Construction has started on a £12m expansion of the Wellcome Trust Conference Centre. The 64-room extension at the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus in Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, will increase the existing hotel room capacity to 136 and expand the restaurant to seat up to 300 delegates.

Campus director David Davison said: “This is a first and major step towards achieving our plans to become the primary centre for supporting scientific research in the area. The conference centre will be at the heart of our public engagement programme delivery going forward.”

Rachel Cordier, conference centre manager, Wellcome Conference Centres, added: “This substantial investment in our product and ongoing plans will give us a stronger market presence and help us approach new customers and market sectors. An increased room inventory, as well as a larger and improved restaurant, will also allow us to pitch for larger pieces of business which will in turn have a positive impact in Cambridgeshire's economy.”

The Wellcome Trust Conference Centre currently offers nine conference and event rooms, suitable for boardroom meetings to exhibitions.

Pictured: Work begins at the Wellcome Trust Conference Centre (Wellcome Images)