Today, EVCOM Members and Board Members gathered online for our first ever virtual AGM. This was also Claire Fennelow’s first AGM as Executive Director, following her appointment at the beginning of the year. EVCOM’s chair Charlotte Gentry (Pure Communications Group), began the sessions by welcoming everyone, then handing over to EVCOM’s Treasurer, Dale Parmenter (DRPG) for his financial report.
Claire then shared her report of EVCOM’s year so far.
Quarter One:
The first quarter of the year began with a restructuring of the team, and a review of the existing strategy as Claire began her role. She planned to concentrate on member engagement, an awards review, freelancers and the stabilisation of finance. We delivered three campfire events and a Talking Pictures event, before Covid-19 hit.
Quarter Two:
In the wake of Covid-19, we radically changed our output from event based, to online and virtual delivery. We launched the EVCOM Sessions programme, featuring weekly talks and webinars, across topics including creativity, mental health and social media. We also rebranded our Members Directory, to give it increased functionality and visibility for our members. With the support of Angela Law (Every Sense) we ran a survey, the results of which shaped our strategy going forwards. The EVCOM Clarion Awards closed for entry, which even more entries than last year! Our judges were very impressed by the standard of entries. Spearheaded by Tim Langford, we created a fundraising film called ‘These Are The Hands’ to raise money for the NHS during the midst of the crisis. Throughout this we met with the BVEP and EIB as active members and contributors, to campaign for recognition of our industry in the Government’s Covid-19 recovery schemes.
Quarter Three:
We held further weekly webinars until August where we took a short break, to begin again in September. We also ran a skills share week via our Instagram account. With the support of DRPG we delivered our first ever virtual ceremony for the EVCOM Clarion Awards, and we also saw the EVCOM London Live and Film Awards close for entry and the judging pass smoothly and successfully. We launched the FOCUS Award, a new award to offer young diverse talent mentorship opportunities. Finally, we revised our Code of Ethics, became signatories of the Race at Work Charter, and began work on a revised membership offer for 2021.
Quarter Four:
This quarter saw us continue our webinar programme at a rate of two webinars a month. Whilst we had hoped to run several live events, we are evaluating the possibility of this given the changing Government guidelines. Whether virtual or hybrid, we look forward to delivering a Freelancer’s Forum, the EVCOM London Live and Film Virtual Awards Ceremony, the Senior Leaders’ Summit, the Brand Film Report Launch and a ‘Talking Pictures’ before the end of the year. We will also be launching a jobs board on our website, and a membership renewal campaign.
We will continue to partner with BVEP, EIB, BFI and the Event ROI Institute, and to pursue our campaign work around diversity and inclusion, wellbeing and freelance support.
Finally, Claire thanked the departing board members, Pete Stevenson (The Edge Picture Company), Hayley Greaves (Ashfield Meetings and Events) and Sara Cooper (Plastic Pictures), for their years of hard-work and dedication on behalf of EVCOM’s membership.
Claire said, “Pete, Sara and Hayley – I cannot express enough my gratitude for the support you have given both myself and EVCOM. We will certainly miss your presence on the board, and I know that the work and initiatives you have been part of will continue to drive EVCOM forwards even in your absence. Thank you.”
Claire then announced the new board members who will be joining us to lead EVCOM forwards, representing the live and film side, and bringing their passion and expertise to our community. We are delighted to welcome Anna Green (Broadsword Event House), Barry Richards (FIRST), Julie Sander (Sequel Group), Matt Franks (DRPG) and Nick Coombes (Bouche Media) to the EVCOM Board.
Claire continued, “This has been an unusual start to my position here at EVCOM, but I have been continually impressed by the spirit of community and collaboration that has defined the industry’s response to Covid-19, and the huge impact it has had. I am excited to work with the new board to cement EVCOM’s position as THE association representing and supporting the needs of the corporate event and film community.”
Thank you to all the members who attended, and to everyone in our community for choosing to be an EVCOM member.