The Context

In June 2024, Manchester Central in the United Kingdom hosted one of the largest and most impactful health and care conferences in the country, the NHS Confed Expo. This prestigious event, organised in partnership by the NHS Confederation and NHS England, drew over 5,400 delegates over two days.

It served as a crucial platform for leaders and professionals from across the globe to network, discuss, and drive advancements in health and social care. The event featured a diverse array of theatre sessions and learning theatres, offering attendees a wealth of educational and networking opportunities.

The Challenge

The NHS Confederation event team faced a significant challenge due to recent changes at the venue, which resulted in the loss of critical conference space. The team needed to reconfigure and expand the conference layout to accommodate the large number of attendees without compromising the delegate experience. This included ensuring adequate sound reduction between adjacent conference theatres, a necessity given the alternative hall’s layout.

The team sought a provider capable of delivering scalable, sustainable, and high-quality temporary conference rooms. The solution needed to maintain the event’s professional standards and align with NHS’s sustainability objectives, all while providing an exceptional experience for attendees.

The Solution

-45dB was selected to provide the necessary conference infrastructure. Offering a range of solutions, and ultimately choosing the most suitable option for the event’s needs: 4 150pax sound-reducing theatres and 3 branded meeting pods. The selected solution featured:

Effective Sound Reduction

The temporary conference rooms provided excellent sound insulation, ensuring that noise from adjacent sessions did not disrupt the proceedings.

Sleek and Professional Design

The rooms were designed to be aesthetically pleasing and functional, with a professional finish that enhanced the event’s overall atmosphere.

Custom Branding and Fit-for-Purpose Spaces

The rooms were fully branded to align with the NHS Confed Expo’s theme and were specifically tailored to meet the event’s needs.

Collaboration with Suppliers

-45dB worked seamlessly with all other suppliers involved in the event, ensuring a smooth and coordinated setup.

Results

Within three days on-site, -45dB successfully set up the modular rooms and pods, complete with audiovisual equipment, furniture and graphics. These facilities supported over 20 sessions throughout the event, each accommodating up to 150 attendees comfortably. The implementation not only met the NHS Confederation’s logistical needs but also upheld the high standards expected by the delegates.

Nick Westerman, Head of Strategic Partner Events at NHS Confederation, praised the partnership in an Event Industry News article, stating, “In an industry that is always innovating, it’s brilliant to come across a new solution so suited to our needs, that ticks so many boxes – quality, design & function, while also meeting our sustainability objectives.” This endorsement highlights the success of -45dB’s solution in delivering a high-quality, sustainable conference experience that met all of the NHS Confed Expo’s requirements.