Future conference hosts: call for expressions of interest

The SLSA Executive is seeking expressions of interest from universities wishing to host our Annual Conferences from 2022 onwards. The conference runs for three days (lunch day 1–lunch day 3) and usually takes place just before the Easter break each year, although alternative dates in early to mid-April will be considered. The criteria we consider are:

• a strong local team of organisers, supported by their head of department, with appropriate workload credit given;
• adequate administrative and finance support;
• a venue capable of catering for approximately 500 delegates;
• overnight accommodation for about 350 people;
• a range of types of accommodation close to the conference venue, including low-cost accommodation suitable for postgraduate students;
• an accessible location;
• approximately 25 good quality seminar rooms within walking distance of each other;
• a lecture theatre for plenary sessions and the AGM;
• a cloakroom for storing luggage;
• reliable wifi in all venues;
• a central area suitable for registration, publishers' stands, poster displays, Twitter wall and coffee/tea and lunches;
• a prominent central location (usually in the publishers’ area) for the SLSA’s own stand;
• plans for two evening events, including a conference dinner;
• effective support for conference attendees with disabilities, both visible and otherwise – as well as physical considerations, this may include quiet rooms, sign interpreters and/or support workers;
• ability to provide a conference website (ideally with direct editorial control);
• capacity to promote the conference through local and wider networks;
• competitive pricing of delegate registration packages.

In recent years local teams have often been supported by a university conference office or department. The SLSA publishers’ liaison officer will also provide assistance in liaising with publishers and organising sponsorship packages. Since donations from hosts of the annual conference are one of the SLSA’s key sources of income, a projected surplus of at least £20,000 is desirable.

Anyone wishing to have an informal chat about the possibility of hosting the conference should contact the SLSA vice-chair, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Expressions of interest should be submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 31 January 2020. Please indicate, with reasons, if you have a preference for any particular year.