UTAC – DVD Events
Overview
DVD is the leading event for over 200 businesses involved in the supply of equipment and support functions for the UK’s Land Forces. It is held bi-annually at Millbrook and is jointly sponsored by the government agency ‘Defence Equipment & Support’ and Army HQ. We have supported the event since 2012, working closely with Millbrook, DE&S and Army HQ to formulate a cross channel strategy, maximising exposure of the event and encouraging exhibitor registration and visitor attendance.
Our PR and social media team work closely with Millbrook, DE&S and Army HQ to formulate the key event messaging, PR strategy and build media partnerships with key industry channels to drive maximum exposure of the event, encouraging exhibitor registration and visitor attendance.
For the 2022 event we launched a brand new website and bespoke exhibition management system integrating with a third party stand planning tool via API. This streamlines the event management process from registration through stand allocation, contracting and completion of all associated forms and documentation through an exhibitor dashboard.
In the build up to the event, the team also provided support with visitor and exhibitor marketing materials, email campaigns and produced the official Show Guide.
To facilitate easy navigation around the vast event site, which covers four indoor exhibition areas and two outdoor display spaces, we developed and installed temporary digital way-finding touch screens.
Planning for DVD2024 is already underway…
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Digital Strategy
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UI / UX Design
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Bespoke digital development
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Systems integration
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Interactive wayfinding
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Hosting & Support
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Comms Strategy
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Content Creation
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Email Marketing
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Social Media Management
We Delivered
- PR plan & key messaging
- Press releases & articles
- Partnership with 6 key defence media
- Media centre management at event
- Broadcast coverage
- Social Media Management
- Website design & development
- Online exhibition management system
- Wayfinding touch screen software
- Event marketing support
- Reporting & engagement analysis
Results
Across the two show days, the PR team were kept busy working with over 80 registered press from around the world and receiving TV coverage from both ITV News and BFBS Forces TV.
“The PR and media affairs support that Interdirect provides for DE&S and Army’s bi-annual DVD event is essential in raising the profile of the event and driving industry to be a part of it. Interdirect are active members of our monthly steering group meetings, ensuring that the team are kept up-to-date and aware of the latest press releases, media opportunities and wider marketing activities that feed into DVD.”
Hannah Swingler, External Communications Manager, Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S)
"The Exhibition Manager tool was a complicated process that required a custom-built back-end functionality. Interdirect was instrumental in the build and development of the software from the initial discovery meeting through until final sign off. The project was delivered on time, within budget, and I was incredibly impressed with the standard of work. The overall software build and registration process could not have gone smoother considering the complexity of the task in hand and this was entirely due to the quality of the team involved that developed the advanced functionality of the system. I would have no hesitation in recommending Interdirect and Exhibition Manager to anyone.”
Kevin Leaver, Head of Events at Millbrook.
Kevin Leaver, Head of Events at Millbrook.