The BPIF’s Visual Media Conference is returning to the Rose Bowl in Leeds this year after twice taking place in cyberspace thanks to lockdown restrictions and uncertainty. It reverts too to a single-day event, though there is a VIP reception taking place on the day before the conference on 4 April.
It takes the theme: Innovation, Creativity, Sustainability. The line up of presenters is intended to underline this. As previously the event is free to attend, but tickets are limited so should be pre booked.
The keynote comes from Sir Roger Marsh, outlining how business and government can interact. In print the exchange of information between print and government has been a huge benefit of the Covid-19 period, channels that both BPIF and IPIA are aiming to keep open to the benefit of their members.
Two case studies bracket the day. In the morning the Tony’s Chocolonely story, now coming to consumers in personalised packaging thanks to Precision Proco. Its chief operating officer Jon Bailey is chairing the session.
The second user story comes from Kelloggs at the end of the day where VP and general manager for UK and Ireland Chris Silcock explains that creating the right culture within a business is enabling his company to stay on top despite the challenges posed by changing consumer behaviour and technology.
Panel sessions put the UK experience in an international context and one looking forward to Drupa in 2024; a second looks at innovation and design across online and offline worlds with a third to try to puncture the good and bad around sustainability.
Other sessions focus on talent attraction and retention, the growth of multichannel communications and how a major printer responds to the need for greater transparency and responsibility, again in reaction to customer and consumer attitudes.
It amounts to an eclectic mix of sessions, more about business and culture than technology pitches. These are reserved to the exhibition space, open during coffee and lunch breaks.
The event takes place against the background of Leeds 2023 year of Culture which has enabled the BPIF to attract support from Leeds City Council as part of the Innovation@Leeds initiative. The Rose Bowl is part of the Leeds Beckett University complex in the centre of the city.
