Making Events Commercially Viable – 14 March, 2pm-4pm
Roundtable in partnership with PPA Scotland
We’re delighted to be working with PPA Scotland to bring you the third in our series of in-person roundtable events, held in Scotland.
PPA is the UK trade association for magazine publishers, set up to represent, champion and support specialist media businesses.
About the event
Magazine publishers are perfectly placed to offer events to their readers, connecting them with advertisers, increasing engagement, and giving a ‘real-life’ tangible representation of the magazine’s content. Commercially viability should be the backbone of any event and, with this in mind, how do you get started, how do you create a strategy, how do you measure success and, most importantly, what will keep your readers coming back for more?
Join us for this in-person roundtable in collaboration with PPA Scotland, where our expert speakers will discuss:
- Creating a strategy not only for one event, but across a year of events and touch-points with your reader
- How you can make your events more creative with a small team
- How to manage relationships with your clients to get the best from an event for both your clients and your readers
- How to stay out of your echo chamber to widen your reach and grow your audience.
Hosted by the International Magazine Centre’s Nikki Simpson, the afternoon will include two speakers, multiple group discussions and networking.
This event is open to anyone working in magazine publishing. Tickets are free for International Magazine Centre and PPA members, or £30 for non-members.
Speakers
We’re looking forward to welcoming two speakers to the event, plus time for discussion in groups.
Ruby Sweeney, Founder of The Events Hub
With two decades of skills and expertise in the events industry, Ruby and her team at The Events Hub offer strategy, management, and delivery of B2B conferences and events – whether face-to-face, virtual, or hybrid.
Working with small numbers of clients at a time, the conversations that Ruby has are about ‘client fit’ as opposed to ‘do we need to convince clients to buy’? The Events Hub focuses on each organisation’s vision and purpose, and building great relationships, resulting in them working as their clients’ trusted advisers for the long run.
Nina Holmes, Head of Events at Newsquest Events Scotland & Northern Ireland
Nina has worked in events for more than a decade, spending more than five years at Newsquest. Their portfolio of events covers awards, conferences, business breakfasts, and a bespoke client event management service. Last year Nina launched The Scottish Agriculture Awards as part of The Scottish Farmer, winning an award for her work at the Eventit Scotland E Awards in 2023.
Agenda
- 2pm Welcome and introduction from Nikki Simpson, Director of the International Magazine Centre
- 2.10pm Ruby Sweeney – Ruby will share her thoughts on why having an over-arching event strategy is fundamental for successful event planning, in organisations both big and small, and why it’s as important as a sales, marketing, and business strategy. Having run hundreds of events, she’ll also share how you can get creative with events to get the right people in the right room at the right time.
- 2.30pm Roundtable discussion
- 3pm Nina Holmes – Nina’s talk will cover the events strategy at Newsquest, what you can achieve with a small team, and how starting with a commercial imperative drives growth and audience engagement. She’ll explore the different ways to connect your clients to your audience, and discuss how to leverage client relationships to improve your event.
- 3.20pm Roundtable discussion
- 3.50pm Networking
Need to know
Date and Time: 14 March, 2pm-4pm GMT
Venue: Novotel, 80 Lauriston Pl, Edinburgh EH3 9DE
Tickets: Free for International Magazine Centre and PPA members, or £30 for non-members.