2020PARTY CONFERENCES

START PLANNING NOW Following another unprecedented year in politics, the 2020 party conferences provide a unique opportunity to shape and infl uence the policy agenda. With a majority government, now is the time to ensure you are ahead of the curve and engage in the political debate.

Party conferences provide an excellent opportunity to engage with politicians and decision makers, and to raise the profi le of your organisation and your work.Don’t wait until all the fringe rooms are booked and politicians’ diaries are full – The time to engage is now!

ABOUT CONNECT

Connect has over twenty years’ unrivalled experience in supporting 2020 clients to get the most out of party conferences, through events, PARTY stunts and one-to-one contact programmes. We understand what CONFERENCES works and how to derive the highest possible value from engagement with these major political events.

Connect is widely recognised for running the best attended and 19 to 23 September most engaging events on a wide range of topics including housing, transport, energy, pensions, health, policing, local government and consumer issues.

Our success in delivering fi rst-class party conference engagement has been recognised by the industry with a number of prestigious awards:

26 to 29 September 2018 2016 2015 2014 2013 Voted best Public Shortlisted for Public Affairs Public Affairs stand at Affairs Public Affairs Award for Award for the Liberal Award for Award for Party Corporate Best Party Democrat Fringe Conference Campaign of Conference conference Event of the Event of the the Year for our Activity for 4 to 7 October for our Year for the Year for the apprenticeships our London-to- Pimlico Fraud Fringe Housing Fringe work Brighton Plumbers and Dinners Charity Bike stand Ride KEY DATES MARCH 2020 Deadline for confi rming CONTACT US venue rooms To fi nd out more about how we can help MAY 2020 Early bird pass deadlines you, please contact Dan Simpson at [email protected] who will be JUNE 2020 happy to offer a free consultation. Fringe listing and advert deadlines Connect is an award-winning, SEPTEMBER 2020 Liberal Democrat and Labour independent communications agency. party conferences Contact us on 020 7592 9592 to fi nd OCTOBER 2020 Conservative party conference out how we can support you. NORTHERN IRELAND PARTY CONFERENCES With Northern Ireland’s five main political parties now sitting around the Executive table, their respective party conferences will be a key platform to showcase, develop and thrash out party policy positions, with your input.

The ‘New Decade New Approach’ deal which forms the basis of the newly formed NI Executive, will see the parties focus on complex issues, from poverty, all-island connectedness, welfare reform, housing and education and infrastructure projects.

As we move into the Brexit transition period, Northern Ireland’s opportunity as a hub between the UK and the 27 member states, will be an important theme for all parties.

ABOUT STRATAGEM Stratagem has attended and shaped NI party DATES2020 conferences for over 20 years. From fringe events and our #CoffeeClub conversation hub to contact programmes and dinner attendance we support clients get the most out of conferences.

7 March Our experienced team understand who’s who and Stormont Hotel, what works. You will be fully briefed with profiles Belfast and supporting messages to ensure that your conversations count.

We are trusted by parties and stakeholders to have interesting events on a wide range of issues from 17 October skills, poverty, energy, local government and post Crown Plaza Hotel, Brexit public policy. Belfast

part of the Connect Group Dates to be confirmed for

CONTACT US To find out more about how we can support you with your 2020 Northern Ireland party conference activity, please contact Gráinne Walsh at [email protected] or call 028 90 872 800. CONTACT PROGRAMMES

Make the most of your time in Liverpool, Brighton and Birmingham by broadening your network. Connect will work with you to identify and prioritise the key people to meet, secure a programme of meetings for your organisation’s senior team and maximise the value of the time spent at the conferences. This provides one-to-one opportunities for you to get your message across and is incredibly valuable. Connect prepares a background briefing on your key messages, the FRINGE EVENTS AND RECEPTIONS people you are meeting and manage the whole engagement process and follow-up. Connect is widely recognised for running the best attended and most engaging conference fringes on topics of national importance, including housing, transport, energy, pensions, health, education, policing and local government. We will work closely with you to ensure you have the right venue, timing and speakers to ensure your fringe event stands out and has real impact on policy makers and influencers. Our team source, secure and brief speakers, and manage all fringe listings, branding, flyers and adverts as well as high level support on the day — maximising your profile and attendance at your events, ensuring you get best value from your time and budget. DINNERS

Connect has a strong reputation in organising successful dinners at party conferences. Dinners can also provide a more personal and informal opportunity to build dialogue and communicate with your target audiences to get your messages across. Connect will work with you to ensure quality attendance. In addition, “Invitation only” or “Breakfast Surgery” style events can be very cost effective means of engaging with your key targets and raise the profile of your issues. MULTI-PARTNER FRINGE EVENTS EXHIBITIONS Connect has developed a successful format for bringing together a range of organisations during the The exhibition at each party conference provides a party conference season which gives multiple partners major focus for delegates and organisations alike. a distinct voice whilst demonstrating an overall sector Connect can help you manage the whole process approach to a particular policy issue. Connect has and ensure that your stand complements all other organised many multi-partner fringe events which activity and contact; maximising your presence and achieve high impact and provide excellent value for achieving value for money for the time and resources you commit. money.

PHOTO & MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

From planning to execution, Connect’s Connect will help you make the most of media and work for party conference season was photo opportunities. This can include visits to a local exceptional. They offered tailored support project, as well as “celebrity” involvement. that suited the way our team works - leaving us free to focus on getting the right outcomes. They are a great team, and very easy to work with.” Call us today to discuss your Director of Communications requirements on 020 7592 9592 “and Public Affairs, Moat