Explore Export

Keystone have been running events for UKTI (and through them DTI, now BERR) since 2004. This has included award ceremonies, staff briefings and trade conferences and, during the UK Presidency of the EU, a very successful, high profile international conference on Corporate Governance.

Explore Export is a one day networking and fact finding event for companies wanting to learn more about exporting, particularly to emerging markets. UK Trade and Investment also use the events to promote their services to potential customers. We ran the first one in 2008 and a second event with double the number of exhibitors and delegates in 2009. We suggested the concept to UKTI and were completely responsible for all aspects of the event, including content development; we sourced and managed speakers – including keynote speaker, Simon Woodroffe (Yo Sushi and Dragon’s Den) in 2008 and Underwear Entrepreneur and Celebrity Apprentice, Michelle Mone in 2009. We sourced and booked the venue; created an event ‘look and feel’ and strap‐line, and marketed the event via press, email, and local networks. We created an event website with online registration, including the facility to pay and with separate registration for delegates, and exhibitors.

We managed the budget, securing and invoicing exhibitors and sponsors and ensuring income matched outgoings. We provided AV for the plenary and managed the exhibition area, including provision of exhibition boards and/or shell scheme for exhibitors, an exhibition floor plan and exhibitors’ pack. At the event, we were responsible for complete event management, ensuring the event ran to time, workshops were run efficiently and the exhibition was set up in good time.