To connect with our city is to experience the exceptional. And those experiences create world-class conferences, where your delegates will have the opportunity to dive into local life, get caught up in heritage, sport and culture, and to create valuable connections and partnerships.
Leeds is one of the top 10 UK conference destinations, and we welcome millions of visitors every year. Conference organisers and delegates alike take away something special. A unique experience. Or an eye-opening discovery. It might be a conferencing venue rich with heritage and history, a world-class sporting event, or a taste of the local food scene.
Or it might be the added value that our city does so well. Professionals, academics and leading industry voices at your disposal, partnering and collaborating to deliver that exceptional experience. It’s our job to help make it happen. Forging connections, starting conversations, and driving progress.
Leeds is the epicentre of the modern North. An exciting city with a rich, industrial past that has transformed into a hub of knowledge for manufacturing, healthcare and innovation, financial and professional services and digital and information economy. To connect with our city is to experience the exceptional and it couldn’t be easier to get here.
Standout destinations and things to do in Leeds, including the Grade-I listed Leeds Corn Exchange, home to independent stores and eateries; Leeds Kirkgate Market, the biggest indoor market in Europe; walking tours to view the fantastic array of street art; and the stunning architecture of Leeds’ Victorian arcades.
From culture to dining experiences, it’s all about encouraging delegates to extend their stay or return as a leisure visitor to explore everything the city has to offer. If you have some spare time either before or after conference, check out the best things to do in 2 hours!
No city eats like our city. There’s always a tasty surprise around the corner from Michelin Guide Restaurants to international street food options.
Leeds is perfectly situated in the heart of the UK so delegates can experience the vibe of a cool, modern and vibrant city and yet be so close to breathtaking scenery.
Why just visit Leeds when you can experience it? Leeds has a whole host of entertaining activities and tours for you to choose from.
Our city provides the spark for the latest innovations in healthcare technology. Our history and heritage inspires a proud manufacturing sector. We’re a hub for financial and professional services. And digital and information economy businesses are creating a mini tech boom. So many voices, and so much talent.
Leeds is the UK’s first city of health innovation and has a long-standing history in this sector, currently ranking third globally as a healthtech hub. Our unique health and social care ecosystem encourages collaboration across private, public, and voluntary sectors. Hospitals and education establishments. Government departments and tech businesses. Charities and commissions. All working together to improve health outcomes, and all open for conference organisers to tap into a network of experience and skills.
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Not that we’re counting, but Finance, Business and Professional Services is Leeds's largest, fastest growing sector and Yorkshire's biggest export. And the reason? Leeds has over 40 national and international banks, global legal companies, 150 accountancy firms including the Big Four, a growing insurance sector, an expanding number of FinTechs and all 3 of the UK’s major credit reference agencies. A ready-made network of contacts, just waiting for your delegates.
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Our digital sector is growing at an unprecedented rate. This is where Leeds is at its best. From digital content and services, through to innovative solutions ready for the next generation of technology, we’re joined up. Leeds is now the second-largest hub for high-growth digital firms, a city where ambitious brands can take advantage of the talent based here.
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Our city is built on industrial leadership and innovation. It’s been that way for centuries, and we’re still at the forefront of modern, high-value manufacturing and bespoke engineering worldwide. Leeds is the UK’s third largest manufacturing centre by local authority area, and home to 28,000 skilled people in 1,555 diverse manufacturing businesses that are based on creativity, design, and problem solving.
Read moreWith a number of exciting venues working in partnership, including leading universities, the 12,000-seater first direct bank arena and world-renowned Royal Armouries Museum, it’s easy to see why Leeds’ conferencing city proposition puts it in the top ten UK conferencing destinations.
Delegates welcomed by Leeds in 2024
Meetings, conferences and events hosted in 2024
Venues
AIM accredited venues
Green accredited venues
City centre bedstock (including University accommodation - out of term time)
Organising a conference in Leeds means hitting the ground running. The team at Conference Leeds has a wealth of experience and will offer all the support and advice you need to find the perfect venues, accommodation choices, events and activities. Whatever your size and scale, and whatever your sector, our team are here to make it happen. And because we know our city inside out, we’ll make sure every single delegate experiences the exceptional.
Our service is impartial, and we’re here to support organisers from the bidding stage, through to post event evaluation. Our connections can also help add value to your experience, and that of your delegates.
We can help with…
Welcome to Leeds, a city at the epicentre of the modern North. To connect with our city is to experience the exceptional. It’s about experiencing our cultural dynamism and heritage and pride.
We can’t wait to welcome you and your delegates to our vibrant and friendly city. Our City Welcome Packages enable you to create a personalised set of activities to ensure your conference attendees experience nothing but the exceptional.
Conference Leeds works in partnership with various organisations across the city who will be able to help with event legacy projects.
We fully understand that event legacy has the power to create a lasting impact beyond the event itself for all parties involved, particularly from a social, economic and environmental perspective.
The team at Mosaic Events have over 19 year’s experience working on a range of successful association conferences.
They can provide support in the following areas for in-person, hybrid and virtual events:
Acting as an extension of your team, Mosaic will provide a dedicated Project Manager to work with you to deliver a successful event.
Here are a few examples of conferences and events that we have hosted recently.
UKREiiF was “born and bred” in Leeds and has become the must-attend annual event for the real estate, property and infrastructure sectors in the UK.
Bringing 16,000+ professionals from national and local government, investor, developers, end-users and the wider built environment industry together – it’s the place where conversations start to drive investment and regeneration in our regions.
The event, themed “Business Beyond Borders,” brought together over 120 industry professionals for discussions, learning sessions, and networking. Key speakers and sessions included a keynote by Jamie Jones-Buchanan MBE, a debate on using public funds to win conferences, and a panel on a new neuroinclusive toolkit.
Alongside the main Summit at the Royal Armouries Museum, the week kicked off with a Welcome Social, giving delegates the chance to connect, network, and set the tone for an inspiring few days ahead. The summit programme included a morning of keynote speakers followed by an afternoon of one-to-one business appointments allowing delegates to build their industry connections.
This one day conference was delivered in the Hilton Leeds with keynote speeches, panel discussions and hands-on workshops. They explored how to reclaim communities as a serious political and economic force – delivering real change from the ground up. Councillors, MPs, and commissioners were in attendance.
