Conferences & Events
We've created some amazing events. We can do it for you, whether it be an outstanding conference or an amazing multi-faceted get together using our own SYMPO™ methods.
Here''s a couple we did for other people. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see some of the events we designed and promoted as part of our own programme....
The Smoke Free City: Live from New York. We were asked by Smoke Free Liverpool (SFL) to do something extraordinary. It was 2004 and objections to the Smoke Free Legislation were coming thick and fast. So much so that there were serious doubts that it might not progress. SFL had uncovered a little known bye-law which meant that they could unilaterally go smoke-free using the powers of persuasion. SFL and Liverpool City Council wanted to create momentum by encouraging other cities to follow suit and to lobby influential players in the political system.
Knowing that New York had already gone smoke-free and had overcome the 101 barriers that were being put up against the idea, we went over and got to know the movers and shakers who made it happen as well as the dissenting voices. We made friends with a restaurant owner at Steamers Landing on the banks of the Hudson River. Now we had goodwill; the know-how of those who had implemented an extremely difficult change as well as those who opposed it; and in Steamers Landing we had a place to create a television studio with a backdrop of a stunning New York skyline.
Six weeks later 180 delegates from all over the UK came to Liverpool to figure out how to put momentum behind the smoke free campaign and how they could make progress in the absence of legislation. They began by getting to know each other during a smoke free evening at the World famous Cavern Club, dancing the night away to a Beatles tribute band.
The following day a two way TV link up, live from Steamers Landing enabled delegates to listen to and cross examine those who had made New York smoke free and to hear from those commercial interests who still opposed it. They were able to get inside the heads of those who delivered and those who saw obstacles. Interspersed with the live broadcasts were hands-on interactives about how to become smoke free in the absence of legislation; PR, marketing and overcoming resistance; and the balance between influence and enforcement.
Delegates including Lord Faulkner, who was responsible for taking the Bill to the Lords, went away determined that they were going to redouble their efforts towards getting rid of second hand smoke. The Act came into force on 1st July 2007 and the rest, as they say, is history.
People Before Structures. When the Government announced an £800 million investment it seemed like good news. There were those though who were concerned about the way things were going. A tendency towards complex bureaucratic structures at the expense of backing people with passion – people who we were beginning to call Social entrepreneurs.
The think tank Demos and Community Action Network (CAN) were about to launch their ideas through a publication People before Structures. They asked us to help to do a number of things – to alert Government towards another way of looking at things; to inspire and motivate passionate people to take entrepreneurial action in dealing with social problems; and to show the power of people individually and collectively.
Oh and it had to be unforgettable. Imagine 200 people at Manchester’s Granada Studios and 200 people at London’s Barbican Centre, linked together by a live satellite TV feed. Now imagine trying to get half of them singing Beethoven’s Ode to Joy in German; then the other half some 230 miles away; and then all 400 singing in unison as if their lives absolutely depended upon it. This is how we opened People Before Structures led by the amazing Benjamin Zander, Conductor of The Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and a man who can demonstrate through music how to think outside the box.
Lord Falconer and Rt Hon Hilary Armstrong came on behalf of the Government, before polar explorer Robert Swan truly demonstrated the power of people when they are motivated to achieve. He was the first man in history to walk unsupported to both poles. His next job is even bigger – to save Antarctica.
What happened? The term Social Enterprise is now firmly established as an important part of our economy and social entrepreneurs, including many of those who attended People before Structures, now operate large parts of the social sector. Andrew Mawson, one of the people who commissioned us is now Lord Mawson and continues to advocate on behalf of social entrepreneurs.
In 2010 the Government announced its plans for Big Society – The idea that passionate local people should drive local solutions and that the state should back off – hmmm….People before Structures perhaps….you heard it here first.
Here''s a couple we did for other people. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see some of the events we designed and promoted as part of our own programme....
The Smoke Free City: Live from New York. We were asked by Smoke Free Liverpool (SFL) to do something extraordinary. It was 2004 and objections to the Smoke Free Legislation were coming thick and fast. So much so that there were serious doubts that it might not progress. SFL had uncovered a little known bye-law which meant that they could unilaterally go smoke-free using the powers of persuasion. SFL and Liverpool City Council wanted to create momentum by encouraging other cities to follow suit and to lobby influential players in the political system.
Knowing that New York had already gone smoke-free and had overcome the 101 barriers that were being put up against the idea, we went over and got to know the movers and shakers who made it happen as well as the dissenting voices. We made friends with a restaurant owner at Steamers Landing on the banks of the Hudson River. Now we had goodwill; the know-how of those who had implemented an extremely difficult change as well as those who opposed it; and in Steamers Landing we had a place to create a television studio with a backdrop of a stunning New York skyline.
Six weeks later 180 delegates from all over the UK came to Liverpool to figure out how to put momentum behind the smoke free campaign and how they could make progress in the absence of legislation. They began by getting to know each other during a smoke free evening at the World famous Cavern Club, dancing the night away to a Beatles tribute band.
The following day a two way TV link up, live from Steamers Landing enabled delegates to listen to and cross examine those who had made New York smoke free and to hear from those commercial interests who still opposed it. They were able to get inside the heads of those who delivered and those who saw obstacles. Interspersed with the live broadcasts were hands-on interactives about how to become smoke free in the absence of legislation; PR, marketing and overcoming resistance; and the balance between influence and enforcement.
Delegates including Lord Faulkner, who was responsible for taking the Bill to the Lords, went away determined that they were going to redouble their efforts towards getting rid of second hand smoke. The Act came into force on 1st July 2007 and the rest, as they say, is history.
People Before Structures. When the Government announced an £800 million investment it seemed like good news. There were those though who were concerned about the way things were going. A tendency towards complex bureaucratic structures at the expense of backing people with passion – people who we were beginning to call Social entrepreneurs.
The think tank Demos and Community Action Network (CAN) were about to launch their ideas through a publication People before Structures. They asked us to help to do a number of things – to alert Government towards another way of looking at things; to inspire and motivate passionate people to take entrepreneurial action in dealing with social problems; and to show the power of people individually and collectively.
Oh and it had to be unforgettable. Imagine 200 people at Manchester’s Granada Studios and 200 people at London’s Barbican Centre, linked together by a live satellite TV feed. Now imagine trying to get half of them singing Beethoven’s Ode to Joy in German; then the other half some 230 miles away; and then all 400 singing in unison as if their lives absolutely depended upon it. This is how we opened People Before Structures led by the amazing Benjamin Zander, Conductor of The Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and a man who can demonstrate through music how to think outside the box.
Lord Falconer and Rt Hon Hilary Armstrong came on behalf of the Government, before polar explorer Robert Swan truly demonstrated the power of people when they are motivated to achieve. He was the first man in history to walk unsupported to both poles. His next job is even bigger – to save Antarctica.
What happened? The term Social Enterprise is now firmly established as an important part of our economy and social entrepreneurs, including many of those who attended People before Structures, now operate large parts of the social sector. Andrew Mawson, one of the people who commissioned us is now Lord Mawson and continues to advocate on behalf of social entrepreneurs.
In 2010 the Government announced its plans for Big Society – The idea that passionate local people should drive local solutions and that the state should back off – hmmm….People before Structures perhaps….you heard it here first.
Scroll along the bottom of the page to see just some of the events we have designed and delivered...
