The luncheon is a regular fixture in the CBI’s calendar and celebrates three companies from the region that have excelled in their field. Our set design was strident and dynamic using flatwall panels and large format wrap panels created by our in-house designers. The event was captured live by the Mills Media business television team who also filmed at the winner’s premises to provide video inserts for the show. The big winners on the day were Vimto, APS Solutions and Pets at Home and coverage of the event was sent to the CBI production unit in London for inclusion on their website.

Now in 2012, we have kicked off at a stomping pace with two events under our belts in just the first couple of weeks back. Plus there have been numerous client meetings for upcoming events in February, March and April.

Andrew, Barrie and Paul travelled to London for a site visit at Imperial College for a major medical conference being held in April (more on that next month) and Will Syme headed over to Belfast for a recce and client meeting at the Europa Hotel.

With returning client Wirral Partnership Homes already on board and planning for the British Cycling awards in February well underway, this Olympic year looks very likely to bring home the gold (sorry but we couldn’t resist!).

The awards, hosted by CallNorthWest, celebrate the very best in customer service and the event theme to reflect local quality was the aurora borealis best known fittingly as the northern lights.

The client requested an array of colour and light so Mills Media beautifully lit the Grand Room at the venue in pinks, blues and greens.  Cutting through the shimmering haze were several Clay Paky alphaspots and a glitterball that offered a touch of razzle dazzle!  The twin screen set was also softly lit in complimentary colours and Alison Hitchen from CallNorthWest was thrilled with the work of our team.

The magic of the evening was filmed live by the Mills Media camera crew and stills photography was captured both on stage and with CallNorthWest branded banners for PR.

With some five hundred guests attending, the event was a huge success and we look forward to returning to the venue once again in 2012.

Beginning with an early morning rig of the exhibition hall the team installed power distribution for twenty seven stands, plus plasma screens with Wi-Fi enabled laptops for continuous internet access. We worked vigorously throughout the day to rig the main conference room with a full 12 metre wide stage and set, comprising of twin rear projection screens, top table with graphic wrap for six guest speakers and a bespoke lectern. Audio was provided by a six speaker PA system, integrating lectern and top table mics with handheld and lapel radio mics. The lighting set-up was flown from a front truss, allowing wash and spots for the lectern, Q & A sessions and entertainment. DB4 LED blocks provided the colour uplight across the set, mixed with four intelligent moving heads which were also put to great effect during the evening awards on the final night.

Specials guests at the event included BBC Radio 5 Live’s Chief Political Correspondent John Pienarr and also financial expert Paul Lewis from Radio 4’s Money Box. Comedy was provided by hilarious Canadian stand-up Stu Francis. The conference also called for three breakout rooms each with an island stage, lectern projection and a small PA system. The 2011 event was deemed by the client as a great success and we look forward to working with the CSA & DBSG at the same venue next year.

This year, we have been particularly busy because returning client Scarlet Arch, with their client Holroyd Precision, engaged Mills for technical support for a launch ceremony at their factory in Rochdale. Following the successful partnership of Holroyd and CQME last year, the handover ceremony we worked on in July last year. They have launched four organisations in the UK to develop their business and the precision engineering industry. This involved strengthening links with Universities of Huddersfield and Manchester plus refining the core business to encompass all aspects of innovation.

The event was a high profile international affair with delegates from the UK and China. And again this year we converted a factory shop floor to a corporate presentation space. Lining the room with blue velvet drapes, providing stage and blue flat wall set, lighting and PA system. Twin lecterns for presenters and translators, with top table for nine top executives from the business. All dressed with floral displays.

July has been a busy month for the Conference and Live events team with not one or even two… but four awards ceremonies, a conference and numerous smaller event hires. The Mills Media team has excelled itself in providing the usual high standards of service our clients have become accustomed to.

The month began with long standing annual awards ceremonies for Wirral Metropolitan College, TTE Training and Wirral Investment Network. We have worked closely with all of these clients over past years to produce personally tailored events that hit the mark each time.

This summer has also seen us grow our relationship with NUS Services. Having recently worked in both Liverpool and Manchester on their annual conference and awards, we were contracted to provide creative and technical support to the NUS Conference and Gala Dinner Awards.

Staged at the Students Union of Leeds University, the event was held on 19th & 20th July, culminating with celebratory awards on the evening of the final day. Mills Media provided comprehensive set and audio-visual facilities, fully supported by our tech team. The production crew also worked closely with the NUS events staff to produce a memorable conference and a final show that literally blew off the roof!

Whilst the daytime shows used a traditional flatwall set, the Awards 2011 embraced a starcloth themed set. Attended by over 500 guests, the set was dressed with hanging banners designed by the Mills team and an array of stage wash, uplighters and MAC 700 moving lights. The evening finished off with a bang as the vast audience were caught unaware by confetti pods firing up and down the length of the room.

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Both evenings took on the traditional format of a dinner followed by an award giving celebration. Highly respected, the RICS awards are given to leaders of the most interesting and successful building projects in the area plus a number of highly commended projects. We created the set, which comprised of a star cloth backdrop and projection screens alongside an eight-metre wide stage. A tight budget meant some new thinking was required to accompany the RICS gobos but our lighting team worked hard to create atmosphere and mood in keeping with the stature of the event.

To complete our all-encompassing service, Mills Media also provided Autocue for the presenters at each venue and created all the necessary visuals for projection.

The events were well received by both the client and all attendees and we look forward to working with Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors on next year’s events.

The planning stages began in early 2011 and the first request from LLS was a totally new set and stage design for their prestigious event.

Over the past five months, our production team and senior members of LLS combined their talents to create a stunning awards backdrop, complimented by a dynamic colour palette. Printed fabric screen surrounds embellished the LLS logo and oversized award panels finished off the set with a glitzy vibe.  Lighting design featured a sumptuous blend of deep sea blues and passionate pinks cutting through gentle wisps of haze for mood and atmosphere.

The Mills Media event team introduced a few new touches this year that certainly raised the bar. Guests were served champagne on arrival through specially sculptured LLS ice luges – chilled was the definitely the order of the day!

Linda McDermott of BBC Radio Merseyside was on hand to host the awards that continue to recognise the amazing legal talent working in the region.

Mills Media also sourced entertainment for the 2011 show.  Direct from the West End, the ‘Masquerade’ trio performed a dazzling array of show tunes and the evening rocked out in style with music from hugely successful local band The Wickermen.

On hand to capture both the live event and the happy faces of the evening’s award winners was our in-house film crew and photographers.

The event was deemed the best yet by LLS and their guests with Norman Jones, President of the Liverpool Law Society, commenting “The evening was outstanding and I congratulate Mills Media on the part they played making it such a success.”

We have also been travelling around the country in preparation for up-coming events for British Glass, NUS Services and Newsquest. A vital part of any event is the pre-production work that Mills puts in to ensure the appropriate set, kit and crew all come together to produce a successful event. Visiting venues is all part of this process – we get an immediate feel for the location.  It also ensures we have accurate dimensions with digital measuring plus we take photographs and video of the venue to go into our location library.  The information is then passed to our in-house CAD & graphic designers who produce unique set designs for each event. It’s a team effort!

This month also welcomed a new member to the team.  Dave Rogers has been working with us as a freelancer for the past six months but has now joined the ranks as a permanent recruit.  His understanding of the conference and live events industry and his Mills Media experience has seen him blend in seamlessly.

The achievements of everyone from tireless volunteers to unbeatable world champions were recognised and Mills Media were on hand to create a night to remember.

A contemporary set and lighting design was created for the show that saw some 136 awards being handed out.

Presiding over British Cycling’s premier awards night was BBC cycling commentator Hugh Porter.  The event featured video play-ins from SKY Cinemax, live camera feeds, Q & A’s with some of our cycling ‘greats’ plus lighting and room effects that all contributed to create the best event yet in the organisation’s history

The evening reached its crescendo with a special recognition award for Women’s Downhill World Champion Tracy Moseley.