25th anniversary company conference & celebration

Briefed to find a London venue that wasn’t a typical conference setting, we chose Cineworld at The O2 Greenwich. Not only was the impressive Superscreen, the UK’s largest cinema screen, the perfect size for 850 attendees, we would also have exclusive use of the cinema foyer and multiple smaller and VIP screens that could be used as breakout spaces.

The conference theme was built around the company’s business values – do good, own it, think big. We also needed to embody the slogan ‘I came by train’. We created a bespoke stage set based on a train station platform. Featuring iconic European train station logos and a plethora of foliage, which helped to bring the outside in, it provided an engaging backdrop for the conference speakers and presenters. In support of the company’s commitment to sustainability all of the foliage and plants used for the stage set were collected and reused post-event.

Before delegates entered the main conference space, we made sure that they were inspired from the moment they arrived. Bespoke branding, also used in pre-event communications and the event website, and animations designed specifically for the event appeared on multiple digital screens that we’d installed throughout the space. The animations incorporated images of the European countries in which the company operates, cleverly designed to give the appearance of scenes from a moving train and day turning into night. We also created digital walkways, corridors and entrance rotundas that added lots of visual interest and excitement. The use of digital signage and graphics was another conscious decision to embed sustainability into the event and avoided unnecessary use of printed materials.

We supplied a full production service for the conference, including audio, lighting and visual design including branded presentation slides for consistency. We created a large canvas backdrop that enabled us to project content on top. This allowed us to layer presentations, along with camera feeds onto the canvas creating a dynamic and captivating experience for the audience.

An interactive event app was also integrated into presentations – quizzes and live polls meant delegates were able to become active participants in the conference.

The business part of the event culminated in an awards ceremony. To create a slightly different atmosphere we made changes to the décor and production. Award winners were invited on stage accompanied by custom audio and lighting stings that provided a special touch and a real sense of celebrating the people that have helped the company be so successful for so many years.

Ceremony over, a drinks reception and party were held in the cinema foyer. A variety of food stalls had been set up for the day, courtesy of the award-winning street food catering agency we worked with. Delegates had an amazing choice of street food – Taiwanese, Lebanese and Indian, as well as gourmet burgers and mac and cheese. Lunch had been ‘grab and go’, whilst dinner was more substantial bowl food from the same traders. Meanwhile, a DJ played throughout and games were available in the VIP bar area.

Every delegate had received a swag bag, including hoodies, water, ice cream cups, popcorn boxes, pick’n’mix bags, stickers and wristbands. But they also took home a very special memory – a 45-minute set by Craig David, who is currently an ambassador for the company. Supported by our full production set-up, state-of-the-art PA system and customised video wall, his performance was like a private and exclusive concert – he even included a song specially written for the company. A truly brilliant end to a brilliant day.