05.21.2025 Paul Richardson
We’re pleased to share that our client, First Sight Media, has been named a finalist in the prestigious 2025 UFI Industry Partners Awards, recognised in the category of Partnering in Customer Driven Innovation.
The finalist entry, researched and written by Vividink in close collaboration with the team at First Sight Media, NHS Confederation, and LineUp Ninja, focused on the creative, content-led transformation of NHS ConfedExpo 2024—a project that demonstrated what can happen when suppliers are empowered to collaborate freely and innovatively with organisers.
What set this project apart wasn’t just the scale or complexity, but the way it was delivered—through open collaboration, strategic thinking and a shared commitment to delivering a valuable, dynamic delegate experience.
As Rich Belcher of First Sight Media explained: “It’s rare that an organiser comes to a briefing with clear objectives but no preconceived solution. Nick gave us the creative freedom to propose ideas that genuinely moved the dial—and the results speak for themselves.”
Together with NHS Confederation and LineUp Ninja, First Sight Media co-created a seamless content ecosystem that supported real-time delivery, evergreen assets, and increased engagement both on-site and online.
At the heart of the entry was a shared focus on improving the delegate experience. This included:
- A purpose-built Content Zone, complete with a Speakers Studio and Podcast Recording Studio, live-streamed to 750+ virtual attendees.
- A dynamic interview space to generate content for on-demand use post-event, over 60 high-quality videos were created and viewed more than 5,250 times.
- Real-time digital signage and scheduling integration via LineUp Ninja, simplifying logistics for over 5,600 in-person delegates.
Joe Atkinson of LineUp Ninja noted: “This collaboration showed what’s possible when you align live production with real-time data. Our system became the single source of truth, cutting through manual processes and improving the experience for everyone involved.”
The impact of this customer-led innovation was clear:
- Attendance up from 4,200 in 2023 to 5,500 in 2024, with 7,000 projected for 2025.
- Turnover grew from £1.9m in 2023 to £2.1m in 2024, with a £3m forecast for 2025.
- Content demand surged, with over 1,000 session applications for just 103 speaker slots.
Nick Westerman, organiser at NHS Confederation, reflected on the results: “Rich instilled so much confidence that we removed the creative shackles. The ideas were fresh, relevant, and immediately valuable. It worked, so much so that we opened registration for 2025 two months earlier than usual, and we’re already tracking 20% growth.”
First Sight Media's Marketing Director, Ash Parker, had this to say, "Thank you Vividink and especially to Paul Richardson - your input was invaluable in presenting this success story so brilliantly!"
At Vividink, we’re proud to have helped shape the narrative of this finalist submission, grounding great work in strong messaging that reflects the innovation and partnership behind it.
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