TCUK23 archive page

About the conference

TCUK23 is taking place, live and in person, on 26-27 September 2023, at voco® St. John’s Hotel, Solihull.

TCUK23 is two full days of educational workshops, inspiring talks, networking opportunities with tech comms professionals and vendors, a celebration dinner, fabulous entertainment, the UKTC awards show, and overnight accommodation.

Previous delegates agree that it’s a full programme, but they leave refreshed and inspired, with new ideas to take back to the office.

About the venue

voco® St. John’s Hotel is an IHG hotel with excellent reviews focussed on comfortable beds, air conditioned rooms, delicious food, and high-speed Wi-Fi everywhere you go. Overnight guests can enjoy free use of the YouFit health club, with sauna, steam room, pool, gym, jacuzzi, and spa treatments.

The hotel includes some accessible accommodation, and the bathrooms and conference spaces are wheelchair accessible, with no steps.

Getting to TCUK23

TCUK23 is taking place at voco® St. John’s Hotel, Solihull. The address is: St. John’s Hotel, 651 Warwick Road, Solihull, B91 1AT, United Kingdom. Telephone number: +44 0121 711 3000, or call +44 (0)121 712 7601 to speak to the conference team.

Tuesday morning registration is at 8:45, for a 9:30 start. Wednesday morning registration (for Wednesday day-ticket holders only) opens at 9:00.

Click on the sections below for information on travelling to the venue by different modes of transport.

Getting there by train & bus

The nearest train station is Solihull Station, and it is 1.1 miles (1.77 km) from the venue. It takes 10 minutes to walk, and 4 minutes by bus.

You can take the 4, 72, X2, or X12 bus from Solihull train station.  Leave the station and cross the road outside. Bus number 4 leaves from stop C every 15 minutes.

Arriving by car

The hotel has wraparound parking to the right and rear of the hotel. Keep going round to find the larger parking areas. Parking is free to overnight and day delegates, and includes charging points for electric vehicles. You must register your car when you arrive, you can do this at the TCUK23 or hotel receptions.

If you come for both days, but don’t stay overnight, you must register your car again on Wednesday.

If there’s any fine issued, for whatever reason, liaise with hotel staff and not the 3rd party.

Alternative parking is at the NCP at Lode Lane, B91 3AB (5 mins walk).

Coming via air

The nearest airport is Birmingham International Airport, which is 7 miles (11 km) from the venue, approximately 20 minutes in a taxi.

You can take the X12 platinum bus from the airport to the nearby Solihull hospital. The bus leaves every 30 minutes and accepts contactless payments. For timetables and other information, see https://nxbus.co.uk/west-midlands/services-timetables/x12-birmingham-solihull-limited-stop

Taxi information

There are black cabs available from Solihull Train Station, or you can book a taxi at:

• Local company A2B radio cars: www.a2bradiocars.com, +44 01217441111
• The airport website: https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/directions-and-transport/by-private-hire-and-taxi/

If you are interested in sharing a taxi there, you can post on the ISTC forum. You must be logged in to the ISTC website to use the forum.

If you are interested in sharing a taxi back, we will have a sign-up sheet available on the TCUK23 registration desk where you can put your name down for a taxi share. It’s up to you to make contact with other people to arrange times and book.

Upon arrival

Once you arrive, go to the Park Suite entrance at the right (East) side of the building to find the TCUK23 reception desk. Click the image below to view the map online, or download the venue map PDF (1MB).

Registration

Registration takes place at the TCUK23 reception in the Park Suite entrance. Registration opens at 08:45 on Tuesday, and 09:00 on Wednesday, with refreshments and pastries served in the Malvern Bar. Please be seated in Malvern in good time to start at 09:30.

Arriving on Monday?

You can check in to the hotel from 14:00.

TCUK23 staff will be onsite from around 14:00, stationed in Eversfield. See the map above for details.

We don’t have any formal activities planned for Monday night, but we will have board games available if you fancy something social. Please don’t take board games up to your room, and make sure you return games, in the condition you found them, to Eversfield.

What to bring

Check details of any workshops you intend to attend and make sure you’ve checked the list of requirements and installed software as needed.

Check what you need for SVG in Tech Docs

Check what you need for Learning to Think; Learning to Care

It’s a good idea to bring:

• A laptop, only essential if you’re doing workshops or leading a session.
• Notebook and pen (paper and pencils will be provided by the hotel).
• A small bag – we will not be providing tote bags this year.
• If you like handcrafts, feel free to bring your project and start a crafting fringe event!

Celebration dinner

The dress code for this year’s celebration dinner is “dress to feel your best”. We don’t mind if that means full evening wear, or jeans and trainers. Whatever makes you feel happy, relaxed, and ready to party!

Drinks start at 19:00 in Malvern bar, with dinner at 19:30.

At the conference

Click the image below to view the map online, or download the venue map PDF (1MB).

What to do if you need help at the conference

For anything related to the conference or the ISTC, find one of our staff. They will be introduced at the beginning of the day, so you know who they are.

For anything related to parking, food, or your room, please talk to the hotel staff. 

Behaviour policy

Please note we have updated the TCUK Behaviour policy this year. TCUK23 operates a zero-tolerance policy to harassment of any kind.

Fire safety

Should an alarm sound, the meeting point is at the southernmost corner of the hotel, by the charging points for electric vehicles.

Overnight attendees

Breakfast

Breakfast is served in the restaurant from 06:30 – 09:30.

Swimming pool and spa

The hotel has a swimming pool and spa which is free to use for overnight guests.

• Indoor pool hours: 07:00 – 21:00
• Fitness centre hours: 06:30 – 21:00

Checking out

You must check out by 11:00. You can leave your luggage in the cloakroom in Park Suite Reception.

Call for TCUK23 session proposals (now closed)

The content committee is hard at work choosing the very best sessions, and we hope to start announcing presenters and session titles soon.

Why speak at TCUK23?

Influence and network with your professional community in an open and friendly environment.

TCUK23 is a conference that has a uniquely intimate feel, so you get to connect with your audience in the session as well as throughout the conference. Many people return year after year, due to the high engagement and community feel of the conference.

Past speakers and workshop leaders tell us they found the atmosphere relaxed and supportive, and they were pleased with how eager delegates were to connect with them after speaking.

If your session proposal is accepted, you, or the lead speaker for group-led sessions, receive free entrance to both days of the conference, a saving of at least £450 on our all-inclusive ticket.

Who can speak at TCUK23?

Anyone – members, non-members, scientific and technical communicators, people from other related fields, people with experience of transferable skills, experienced speakers, new speakers, and everyone in between. There’s no minimum level of experience needed, you don’t have to have spoken at another conference, and we have support materials if you’ve never created or presented a talk or led a workshop before. Speaking at a conference like TCUK23 can improve your confidence and add to your communication toolbox.

There are no restrictions on what you can suggest as a workshop or talk, we’re always looking for new, innovative, and interesting content.

What do you look for in a proposal? 

When we select proposals, we consider the following:

• Your proposal clearly describes what you are planning to do, what the focus is, and how people can benefit from your session.  
• Your session must be relevant to our members. 
• New, innovative, and interesting content.

We aim to provide a balanced programme that is varied and coherent.

Check out our series of articles about putting together a proposal and presentation.

How do I apply?

Please fill out a session proposal form (entries now closed). You can send as many proposals as you like. The deadline for submissions is 18th June 2023,

What should I talk about?

There are no restrictions on what you can suggest as a workshop or talk, we’re always looking for new, innovative, and interesting content. If you’re not sure what to talk about, we’ve had some requests from previous delegates and our own ISTC members:

• Compiling parts lists – creating CMMs to iSpec2200
• What is the role of user documentation when good UX design is self intuitive?
• Domain models
• How to attract or recruit a younger generation to technical communication?
• Accessibility – what best practice should we aim for?
• A workshop on how to write in markdown or ASCII doc.
• Advanced techniques in Microsoft Word.
• Workshops or taster sessions for a range of technical communication products
• Bid, tender, or proposal writing
• User testing and research
• How do I write good API documentation and which tools can help?

And delegates always want to hear the latest on perennial topics like:

• Getting the best out of your help authoring tools.
• Employability – building a portfolio, marketing yourself, picking the right skills.
• Related but separate fields, for example, where UX meets technical communication.
• Transferable skills, for example, managing people, working in a remote team, managing your time, writing copy.
• The evolution and future of technical communication.
• What’s great about being a technical communicator?
• Working with a content management system.
• Technical communications across different media, for example, visual presentation or enhanced reality.
• Content ops
• Career progression, and getting into technical communication
• Preparing for retirement
• Best practice across technical communications
• Resources or tools that have helped you

What should I know?

Read our standard agreement for speakers at TCUK.