​EVCOMFERENCE 2021: FIT FOR THE FUTURE

What: Fit for the Future

When: Thursday 9th September

Where: Hilton London Bankside Hotel

EVCOMference 2021, our annual programme of knowledge-sharing, workshops and inspiration for people within the corporate film and events sectors, is going to be taking place on Thursday 9th September 2021. The programme will respond to the theme ‘Fit for the Future’.

We will be hearing the client perspective on a number of fundamental issues: diversity and inclusion, sustainability (both within business and environmentally), workplace culture, impact of Brexit and the future of corporate communications. Further breakout streams will explore leadership, talent (D&I, skills) and value (business and culture).

We will focus on the next generation by offering an inclusive package for companies to bring more junior members of their team along as well as offering content that looks at Next Gen talent, how business can engage and learn from their newer employees and where, in the now very different corporate comms landscape, the skills gaps might be. We will also have representation from young film makers and event professionals who will share their experiences and what they have learnt.

On the couch with… EVCOM’s Business Portfolio members.  An opportunity to discuss with the experts, in a more intimate environment, how to win new business, managing change through leadership, marketing and procurement, training your team for the virtual revolution and how to find and keep the best talent.

The day will be an opportunity for event professionals and filmmakers to come together, network and share knowledge. We will end the event with drinks and a celebratory showcase of some of the best work in our industry.

Subjects: D&I, talent, leadership, the future of corporate communications, next gen, skills, business needs, sustainability, resilience, and more

Companies confirmed include: BNP Paribas, Radley Yeldar, EverySense, Raw London, NSPCC, Shell, Amey Plc, The Hub, Events 101, RNIB, Creative England, Diversity Ally, Brands at Work, EY, Liberty Global Europe, Barclays UK, Tough Cookie, Blue Prism, Oakham Plc and more

The event will take place at Hilton London Bankside Hotel, and will be entirely Covid safe. We are looking forward to working with the team at the Hilton to ensure our event is as safe as possible for our guests.

Hilton says, “In July 2020 Hilton London Bankside implemented CleanStay, Hilton‘s new global standard of cleanliness which builds upon the company’s already high standards of housekeeping and hygiene, where commercial-grade cleaning products and upgraded protocols are being utilised, to ensure guests enjoy an even cleaner and safer stay from check-in to check-out. As an award-winning event venue, Hilton London Bankside has also implemented EventReady with CleanStay. EventReady with CleanStay is a global meetings and events programme designed to create event experiences that are clean, flexible, safe and socially responsible. EventReady will provide curated solutions with creative food and beverage, thoughtful technology resources, elevated standards and practices with redesigned spaces for physical distancing, and reimagined ways to meet and gather. The goal is to create a safe and comfortable environment for event planners and their attendees.”

You can view opening remarks of our 2021 conference below. If you are an EVCOM member and you’d like to see films of the main sessions, please Amelia amelia.brown@evcom.org.uk.

Video credit: Hire Frequencies

KEYNOTES:

LEADERSHIP AND RESILIENCE IN THE NEW NORMAL

Exploring the lessons that can be learned from successful leaders in practicing organisational and personal resilience for the future. Ronan has recently interviewed a raft of high performance business leaders from a wide range of industries and will be sharing what he, and they, have learnt about resilience in all its forms. He will examine how the best companies prevented burnout, and the premise that COVID has humanised the workforce for good, and will go on to explore how companies are preparing for ongoing uncertainty.

Speaker: Ronan Harrington, Partner, Tough Cookie

THE CLIENT VIEW: FUTURE FOCUSED CORPORATE COMMS

Marc and Tom will discuss how Tom and his team at Liberty Global (which works across Events, Film and Graphics) dealt with issues such as home working, using their multiple channels in new ways and getting his team to think differently. For example, the benefits of UGC in the content mix and how you can be authentic but also creative. Tom will talk about lessons learned and what their priorities are going into 2022.

Speaker: Tom Hurley, Director Events and Creative Services, Liberty Global Europe

Facilitator: Marc Wright, Founder, Simply-Communicate

THE CLIENT VIEW: THIRD SECTOR

This session will explore how communications strategies have needed to change for this sector. What do you need to consider when striking the balance between a range of communications – funders, awareness with core users vs a wider brand awareness? How does a sudden surge in demand for your service affect your strategy? How do you manage a comms budget with multiple, ever changing demands?

Speakers: Sophie Castell, Director of Relationships, RNIB – Lorrin Braddick, Head of Creative, NSPCC – Rohini Pahl, Associate Head of Marketing, NSPCC

Facilitator: Ed Hardy, Creative Lead, RAW London

PANEL SESSIONS:

WHAT DOES WORKPLACE CULTURE LOOK LIKE NOW, AND WILL IT BE BETTER THAN BEFORE?

Senior women from the film, event and the experiential space discuss work practice and culture and how this has changed for all, with a particular perspective on how it has impacted women. Does the future look bright or will there be a whole new raft of issues to navigate? Martin Fullard will facilitate the panel discussion and, as a father to two young children himself, will be able to add his own perspective.

Speakers: Jane Sayers, Head of Film, Content Engine, Shell Plc – Karen Kadin, Managing Director/Partner, Brands at Work – Emily Clements, Head of Film, Radley Yeldar

Facilitator: Martin Fullard, Editor, Conference News

A FUTURE OF OPPORTUNITY

Hear from a range of business leaders sharing their insights into where new business might present itself in the coming years and what these opportunities might look like.

Speakers: Andrew Smith, CEO, A-Vision – Simon Hambley, CEO, Strata – Sue Darlaston, Senior Director – Sales Solutions, BCD Meetings & Events

Facilitator: Maarten Schram, Founder, LiveCom Alliance

THE CLIENT VIEW: THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE

Andrew will quiz senior comms professionals on how they think the corporate communications are going to respond to the rapidly changing landscape. What impact will budgets, technology, culture, people, and the shifting dynamic of the workplace have on business and what are they doing in their business to respond?

Speakers: Paul Taylor, SVP Corporate Marketing, Blue Prism and Amber Skinner-Jozefson, CEO and Managing Director, Loal

Facilitator: Andrew Winterburn, Director, 3Sixty Event Consulting Ltd

CREATIVITY, DATA AND TECHNOLOGY: THE IMPACT

The rapid acceptance of new technologies and platforms has changed the how corporate communications can be delivered forever. Join the discussion with three industry experts as they explore where and how creativity, data and technology can impact your business

Speakers: Jeremy Stinton, Head of UK, TwentyThree – Dale Parmenter, CEO, DRPG – Jon Gout, CEO, Karma 

Facilitator: Emma Hilditch, Content Director, VEI

RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, DEVELOPMENT AND TALENT ACQUISITION

Join three experts (two from specialist recruitment companies and one specifically helping first jobbers) discuss the future landscape of our industry. Where will the talent come from, do the they have the right skills, how do you hold onto those that do, are you recruiting to improve your agency diversity and what problems lie ahead?

Speakers: Robert Kenward, Founder, The Hub – Cathy Alford, Managing Director, Searchlight – Benedicta Asante, Founder, Events 101

Facilitator: Martin Fullard, Editor, Conference News

MEET THE SHADOW BOARD: WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY LOOK LIKE TO YOU?

We speak to members of our newly formed shadow board about what the future of the industry looks like, and how we can be at the forefront of it.

Speakers: Adam Davies, Video Producer, TRO – Celine Amara – Dan Rhodes, Shelton Fleming –  Gabriela Ferenc, A-Vision – Sophie Evans, Performing Artistes – Marlijn Hegge, DRPG

Facilitator: Benedicta Asante, Events 101

BREAKOUT SESSIONS:

FIT FOR THE FUTURE – FINDING YOUR FOCUS

As an agency leader, there are numerous tactics and strategies you could be employing to help your agency thrive. So how do you choose where to focus? Based on proven experience of agency growth and value realisation, this provocative and informative session takes you through the steps required to find your agency’s focus and help your business thrive.

Speaker: Angela Law, Founding Director, Every Sense

ACCESSING INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS FINANCE IN THE CREATIVE SECTOR

Whether you’re a larger business looking to expand or buy, or a small agency looking for business opportunities, finding the right financial support can be a long an arduous task. Nick will guide you through the various offering that Creative England have available, and share his own tips and advice.

Speaker: Nick Cavander, Investment Manager, Creative England

EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION – TRENDS IN LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOURS DURING, AND AS A RESULT OF, THE PANDEMIC

After framing ‘where we are now’, Callum will explore how the pandemic has radically altered comms in terms of trust, candour, and rapid response with regards to technology. Through a variety of examples he will demonstrate how advancing from blue sky to black sky technology will become viable in the next 18 months.

Speaker: Callum Gill, Head of Research, DRPG

DIVERSITY, EQUALITY & INCLUSTION: DO WHAT YOU SAY

Companies are often confused about the exact action points when it comes to embedding Diversity, Equality & Inclusion internally. Using the Conscious Conversation Framework, Ashanti will help you move forward with actionable insights which will enable you to implement and embed impactful initiatives.

Speaker: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue, Founder, Diversity Ally

DIVERSITY, EQUALITY & INCLUSION: SAY WHAT YOU DO

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is about reflecting and connecting with your audiences.That’s what all good communications do. But businesses still struggle to communicate their DEI perspective, despite its increased importance. But why is it so hard? Sharn and Gaye will guide you through some practical steps to help your brand avoid missing the mark or messing up, from your visuals and language to your channels and content: The ten principles of communicating authentically.

Speakers: Sharn Kleis, Employee Experience Lead and Gaye Bennett, Executive Producer, Radley Yeldar

SUCCESSFULLY COMMUNICATING YOUR SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMME

Mike will share with you how to creative a distinctive, high impact sustainability communications strategy and his experience of shaping stories with impact. He will look at how the right teams, with the right range of voices and skills are formed creates effective collaboration and how to stay grounded in a sea of hot air – avoiding greenwashing and greenwishing!

Speaker: Michael A. Oakes, Global Sustainability | Brand, Marketing & Communications Program Lead, EY

THE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO D&I

Sharing her vast experience of diversity and inclusion within a large, international financial institution, Ama will begin with assessing some of the challenges faced and debunking a few myths. The main thrust of her session is based on importance of a holistic approach and the intersectionality of inclusion. She will also discuss the importance of the messaging and communication of diversity and inclusion both internally and externally.

Speaker: Ama Ocansey, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, BNP Paribas

MEASURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF YOUR CORPORATE COMMS STRATEGY

Rachel and Mike will share their case study of how Amey’s communication team developed their measurement approach. They will delve into ROI, the dangers of vanity statistics and keeping and eye on the big picture. You will leave with examples and tips that you can put into practice right away and learn how to be your own hero!

Speakers: Rachel Tolhurst, Communications and Engagement Specialist [formerly Amey Head of Internal Communications] and Mike Elkington, Senior Communications Manager – Digital, Amey Plc

FROM IMPACT THROUGH RESILIENCE, TO THE RENEWED FUTURE OF FACE-TO-FACE COMMUNICATION

LiveCom Alliance Founder & Managing Director Maarten Schram speaks about the key challenges and future opportunities in the live communication industry.

The LiveCom Alliance European Industry Survey, yearly conducted by the renowned RIFEL Institute, exposes the dramatic impact that Covid-19 had on the live communication sector. Turnover, projects and employment were most heavily impacted. Unprecedented times in which our industry showed resilience while facing the challenges that the reignition of the business brings. Kickstarting the eagerly awaited comeback of meeting each other face-to-face. And that’s exactly where the opportunities are in the renewed future of live!

Revealing insights, bringing you an interesting ‘after corona/before corona’ benchmark.

Speaker: Maarten Schram, Founder & Managing Director, LiveCom Alliance