Insight: Issue 49 (16th June)

In disappointing (but unsurprising) news, social contact restrictions will remain in place in England and Scotland beyond June. . .

BUT, today’s insight does offer some better news: there’s a new Domestic Support Fund for UK business events; we’ve got 6 ways to brand your next virtual event to the max; tips for making your event tech more eco-friendly; a list of the top 10 sustainable event suppliers; lessons event profs can learn from pop-up immersive art experiences; and (diaries at the ready) a FREE event for event profs about all things hybrid.

New domestic support fund for business events

VisitBritain is offering a new fund to support the recovery of the events industry and ‘showcase that the UK is ready to meet again’. The Domestic Support Fund will go towards not-for-profit organisations hosting domestic business events with 100 to 500 delegates from 21 June to 17 December 2021.

Financial support will be based on the number of delegates attending a live event (or the live component of a hybrid event) and the event organisation can apply for £30 per delegate, up to a maximum value of £15,000. You can find the eligibility criteria and application guidelines here.

6 ways to brand your next virtual event

Thanks to the last-minute government u-turns on COVID restrictions, you may not be ready or able to return to live events just yet – but that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on event design and corporate branding. Here are 6 ways to deliver a branded experience at your next virtual event and leave a lasting brand impression online:

1. Custom favicon & URL. Multi-tasking during online events is sadly inevitable, but a branded favicon and custom URL will act as visual signposts, drawing attendees back to your event tab.
2. Login & community banner. The login screen and reception area are the first points of interaction every attendee will have with your brand – so branded banners are a no-brainer.
3. Branded skins. Make sure the virtual event platform you choose offers custom themes, so you can show off your logo and brand colours in all their corporate glory.
4. Welcome video. Most virtual event platforms now allow for branded welcome videos upon log in – this is your chance to broadcast your brand message, loud and clear.
5. Branded slides. In case of any down time between streams, create branded slides with your logo (and the logos of your sponsors) alongside the context of each session.
6. Branded rooms & lounges. Speaking of sponsors, give them a platform to showcase their own brands as well, through bespoke meeting rooms and lounges. Happy sponsors = happy event organisers.

How to make live events more eco-friendly

Last week’s G7 summit saw world leaders convene to discuss a unified response to the climate crisis (concluding the talks with an inexplicable jet plane aerobatics display, but we’ll try not to dwell on that…). For any event profs out there wondering how to do your bit for the planet, Meeting Media Group has some timely tips on how to make your event tech more eco-friendly. These are a few of our favourites:

• Use online sourcing platforms. These platforms let you filter your venue search according to eco-policies – such as CO2 offset, recycling, and re-purpose initiatives for furniture and fabrics.
• Choose projection mapping over printed signage. Opting for projection mapping cuts down on single-use designs and materials – and it cuts costs, too.
• And, of course, there’s always hybrid. Incorporating a virtual component into your live event can boost attendance while lowering your overall carbon footprint. The very definition of a win-win.

Top 10 sustainable event suppliers

If you’re keen to go green but don’t have a clue where to start, Event Industry News can point you in the right direction. They’ve rounded up a list of the top 10 sustainable suppliers whose environmentally-friendly events take into consideration everything from reduction and reuse of resources, to the importance of life-cycle cost analysis.

Lessons from immersive pop-up art experiences

Now for something a bit different – Smart Meetings has shared a colourful article about what event profs can learn from pop-up immersive art experiences. It might sound a bit obscure, but the main crossover is the importance of telling a vivid story, and creating experiences that are exclusive, personalised, and optimised for social media. We can’t argue with that! And we highly recommend you read the article in full.

Date for the diary: ‘To Hybrid and Beyond’

And last on the agenda for today, a date for your diaries: events software provider VenuIQ is hosting ‘To Hybrid and Beyond’ on 18 June. This excellently-name virtual event will discuss how the demand for hybrid has skyrocketed (pun intended) and what the next 5 years looks like for the sector. Oliver Rowe, co-founder of VenuIQ, commented:

“Our event is designed for industry leaders to reflect on a difficult period, the lessons learned and how the industry has changed. The event will explore the roles both virtual and hybrid will play with the return of full capacity live events throughout the remainder of 2021 and beyond.”

And the best part? It’s FREE for event organisers! So you might as well go ahead and register right now.

Until next week, event pioneers!