Playing a key role at Spaces at The Spine, our Business Development Manager, Leah Harris, is vital in creating those all-important relationships, whether it’s forming trusted partnerships with our clients or working closely with the Spaces at The Spine team. With International Women’s Day celebrated annually on the 8 March, we caught up with Leah to discuss her role and explore her time with us.
I work closely with our wonderful Meetings and Events team to develop client relationships. With the support of the Marketing team, our goal is to always increase brand awareness as a fairly new venue. Additionally, I’m always looking for new business opportunities across all sectors.
As a salesperson, it’s really important to believe in what you’re selling and working at Spaces at The Spine makes that so easy because I love the venue! Our workspace is just as aesthetic as the event spaces we offer to clients, so I enjoy coming into the office. Thanks to the indoor plants and floor-to-ceiling windows that provide plenty of natural daylight, it has a very Zen feeling.
For me, number one is always the basics of customer service – once you have that right the rest will follow. It’s important to work with clients and customise each approach to meet their needs rather than just focusing on the revenue, that’s how you build long-lasting partnerships.
Secondly, it’s important to stay on top of industry trends as well as identify new opportunities in the market and adapt your approach where needed.
Last but not least would be collaboration. It’s really important to work closely with other colleagues who contribute to the success of the business. I primarily identify and bring in new clients but the wider team have the most influence in retaining clients, which is more profitable in the long term. Supporting other departments in client retention efforts contributes to overall business success.
I had a client enquire about a circus act at the bottom of The Steps as part of their event entertainment. They loved the high ceilings and had a vision of acrobats elevated from the high ceilings, that was a very interesting enquiry! It didn’t go ahead but it’s certainly one that stands out.
What do you think sets Spaces at The Spine apart from other venues?
In addition to our fantastic facilities, we have an in-house AV team to support clients. We can facilitate live, virtual and hybrid events, live and post-production services, including green screen and studio solutions.
Plus, sustainability and wellbeing are at the heart of what we do. Our day-to-day operations aim to minimise our impact on the environment, which is often a requirement for many events. We also have great transport links and there’s a hotel adjacent to the venue offering private access for delegates, making it a convenient choice for planners.
As a salesperson, it’s really important to believe in what you’re selling and working at Spaces at The Spine makes that so easy because I love the venue.
Leah Harris, Business Development Manager at Spaces at The Spine
The Spine is located in Paddington Village at the heart of the Knowledge Quarter in Liverpool’s City Centre.
