‘MIND THE GAP’: 
Technology Versus Creativity in the Race to Win New Business

We know now that the creative industries are growing twice as fast as the rest of the economy (source DCMS) with a GVA of £91.8 billion with that trend set to continue.

But, in the dawning of this new age of the “blended” agency, client expectations of UK-based agencies are, quite rightly, sky high.  Whilst, for most agencies, day to day reality can be a steady reckoner. So, how do successful agencies maintain the sprint-like pace of innovation and up-skilling required to continually surprise and delight their clients and retain market share?

How do agencies adopting this new model recruit and retain the specialist talent needed to meet client expectations across the many disciplines in the communication mix? What business and pricing models do these agencies adopt? And what does all this mean for the continued rise of the integrated communications agency in today’s marketing mix?

This year, EVCOMference presents a mini-festival of stories from the front line of business – from thought-leaders, agency-leaders and industry-leaders alike.

We’ll hear from industry stalwarts and thought leaders about their time in the industry and how they believe client needs and expectations have changed over time. They have agreed to share their insights with us.

We’ll hear from clients and commissioners about their changing environments – and demands on budgets – and what they need to see their agencies deliver day in, day out. They have agreed to imagine for us, their agency of the future.

We’ll hear from growing agencies from across the blended disciplines – content, creative and experience-led – and discover their modus operandi. They have agreed to share their growth stories – and business secrets – with us.

And, finally, we’ll hear from future thinkers prepared to look and predict into the far future. They have agreed to show us how creativity – regardless of technology – will always be the ultimate agency USP and how to best to nurture it.

And of course, we’ll hear from you. With a flexible programme of talks – with storytelling slots for those who would like to grab one – this promises to be our most interactive and sociable conference format to date.

1 DAY; 5 PANELS; 1 GREAT DEBATE; 25 SPEAKERS; 1 SOCIAL – YOUR CHOICES

SPEAKERS

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Sir Peter Bazalgette Chairman, ITV plc; Chair, Independent Review of the Creative Industries; Author, The Empathy Instinct
Nick de Bois Chair, Events Industry Board, former MP, Non – Executive Director, Rapier Group
Craig Fenton Director of Strategy and Operations UK&I, Google
Wayne Garvie President, International Production, Sony Pictures Television

FACULTY

Sanne de Boer Producer, EdComs
Richard Bridge Founder & CEO, Top Banana
James Brine New Business Lead, Experience
Nic Cooper MD, Sledge
Emily Clements Head of Film, Radley Yeldar
Sarah Ellis MD of Gravity Road and Former Head of Marketing at Sainsbury’s
Mike Ford Board Director, Touch
Charlotte Gentry Founder and CEO, Pure Events
Amanda Hoffmeister Head of Group Events Management, Amadeus
Ewan Jamieson Communications Executive, Ashfield Meetings and Events
Andrew Lytheer VP Marketing, Communications and Business Planning, GKN
Heidi Mallace Director, CTN Group
Colin Miles CEO, Somersault TV
Dale Parmenter CEO, drp and EVCOM Fellow
Steve Eakins MD, Live Union
Rachel Pendered MD, MediaZoo
Andy Feasey Senior Digital Project Manager, TRO
Claudi Schneider Client Services Manager and Senior Producer, Sequel Group
Rick Stainton MD, Smyle
Pete Stevenson MD, The Edge Picture Company
Emma Stoker Vice President, Events & Relationship Manager, Barclays
Tom Vamos Digital Development Manager, Freeman EMEA
Jason Wilcock Chairman, Worldspan

FACILITATORS

Sara Cooper Co-Founder and Executive Producer, Plastic Pictures
Steve Garratt Director, The Giggle Group
Angela Law Founding Director, Every Sense
Andrew Reid Director of Strategy and Communications, Shelton Fleming Associates
Dagmar Mackett Director of Video, drp
Andrew Smith Creative Director, A-Vision; Immediate Past-Chair, EVCOM
Andrew Winterburn Chair, EVCOM

PROGRAMME

PLENARY AND PANEL SESSIONS

Keynote
10.00-10.45 Sir Peter Bazalgette The Rise and Rise of the Creative Industries

The Founders Panel
11.00-11.45 A panel of agency founders and principals give their view of the current economic climate and the rise of the integrated communications agency.
Moderator: Andrew Reid (Shelton Fleming), Panellists: Rick Stainton (Smyle), Dale Parmenter (drp), Rachel Pendered (Media Zoo), Nic Cooper (Sledge), Mike Ford (Touch)

The Client Panel
12.00-12.45 A panel of commissioners and clients give their view of the integrated communications agency of choice.
Moderator: Angela Law (Every Sense), Panellists: Sarah Ellis (Gravity Road, Sainsbury’s), Andrew Lytheer (GKN), Emma Stoker (Barclays), Amanda Hoffmeister (Amadeus)

12.45-13.30 Streetfood lunch and networking

Keynote
13.30-14.15 Craig Fenton, Google The Importance of Creative Leadership

The Agency Panel
15.30-16.15 A panel of agency leaders/directors give their view of the challenges of preparing for the fast pace of change and driving creativity and technology in the talent pool.
Moderator: Andrew Winterburn (EVCOM chair), Panellists: Jason Wilcock (Worldspan), Colin Miles (Somersault), Charlotte Gentry (Pure Events)

Keynote
18.00-18.30 Wayne Garvie, Sony Managing and Motivating Creative Teams