European SAMPS conference enjoys Cambridge college setting

The European SAMPS conference has taken place in Cambridge for the first time.

Around 70 people attended the event, from the US, France, Switzerland, Sweden and Germany, as well as the UK.

SAMPS – sales and marketing professionals in science – is a not-for-profit group run by volunteers. It has more than 4,000 members globally representing life sciences, applied research tools and service providers, CROs, CDMOs, biotechs, healthcare and medical devices.

“The keynote from Emma White [VP of marketing operations at Oxford Nanopore] was inspiring,” said Annabel Sedgwick, director of St Neots-based KDM Communications, who organised the event.

“Cambridge-based Caroline Robinson shared some great approaches of how to get sales and marketing teams working together more effectively; Matt Wilkinson gave us some fascinating insights as to how AI can really help reshape the marketing funnel.

After lunch, we enjoyed some beautiful spring sunshine in the gardens of Wolfson College. Jasmine Gruia-Gray facilitated a stimulating panel discussion on the customer journey. This was followed by a two hour workshop on personal development.”

In the evening, delegates enjoyed an informal evening and dinner at Cambridge University’s Museum of Zoology, where Julian Stubbs from Up reflected on his marketing journey with entertaining anecdotes from his life along the way.

Annabel added: “Tony Carr’s team at Lemon Zest put on a delicious three-course menu and thanks to the team at the museum for accommodating us all in the shadow of the infamous fin whale skeleton!”