Annual Conference 2025 – Venue
Conference Venue: The Diamond
The Annual Conference of the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Speech and Language Technologies and their Applications will be hosted in the Faculty of Engineering's flagship Diamond building.
The Diamond is a striking structure that is home to over 6,000 students from the Faculty of Engineering. Seven engineering departments and three interdisciplinary programmes use The Diamond and is home to the CATE award winning Multidisciplinary Engineering Education team.
Arrival
Please enter the building from the Leavygreave Road Entrance where you will find the Conference Reception desk in the basement.
Upon arrival, please visit the Conference Reception desk to collect your name badge. You will then be directed to the Diamond's basement foyer where tea, coffee, juice, and pastries will be available prior to the first session which starts at 9:30.
A complete guide to the accessibility of the Diamond is available from AccessAble which includes descriptions and photos of entrances and lecture theatres.
Fire Alarms and Safety
The Diamond's weekly fire alarm test is 11.50am on Wednesdays. Therefore, it will sound during the conference on Wednesday 25th June. If the fire alarm sounds for a prolonged period at this time or any other time during the event please evacuate the building by the nearest fire exit. The fire assembly point is in the grounds of St. George’s Church. If you are unable to evacuate using stairs from the basement level, there are emergency refuge points located by the staff-only lifts in each corner. Full information on building access and evacuation.
Toilet Facilities
There are large Male and Female toilets at one end of the basement level. There is an accessible toilet at each end of the basement level. There is a Gender Neutral toilet on the ground level by the west (Jessop Plaza) entrance.
Prayer Facilities
Prayer rooms and Wudu facilities are available in the building. Please speak to the event organisers for further information.
Quiet Room
There will be a quiet room available to use throughout the conference. Since this room is an unused lecture theatre, it will have a reduced level of noise and a reduced light level.
Getting to the Diamond
Maps
You can view and download maps of the University Campus as well as maps of Sheffield city centre and the broader central Sheffield area.
Directions
On foot or public transport:
Take Supertram or a 120 bus from the Railway Station and Bus Station.
Ask for the West Street stop on Supertram and the West Street/Mappin Street stop on the bus.
Cross West Street then turn into Mappin Street (with Subway Sandwiches on the corner), then left into Portobello. The Diamond is approximately 100 yards on your right.
On your way back to the Railway or Bus Stations, make sure you take the blue tram going to Halfway
By Car:
The nearest you can get to the Diamond by car is Regent Street / St George's Terrace. The nearest council pay and display car parks can be found on Broad Lane. These are just a few hundred yards walk away.
To reach the Diamond on foot from Broad Lane, turn onto Mappin Street (between St. George's Church and the Sir Fredrick Mappin building). Take the first right onto Portobello (pedestrianised) and the Diamond is approximately 100 yards on your right.
Additional parking is available in the Q Park Car Parks on Durham Road and Rockingham Street.