Conference and training venue provider etc.venues will open a new venue in St Paul’s, London this March as part of its continuing expansion drive.

Managing director, Alastair Stewart, said the company hoped to open two new city centre venues a year and had its sights set on Manchester for a second opening later this year. He added that dissatisfaction among clients with some existing venues in the St Paul’s area of London had influenced the choice of location for the latest venue.

The property at 200 Aldersgate – comprised of 20,000 sq ft of space with a 400 delegate capacity – marks a shift in direction for etc.venues as it seeks to cater for larger corporates.

Stewart said: “Clients and our agency partners have been encouraging me to open something new and better in this part of London for some time so I hope we will deliver on this expectation with our new design ideas, including some specifically around Generation Y delegates.”

Despite the economic woes, etc.venues reported sales growth of 12 per cent to £17.6m for the financial year 2010/11, opening three new properties in Moorgate, Paddington and Victoria during the period. The company, which was recently named best mid-sized venue group brand in the VenueVerdict Awards, expects to see further growth to £20m in 2012, making it the fastest growing business in the sector.

Pictured: 200 Aldersgate