality of the course. “St George’s Hospital is our main provider of courses,” explains Ali “but when Battersea Health Care runs bespoke training for nurses then Wandsworth Professional Business Centre will be the new venue of choice, because it’s so convenient.”
“Training here will help people refocus and energise their ideas – that all comes down to the trainer – but it helps if there is a modern environment with good access to facilities,” says Ali who also likes the different room sizes. Overall she’s confident that her nursing colleagues will be happy to attend courses here as “it’s smart, modern and slick.”
Book Roehampton /
R /
Contact our dedicated team of event experts today, for availability, rates and viewing appointments.
Bookings and enquiries: e / wpdc@wandsworth.gov.uk t / 020 8871 8775
Large, sleek boardroom space, with a long oval table as its centrepiece. Ideal for meetings and training in a business environment. Earlsfield boasts 12 retractable laptops that can be easily accessed when required. The room is brightly lit by a wall of windows, which provides a panoramic view across the Wandsworth skyline.
SMART SPACE / Professionalism at its best
Specifications /
Capacity: Up to 16 people
Style: Boardroom (fixed layout)
Size: 6m x 7.7m
Seating styles / Features /
Wireless internet
Laptop
dual-touch screen
integrated speakers
Wireless pointer
Flipchart stand and pens
Benefits at-a-glance /
Natural daylight
Executive style
seating
12 retractable laptops
Brilliant acoustics
Convert the space /
Earlsfield has 12 laptops built into the table, which can be easily accessed when required. This room is a smart solution for business training.
SMART PEOPLE / Sam Robb-McKinlay
Trainer
Wandsworth Lifelong Learning
“It’s perfect for apprentices – the environment helps them learn,” says Sam Robb-McKinlay who teaches business administration, leadership, management and employability training to 16+. “They are here to do work and it’s in a business context, so their state of mind changes as soon as they enter.”
“I’ve used every room at some stage,” adds Sam, “it’s great to have different formats, but I particularly like the Earlsfield boardroom.” Sam works all over the country, and has taught 1,000s of students, so she knows what works. Her personal experience is also the reason why she’s impressed that, “the staff here look after me tremendously. They set up the computer before I arrive and arrange the room how I need it. And if anything goes wrong I can get their expertise. When the session ends, they always ask if it went well. It’s a really lovely environment; vibrant, energetic and inclusive. We enjoy it.”
Book Earlsfield /
Contact our dedicated team of event experts today, for availability, rates and viewing appointments.
Bookings and enquiries:
wpdc@wandsworth.gov.uk
8871
Smart space for smart thinking people
Industry-leading facilities /
your event,
work with
team
located just a short stroll from Earlsfield Station,
modern venue
Benefits at-a-glance /
friendly team
on-site catering facilities
transport links with
and
accessible to
everything
SMART PEOPLE / Melanie Ashdown
“Part of training is helping staff feel valued. You want staff to feel good about their career development. If you bring staff here it’s a real day out that’s worth paying for.”
First impressions count, and they certainly proved worthwhile for Melanie Ashdown when she dropped into the Wandsworth Professional Development Centre. “I asked whether I could have a tour and the Operations Manager was very welcoming, showing me round and I thought ‘wow, this is really nice. It’s in central Wandsworth, right in the middle of the borough and having a car park is a big bonus’.”
Training is a key part of healthcare. Melanie’s role is to support education opportunities for primary care staff, which includes nurses, receptionists and GPs. Some staff need annual updates or additional training to help GP practices run more smoothly. But there is an art to organising effective training and that includes picking the right space. “When you take staff out for training ideally you would like a good space that is welcoming, professional and cost effective.”
Melanie explains that WPDC being part of Wandsworth Council was another positive factor for her team. “Battersea Healthcare is a community interest company so it’s appealing that the money is invested in the community. Part of training is helping staff feel valued. You want staff to feel good about their career development. If you bring staff here it’s a real day out that’s worth paying for,” she adds.
Arrange Your Visit /
Contact our dedicated team of event experts today, for availability, rates and viewing appointments.
Bookings and enquiries:
/ wpdc@wandsworth.gov.uk
020 8871
“It’s smart, modern and slick.” Ali Epton
