Brief

Following our successful delivery of AV support for the Conservative Party Conference in 2023, Sterling was once again appointed to provide full technical production for all fringe events for the four-day event. Taking place across Manchester Central and The Midland Hotel, the conference occupied every available space across both venues, totalling around 40 individual rooms. Each space required its own tailored AV setup to support a varied programme that included high profile board meetings, panel discussions, networking receptions, and formal dinners. Our brief was to design and deliver bespoke AV packages that met the specific needs of each session while maintaining a consistent, high-quality experience throughout the event.

Solution

With a diverse mix of spaces across both venues, from large theatres and breakout rooms to purpose built marquees outside, we developed AV solutions to suit each space. Every space was equipped with the appropriate technology, including screens for presentations and clear and reliable PA systems to ensure every delegate could fully engage with the discussions taking place. Some individual sessions required live-streaming and custom event branding in addition to our AV packages. We also supported individual clients hosting specific sessions, who required additional equipment. Excellent organisational skills from our team made sure each session was correctly equipped.

Result

Over the four-day event, throughout the two venues, we supported approx. 350 sessions, hosted by a range of clients. The scale of the event required careful preparation and incredible coordination with both venues, the Conservative Party team, the security team (to be able to work around the area being on lockdown) and with any other clients who were running specific sessions. A dedicated team of 70 Sterling professionals worked across the event to ensure everything ran seamlessly from start to finish. The result was a professional event that demonstrated our ability to deliver consistent quality and reliability across a complex, multi venue setup.