Chapter Foundation Stories

Vanessa Cotton Scholarship

Introduction: Meeting Professionals International has created a scholarship for European students, in honour of UK event industry veteran Vanessa Cotton, who passed away in June 2010. The funds will enhance the opportunities presented to those beginning their careers in the meetings and events industry, while creating a lasting legacy for the respected industry leader.

Details: The scholarship is available to MPI member and non-member students currently attending a meetings industry related degree in the UK or Ireland. The scholarship will cover registration, accommodations and travel for at least one student to experience the professional development and networking at the European Meetings & Events Conference (EMEC). Each collaborator in the scholarship, which includes ExCel London, Reed Travel Expo and the MPI UK & Ireland Chapter, will commit €350 for the next five years, with plans to increase fundraising and send more students to EMEC. Individuals or organisations interested in supporting this scholarship should contact Sue Potton at sue_potton@me.com or the chapter secretariat at secretariat@mpiuk.org.

Criteria and application process:

1. Students are invited to write a short essay (no more than 1000 words) and submit this in a Microsoft Word or pdf document to Richard Kidd (MPI Secretariat) via the email: secretariat@mpiuk.org.
2. The topic of the essay should why the student believes they deserve this opportunity, what they would do with it and their future career aspirations. 
3. Students should include information on any industry related voluntary activities (MPI or other). 
4. Students should provide at least 2 references (one from education) that would validate their application and their future aspirations. 
5. The deadline for this submission is Tuesday 1st November 2011.
6. The winner will be announced at the MPI stand during EIBTM in December.
   

Individual Member Stories

Our Chapter not only actively generates funds for the MPI Foundation but members of the UK & Ireland Chapter also see the benefits. The MPI Foundation regularly offers grants to its members who may require financial support to attend the MPI European Meetings and Events Conference (EMEC) and other industry events such as the World Education Congress (WEC).

Here some of our members share their experiences on grants received from the MPI Foundation in our Chapter:

"We often talk a lot in our industry about providing a good level of ROI for events. Of course this not only applies to the financial aspect, but also resources such as time. As a beneficiary of an MPI Foundation Grant, I didn't have to worry about the financial side. However, in terms of my time I received at least ten times back.The value of networking with industry peers alone was invaluable; when put together with the inspirational educational programme it was an insurmountable experience. For me, next year's decision to attend will be less about 'can I afford it?' and more about 'how can I afford not to?"

Rob Eveleigh, VP Events, MPI UK & Ireland Chapter (Managing Director, Ideas Ltd.) on receiving an MPI Foundation Grant to attend the European Meetings and Events Conference 2011, Dusseldorf.

"After all of the hype of EMEC, my MPI friends and peers just said you have to go. Thanks to the MPI Foundation I did and I got to experience first hand what EMEC was. Honestly I can say it was a fantastic, enjoyable and fun event. The educational content, the learning environment were all of high quality, the networking second to none. And you felt at home with your MPI peers and friends. And thanks again to the MPI Foundation that made it feasible for me to be there, I will certainly make the effort to go again and I would recommend it to anyone."

Charles Perkin, VP CSR, MPI UK & Ireland Chapter (Events Manager, CIRIA) on receiving a grant from the MPI Foundation