Biggest UK Space Conference ever

the challenge

Britain’s space industry has almost doubled in value over the past decade and is currently worth an estimated £12bn a year to the UK economy.

With private sector interest in space innovation at an all time high, the UK Space Agency and conference organising committee selected Bray Leino’s conferencing and events specialists to revitalise their UK Space Conference.

While the project had to break even in terms of cost, the overall objective was to devise, manage and deliver the biggest and best event in their history; delegate experience, as always, would be key.

our approach

Bray Leino committed a dedicated team with expertise in delivering large scale, impactful events.

In the months leading up to the two-day event, we managed every aspect of planning, branding, marketing, stage-management and logistics, working with the UK Space Conference Organising and Programme Committees.

To ensure broad discussion, speakers were recruited from across many different relevant industries, (including Tim Peak, who called in live from his astronaut training base in Kazakhstan). We staged various networking activities and a gala dinner and drinks reception for over 500 top-level industry decision makers.

We liaised with media to ensure the UK Space Conference brand and messaging would be amplified across the wider technology industry. Given the current increased press attention on all things space, this event attracted representatives from national broadcast and print press.

Sponsorship was vital to ensure a cost neutral project. We applied an innovative pricing structure and promotional options, and led a tenacious marketing drive, targeting tech companies, space-based services, entrepreneurs, academia, policy-makers, funders and students.

commercial success

Our commercial event team over-achieved on its cost-neutral objective, delivering a 70% increase in sponsorship revenue and an overall profit, which will be used to fund the next event in 2017.

Also:

• 1,100 Delegates (an increase of 40%)
• 100 exhibitors
• 167 speakers
• 30 conference sessions
• 550 gala dinner guests
• 55 journalists
• 230 secondary school children participated in a parallel outreach programme

Described by industry commentators as ‘a vital rallying platform for the UK space industry ’, this was the biggest ever UK Space Conference.

 “Thank you is not enough, you have introduced different facets to the conference that have definitely raised the bar in the conference’s standing in the space community and it would not have been the success it was without you.”
Helen Roberts, UK Space Conference Project Manager and UK Regional Growth Manager, UK Space Agency