movemanSKG Receives a Warm Welcome!

A movemanSKG platform lift is allowing wheelchair users to overcome a short flight of steps at the Wellcome Trust Conference centre in Hinxton, Cambridge. The newly installed Prima Plus resides in a central lobby, and provides an alternative access route to a raised area that contains meeting rooms, lounges, a bar and disabled toilets.

The Wellcome Trust Conference Centre comprises a Grade II* listed country house, Hinxton Hall, and a modern building set on the picturesque banks of the River Cam. It features 72 guest bedrooms, a 300 seat auditorium, training facilities, meeting rooms and an IT suite. The centre hosts functions and events such as weddings, conventions, learning courses and team building exercises.

Like any service provider, the Wellcome Trust Conference Centre must comply with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). This means making reasonable adjustments to ensure less able people can move around its premises independently.

Operations Manager Nigel Whitham explains; "The DDA does not define what makes adjustments reasonable, it leaves this judgement to the service provider. In our case the only obstacle to wheelchair-bound visitors was a small flight of steps, so a short-rise platform lift proved cost-effective."

"We invited lift manufacturers to tend and movemanSKG’s quote was highly competitive. The company also has an excellent reputation, which helped sway our decision! Our new Prima Plus is modern, safe and secure. The unit fits in the limited available space and operates reliably. The service was friendly and professional, the installation swift and seamless."

Prima Plus is suitable for indoor or outdoor use and does not require a pit, minimising building requirements and associated costs. The Wellcome Trust Centre’s unit lifts 300kg up to 1000mm and has glass infill in its upper landing gate. Passengers access the lift using a shallow ramp, which automatically folds up to form a wheel stop when the platform is in motion.