Insight
After a successful pilot in 2019, the council wanted to create a festival of careers to excite the next generation.
The brief: “We need an event management firm to help us organise and manage the Chelmsford Skills Festival for 2023.”
Implementation
We met with the team and quickly got to grips with the task in hand. A plan was created, regular meets put in place and action began.
The festival needed to:
• gain at least 40 businesses to exhibit
• welcome over 1,000 pupils
• create a festival vibe
• ensure the safety and enjoyment of all visitors
Exhibitors: From airlines to willow craft a mix of traditional and new career paths were showcased to schoolchildren. We reached out to the widest range of businesses possible to get them to set up interactive activities. We wanted to open children’s eyes to a world of possibilities and make them reach for the stars.
Festival Vibe: To create a festive feel, we set up decorative bunting and colourful flags around the site. We also commissioned a graffiti artist to work with schoolchildren to create a mural. A DJ provided background music, showcasing his creative job in the music sector to the children. Food trucks and ice cream vans were booked, ready to give the young people a treat.
Schools: Local secondary schools were invited to bring their year 8s to the festival. We organised double decker buses, at no cost to the schools, to transport children and teachers to the event.
Marketing Materials: We wanted each schoolchild to make the most of their day. To ensure no-one missed out on any activity, an event brochure and map were created. The brochure also included inspiring interviews with a serial entrepreneur, plus a female scientist who’s working on a mission to Mars!
Photo and Film: Snap! We needed to capture the festival on photo and film. Our team worked with schoolchildren, teachers and businesses to create engaging content.
Legals: As experienced event managers, the team also looked after risk assessments, event management plans, public liability insurance checks, exhibitor handbook, volunteer handbook plus managed GDPR consent from schools, exhibitors and volunteers/employees.
Impact
The event was a big success!
• seven schools with over 1,000 children attended the festival!
• nearly 50 exhibitors attended the event.
• schoolchildren took part in hands-on activity from bricklaying to psychotherapy.
• feedback from schoolchildren and their teachers was outstanding.
• businesses were keen to sign up for next year.
View a film about the Chelmsford Skills Festival – Chelmsford Skills Festival 2023.
“Big Wave PR were great to work with, they shared our passion to make this event a success. The team were constantly coming up with new ideas but were also very buttoned down.”
