Wellcome statement: corporate event hire cancellation
Wellcome statement on the cancelled corporate event booking for the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World.
On 5 October 2017 Wellcome Trust took immediate steps to terminate a commercial hire contract for an event scheduled to take place in a Wellcome venue in late October.
At the time of booking, it was not made clear to Wellcome Trust Trading Ltd, or its parent Wellcome Trust Ltd, that the event was for a meeting of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, which is an organisation funded by a tobacco company.
Had we known who the booking was for, we would not have accepted it due to Wellcome’s long-held stance against supporting, or investing in, activities relating to the tobacco industry.
A breach of contract occurred when Wellcome was named on the invitation without Wellcome’s permission. The hire contract was cancelled and the event organisers were informed.
Wellcome has no association with the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World.