Conference venue
The Technical Assembly takes place at the BBC's Quay House, MediaCityUK, in Salford/Manchester. Quay House is home to BBC News, Sport, 5Live and the flagship BBC Breakfast programme. It is located in Salford Quays on the banks of the Manchester Shipping Canal.
Dress code
- Welcome reception on Wednesday 6 June: business casual
- Farewell dinner on Friday 8 June: casual and comfortable.
Weather
Manchester is often called ‘the Rainy City’ and it receives an average of 86.71cm of rainfall every year. However, it is sheltered by high hills to the north and east so the city normally has mild weather conditions, with summer temperatures between 19-28 degrees Celcius (66- 82 Fahreneheit). Higher ground, such as in the Peak District, will be much cooler and windier, even on sunny days.
Summer weather in the UK can change quickly from hot and sunny one day, to cool and wet the next. Visitors should bring a rain-proof coat or jacket, umbrella, sturdy shoes and at least one medium-weight jumper, as well as lighter clothes for warm weather.
Currency
The currency in the UK is British Pounds Sterling (GBP), with denominations in pounds (£) and pence (p), e.g. £3.99.
The highest value coins are one pound (£1) and two pound (£2), 50 pence (50p) and 20 pence (20p). The lower value coins are 10 pence, 5 pence, 2 pence and 1 pence (2p and 1p coins are also called ‘coppers’ as they are copper coloured).
Bank notes in the UK are now all made of thin plastic, with clear ‘windows’ in the note. Do not accept older paper notes, as they are no longer legal. Notes come as £5, £10, £20 and £50. https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes
Credit cards provided by Visa and Mastercard are accepted in most stores, however American Express cards are not. Payment through Apple Pay and Google Pay smartphone apps is now accepted at some major retailers.
Exchange rates
The value of the pound (GBP) against the dollar (USD), Euro (EUR) and yen (JPY) has remained at a low level since June 2016, due to continued uncertainty around negotiations as the UK prepares to leave the European Union. Delegates should check the latest exchange rates with their preferred bank or bureaux de change before travelling and/or check exchange sites such as http://www.xe.com/
Most major banks in the UK, including HSBC, Barclays, NatWest and Santander, as well as the Post Office, offer bureaux de change services in their branches.
Local customs
Manchester is a friendly city. It is common for men and women to call each other ‘love’, even if they are complete strangers! You will also hear locals saying “Ta!” or “Cheers!” which mean ‘thank you’.
Crime and policing
The emergency services contact number for the UK for police, fire and ambulance is 999.
MediaCityUK is patrolled by private security staff 24/7 and has a low crime level as a result.
Manchester city centre, in common with many major cities around the world, has more of a problem with opportunistic crime, such as pick-pocketing. A small number of beggars can be very direct or aggressive when asking for money; most however will just sit in near shop doorways and ATM cash dispensers. Visitors to the city centre are advised to not carry large amounts of cash; to keep bags with them at all times and avoid putting wallets, phones or electronic devices in coat or trouser pockets. It is also illegal to give cash to beggars or homeless ‘rough sleepers’, although you may wish to offer a hot drink or food as an alternative.
British police wear black helmets and uniforms, with high-visibility yellow jackets. Train stations are policed by the British Transport Police, who wear similar uniforms. There is a higher police presence in the city in the evenings and at weekends.