The Bermuda College is appointing an events co-ordinator to increase community engagement and highlight its venue spaces.

The events, rooms and communications co-ordinator will help to manage a diverse range of functions from large-scale conferences to community gatherings.

Scott Wade, the college vice-president, chief financial officer and business development officer, said: “We have historically offered venues for hire. However, due to capacity challenges, it was not a main area of focus for us.

“Last year, the college did a soft launch of a community-focused venue hire function to gain a better understanding of what demand might be.

“We decided that having a full-time co-ordinator would ensure people who are renting spaces from the college get everything they need and, importantly, value for money.”

The college plans to forge partnerships with local vendors offering services such as catering and event planning.

Mr Wade said the college appreciated the continuing support of the Bermuda College Foundation.

He added: “We have the newly opened Butterfield & Vallis Conference Centre that holds 200 people, along with the Athene Lecture Theatre. Both have robust and integrated technology infrastructures.”

He said that outside of a hotel, it could be difficult to find such mixed facility offerings on the island.

Other facilities available for rent include the overflow classrooms that link to the lecture theatre and conference centre, the sports field, gymnasium, fitness rooms and office spaces.

Mr Wade said: “The college is one of the Bermuda Volleyball Association’s primary training venues and they are here five or six nights a week.

“We have also hosted the Bermuda Football Association’s girls’ football matches and tournaments for the past two seasons, as well as winter training for the Bermuda Bicycle Association Youth Programme.

“There is also a longer-term plan to improve our sports facilities so that we can cater to even more organisations.

“Bermuda College is not here just for education — we are the community’s college.”

• Requests for venue hire can be submitted to www.college.bm/index.php/room-rental-application