Picture caption: Conference delegates at Enta celebrating the Social Enterprise Mark

Business is booming for a city conference venue as social enterprise Enta has welcomed eight new businesses and hit a landmark target within the past fortnight.

The latest account wins take the total number of conferences held at Enta's Mill Wharf centre to 200 since it opened its impressive facilities in December 2009. In the past year alone, around 50 different clients have held 125 meetings on site.

Among the most recent have been events for Birmingham-based Harris & Harris Accountancy and housing and regeneration group Midland Heart, in addition to national organisations such as the Big Lottery Fund.

Enta's social enterprise development manager Pamela Wood explained why its conference service is proving so popular.

"We have excellent facilities, with several different rooms available, first-class catering and - unlike many city centre locations - car parking on site," said Pamela.

"It's a complete package and I think that people are genuinely surprised that a social enterprise has such a fantastic offer in the heart of the city."

Enta boasts one multi-purpose conference suite suitable for up to 150 delegates, as well as two state-of-the-art meeting rooms which can accommodate groups of up to 25 people. The Servery is also on hand as a relaxing place to eat and drink, offering locally sourced hot and cold food and fairtrade tea and coffee - all part of Enta's catering with a conscience approach.

Reflecting on some of the highlights of the first 20 months of the service, Pamela continued: "Hosting the Social Enterprise Coalition regional annual conference, which was opened by chief executive Peter Holbrook, was especially exciting for us as a social enterprise ourselves.

"That one event really put us on the map as a meeting venue of choice for social enterprises across the region.  

"But over the past six months we have been attracting increasing numbers of private sector clients, which is great news for the future."

As well as offering first class conference rooms and on-site catering services - including a halal kitchen - Enta is also a leading training provider, offering learning opportunities to help young people develop life skills and find employment. 

The social enterprise, which celebrates its 35th anniversary next year, also runs two city nurseries - Little Mill Nursery, based at Mill Wharf, and Lakeside Nursery, at Lakeside Children's and Family Learning Centre, in Wyrley Birch, Erdington.