The brief was to event manage Motonovo Finance’s 2020 Staff Awards.

This event is a big deal in the Motonovo calendar – with a chance for staff to let their hair down, celebrate and shout about individual successes and company achievements from the past 12 months.

Pre-COVID, our team were in full-swing planning – looking at suitable venues and planning logistics around this year’s theme. However, when faced with restrictions caused by the global pandemic, our team had to consider new options. Luckily, we know a thing or two about digital events and Motonovo trusted us to get working on a ‘Plan B’.

Solution

Motonovo’s 2020 Staff Awards became a digital event with a difference – our hybrid model was designed to produce maximum engagement with staff, who for the first time, would be swapping a night out on the town for a night in at home – and it was important we gave them a reason to tune in and keep watching throughout the whole evening.

Pre-event, we created 400x Award Packs that were posted to each member of staff ahead of the event. Each pack included:

> An official invite to the Awards, with details of how to login virtually

> Popcorn

> Mini bottles of wine

We also pre-recorded content ahead of the live event, which included interviews with members of the Motonovo team that would be streamed throughout the evening.

As for the event itself, there was no better venue than our very own Orchard HQ to play host for the evening. Our open-plan office meant we were able to build a bespoke set, ideal for live streaming the whole event and safely accommodate our ‘behind the scenes’ team. Our production team used rigged cameras to capture every moment allowing staff watching from home to experience the event for themselves.

And as for our host? We know no event is complete without the right MC – someone who can make a crowd laugh, keep them wanting more and provide a memorable experience. That’s why we chose none other than legendary TV personality, Stephen Mulhern. The ‘In for a Penny’ host joined us at Orchard HQ; a surprise for Motonovo staff who were not quite expecting the ‘hello!”

Results

> A high quality, successful hybrid event, streamed via Vimeo

> 433 Motonovo employees engaged throughout the night

> 11 awards and winners

> A top MC who exceeded expectations

> Over 400 boxes of wine and popcorn sent out

> 1 very happy client