Case Studies - Conferences & AGMs

CIPFA Conference Adds Up To Success

The Challenge

Each year CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy) runs several large events. Their most recent annual conference and exhibition – one of the largest in the public services calendar - took place at the Bournemouth International Centre and attracted over 900 delegates.

CIPFA, which is the leading accountancy body for public services, needs to be sure that the planning, management and staging of the conference is seamless, leaving its officers and members free to focus on the conference agenda. It is the single most important event for financial decision makers in the public services.

For many years, AVT has provided one-stop, end-to-end solutions to make CIPFA events happen successfully, each year working hard to inject something fresh and innovative into the proven formula.

The AVT brief encompasses creative content, such as set design and development of an identity that reflects the given corporate theme, finding a logistics solution to accommodate the set in large auditoriums, devising 'smart' lighting and constructing smaller, themed stage sets for break-out sessions.

The AVT Solution

A hand-picked AVT team brings its collective experience to bear on every aspect of the planning and management of CIPFA events - from computer graphics, data projection, through to video relay of presenters onto the main conference screens, PowerPoint™ co-ordination for speakers' slides, seamless switching between many different visual media and event administration.

CIPFA chose an excellent venue in Bournemouth, which is laid out theatre style. The main set incorporated two screens, both back projected using 10,000 ANSI lumens Christie projectors. The images on the screens were interchangeable, with both PowerPoint™ and relay of presenter, relay and presenter’s details on the other screen and video or video playback and PowerPoint™. Mixing for the visual input was quite complex and AVT used the latest Di-Ventix switchers which coped very well with the workload.

Lighting was a mixture of traditional and LED. AVT are moving more and more to LED lighting as the power consumption is miniscule compared to normal theatre lighting. AVT recently supplemented their lighting stock with 60 LED batons which were incorporated into the stage sets.

At the moment AVT are forming their Green Policy for events and production and the latest developments present exciting possibilities in how we deliver in a more environmental way without compromising on the overall result, but actually improving.

The Results

CIPFA's requirements continue to increase in line with their public profile. AVT again provided full conference production services, including multi-camera video relay and filming of the event, and were also engaged to provide full video production and webcasting services on site.

This resulted in 17 presentations being made available through PowerPoint™ and Video. These included presentations from the CIPFA president John Butler and the Rt. Hon. Ken Clarke QC, MP.

‘I find myself once again speechless in finding the words to convey our thanks to everyone at AVT for their efforts in helping to deliver such a successful CIPFA conference in Bournemouth.

As always your team delivered an outstanding service. From conception to completion you have all been 100% committed and professional and your in-depth knowledge of the event only provides us with added confidence. You never appear to tire of the event and we are grateful for the fresh ideas that you bring.

So, once again, many thanks for all the hard work which enabled us to deliver such a successful event.'

Sheila Fenton, Assistant Director, Corporate Communications

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