LAST year was a busy year for the National Railway Museum’s events team with the York venue undergoing a £1.4 million refurbishment and a subsequent growth in business.

The museum, which opened in 1975, is a firm favourite on York’s attraction map, and is the largest railway museum in the world.

As well as promoting the site as a museum, the events team also works to host large gatherings, with the Station Hall offering a unique experience for receptions, dinners and award ceremonies, where up to 800 guests are immersed in and among the world-famous collection.

Equally the Great Hall, home to a stunning display of the finest locomotives, including Mallard, stages large receptions or dinners for up to 300.

In February 2013, the Station Hall’s £1.4 million refurbishment was completed, transforming the hall and creating a new dramatic backdrop for events.

The twice named ‘Conference Venue of the Year’ in the Visit York Tourism Awards, offers six separate suites, each differing in size and named after some of the most famous locomotives in history.

In April last year it was then the turn of the conference centre to undergo a refurbishment to further enhance the facilities.

For the 2013/14 financial year, NRM delivered 273 business events. It has welcomed more than 24,000 guests since July last year.

Alicia Earls, communications manager for the NRM, said: “The quality and consistency of the NRM’s catering service is renowned and recognised frequently in client endorsements. With a full commitment to sustainability, genuine Yorkshire produce is utilised wherever possible to help promote local suppliers.

“With the wealth of competitor venues in York, the NRM strives to “stand out from the crowd” by conveying its distinctive selling points through marketing.”

“NRM focuses on the unrivalled experience that guests will have when immersed among the world-famous content and collection.”

The museum prioritises face-to-face interaction with existing and prospective clients and utilises relationships with Visit York, Welcome to Yorkshire, York Chamber of Commerce, York Professionals and the PA Hub to maintain an active presence at exhibitions and meet-the-buyer events, as well as hosting or attending networking events.