Brief
For the fourth consecutive year, Sterling Event Group partnered with the Step Exhibitions team to bring the Healthcare Estates Event to life.
Healthcare Estates is the UK’s leading event for healthcare engineering and estates management professionals, drawing thousands of attendees each year to Manchester Central Convention Complex. The scale of the event is significant, spanning multiple spaces across the venue, including the full Central Hall – home to a keynote theatre and six mini theatres embedded throughout the exhibition floor – as well as five additional conference rooms (Charter 1, 2 and 3, and Central 5–8).
Sterling were tasked with delivering comprehensive AV solutions across all event spaces. This included full AV production for each theatre and conference room, alongside on-site technical support for individual exhibitors throughout the exhibition. The challenge was not only to ensure seamless delivery across a complex, multi-room environment, but to create a consistent, high-quality experience for speakers, exhibitors, and attendees.
Solution
At the heart of the event was the Keynote Theatre, where Sterling delivered a seamless production designed to perfectly meet the needs of the event. A PA system was incorporated to suit the scale of the space, providing clear, even coverage throughout. Presenters were supported with a flexible microphone setup, including discreet lapel microphones, handheld options, and a twin lectern microphone configuration – allowing sessions to move effortlessly between keynote talks and panels sessions.
Visually, the space was designed for impact. A 4-metre-wide main screen was supported by two 75” relay screens positioned either side, ensuring excellent sightlines across the theatre. Content delivery was managed via a Roland V-160 HD Video Switcher and two laptops and a Micro Cue system to give speakers confidence and control on stage.
The stage itself became a focal point of the theatre. An 8-metre-wide by 4.5-metre-high bespoke printed backdrop framed the space, while a 24’ x 8’ stage finished in black carpet and a hard fascia created a clean, professional finish. Two steps and a lectern ensured safe, practical access, while a carefully
balanced stage wash kept speakers well lit throughout. Two fixed cameras captured keynote content, allowing sessions to be recorded and repurposed beyond the live event.
Beyond the keynote space, Sterling delivered six exhibition theatres, each designed to operate independently while maintaining a consistent technical standard across the show floor. Each theatre was equipped with a dedicated PA system, lectern and lectern microphones, and a presentation laptop feeding a wall-mounted 65” display. Working closely with Full Circle, reinforcement solutions were installed to safely mount screens onto the shell scheme structures. The theatres were further supported with handheld microphones, audio recording for exhibitor interviews, and a fixed camera to capture each session.
The programme continued across the Charter Rooms, each room was equipped with a four-speaker PA system, lectern microphones, and handheld microphones for audience interaction. Visuals were delivered via a 10’ projection screen paired with a Panasonic PT-CMZ50 5k short-throw projector, while a dedicated laptop at the lectern ensured reliable content playback. Stages were finished in black carpet with hard fascia, creating a consistent look across all rooms, and each space was supported by a locked-off camera to capture session footage.
In the Central Rooms, Sterling integrated seamlessly with the venue’s existing infrastructure, utilising in-house screens alongside PA systems tailored to each space and handheld microphones for presenters. These rooms were also audio recorded and had a single locked off camera to capture presentations.
In addition to these spaces we also supplied AV to induvial exhibitors throughout the exhibition. Exhibitors could order a custom quantity of LCD Screens in a range of sizes, in total we provided over 20 screens throughout the exhibition.
Later in the evening, the challenge extended beyond Manchester Central as Sterling Event Group also supported the Healthcare Estates Evening Dinner at the Kimpton Hotel. After a full day of managing multiple live spaces simultaneously, the team transitioned to delivering a second, standalone production in a completely different venue.
Sterling provided full AV production for the evening event, transforming the space from a formal dining room into a vibrant, high-energy environment. A dynamic lighting package featuring moving lights was used to energise the room and evolve the atmosphere as the evening unfolded, while a dedicated audio system delivered music throughout the night, ensuring a seamless shift from dinner to entertainment. Careful planning, precise timing, and an experienced on-site crew ensured the transition from daytime conference production to evening celebration was effortless for guests.
Result
The Healthcare Estates Event was delivered successfully across every space, with a smooth, professional experience for speakers, exhibitors, and attendees alike. All theatres and conference rooms operated to schedule, with clear audio, reliable visuals, and confident presenters throughout the programme.
The seamless delivery across multiple live spaces allowed the event team to focus on content and audience engagement, knowing the technical production was in safe hands. Recorded sessions and captured content extended the life of the event beyond the show floor, providing valuable assets for post-event use.








Tech Spec
Vision: Roland V-160 HD Switcher, Panasonic PT-RZ21K 3 Chip DLP Projector
Audio: Allen& Heath SQ5 Digital Mixing Console, OHM Loudspeakers
Lighting: Chauvet Ovation E-260WW LED Fresnel, Chauvet Ovation E-260WWIP