2021 saw the UK hold the G7 Presidency and Identity was honoured to be appointed event partner to support the presidency’s focal point, the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Cornwall, the UK’s first hosted event with world leaders following the pandemic.
Identity supported the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Cabinet Office to deliver this complex, high-profile and historic event in Carbis Bay, creating an inclusive and unifying hybrid event environment for all attendees, and showcasing the UK on the global stage.
An end-to-end service in pursuit of excellence
The high-profile event required outstanding creativity, production, logistics and virtual expertise to deliver a faultless and cohesive experience from first arrivals to the family photo and barbecue on the beach; from virtual webinars for pre-summit engagement groups to the main leaders’ meeting. Our virtual solutions enabled remote contributors to fully participate in events that were as feature-rich as for in-person participants, able to join at will and contribute to proceedings.
As sole production provider, Identity’s remit comprised end-to-end event management services with the delivery of all infrastructure, facilities, overlay, remote participant liaison, production and host broadcast/media services for 500+ media across multiple sites: Carbis Bay Hotel, Tregenna Castle Resort and Events Square and National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth; this remit subsequently extended to services at Newquay Airport and for a dinner at The Eden Project attended by Her Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
To meet the challenges of the multiple venues across Cornwall, Identity designated a lead event manager for each venue, working closely with key client personnel to ensure smooth contract management and turnkey event delivery throughout. Identity’s methodologies for the design, build and installation reflected our commitment to uphold the UK and FCDO’s reputation for exceptional event delivery.
Agile and cost-effective delivery
Demonstrating optimum value for money was critical. Identity consistently identified cost efficiencies and added value; transparent financial reporting allowed the FCDO to track project spend; in-depth management information supported high-level reporting and event planning.
Despite an extremely short timeline, Identity delivered beyond the original specifications with several additional pieces, including host broadcast and production at Newquay airport; production overlay of a back-up venue; an increase in virtual participation requirements; facilitating a visit from the Y7 post-event; and infrastructure for Test and Trace sites.
Our creative team’s innovative approach included designing a highly bespoke table for the leaders’ meeting table to superbly meet delegate needs and achieve optimum value for money. Identity’s recommendation to turn around rooms from conference to press briefing setup also reduced costs, by minimising the requirement for temporary structures. When the US delegation requested a press conference facility for the President of the United States with only four hours’ notice, Identity repurposed and deployed equipment and backdrops to facilitate this short-notice request cost-effectively. Identity’s flexible and agile approach also enabled a late-notice change in security arrangements, delivering a 15,000 sqm remote vehicle search facility, fully operational within a matter of days. A separate, dedicated event management team ensured all vehicles were searched and sealed in advance of arrival at each venue.
A sustainable summit
Our approach enabled cost-effective and sustainable solutions to ensure circular design and reduce wastage without compromising quality or design across all event environments, including Carbis Bay restaurant; the family photo on the beach; pre-summit meetings at Tregenna Castle Hotel; major press conferences positioned to capture the stunning view of St Ives Bay; a hybrid media centre in Falmouth; support at Cornwall Airport Newquay for incoming delegations and media; and infrastructure for the busy helicopter landing site at Tregenna Castle Hotel for leaders’ arrivals. Under the joint efforts of our client, delegates and Identity, we are proud that the G7 Leaders’ Summit achieved ISO 20121 accreditation.
A global event with local impact
The G7 Leaders’ Summit was already a positive boost to the local economy, one which Identity sought to support and build on. We collaborated with the small business sector to utilise the local supply chain wherever possible, with local suppliers and event staff, which in turn drove cost savings and reduced the environmental impact of the summit. We sought to create skill and aspiration growth in the local area and employed Falmouth University students to work onsite; partnered with iSight to support local people with sight loss; collaborated with Speakers for Schools and Cornwall Careers Hub on a Virtual Insight Day to inspire local students to consider a career in the industry; and provided mentors to support people affected by COVID-19.
Delivering safely
As the UK’s first major hybrid event since the pandemic, instilling confidence in welfare and safety was paramount. Identity deployed deep knowledge of event safety in a wide range of complex environments to implement a rigorous approach to health and safety, our dedicated health and safety adviser and Covid-19 lead working closely with the government, NHS and Public Health England to maintain a standard of excellence fit for the global stage.
“I wanted to thank you and your team for their fantastic work in planning and producing the G7 Summit. The professionalism, creativity and positive attitude of the Identity team across the many Summit venues was truly commendable and I was impressed with how the production team proved themselves nimble at reacting to change and excellent at designing creative solutions to the challenges that arose.” – Boris Johnson, MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
