"The Partners Group worked tirelessly to produce an evening that will live long in the memory of everybody in attendance.”

...

Delivering an engaging centenary celebration for BTTG

The Brief

With clients in over 70 countries, BTTG and Shirley Technologies have been at the forefront of textiles testing and research since 1918.

To mark their centenary, the management team were keen to start the celebrations with a bang by hosting an event for staff from the UK and around the world.
 
Our brief was to create and organise an evening to remember for the company’s workforce in Manchester, Leeds and beyond that captured the culture of the business, celebrated a century of achievements and recognised the contributions made by the team.

The Campaign

We agreed that the venue should, if possible, tie in with the company’s history and heritage whilst also providing a contemporary backdrop for the celebrations. Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry was the ideal setting, showcasing the city’s rich legacy of world changing innovations and scientific discoveries and bringing things up to date with an impressive 52-screen media wall, which we knew could be put to good use.
 
Very apt for a company leading the way in global textiles testing, we arranged for guests to enjoy a tour of the museum’s textile gallery before enjoying a three-course dinner hosted by a Master of Ceremonies and complemented with an appearance by award-winning comedian and writer Holly Walsh.
 
Place settings and goody bags added a personal touch for each guest, and selfie frames meant there were plenty of opportunities to capture an informal record on the night to complement the official event photographer.
 
As well as recognising four long serving members of the team, the event featured a series of Oscar-style staff awards, capturing the lighter side of the company. Dubbed the ‘RALPHs and SOPHIEs’, after the world-renowned testing mannequins developed by BTTG and Shirley Technologies, the awards recognised the company’s ‘Busiest Bee’, ‘Sports Bore’ and ‘Entertainer’ - among others.
 
We commissioned a video featuring staff and customer interviews and capturing BTTG and Shirley’s vast and impressive achievements – such as the invention of breathable fabrics still in use in the RAF today and the award of the Nobel prize for chemistry - to show at the event and provide PR and content assets afterwards.
 
A series of ‘This is Your Life’ style videos paid tribute to the four long serving members of staff on the night, and a ‘100 facts’ animation played on a loop as a backdrop to the evening, marking significant milestones in a timeline spanning the last 100 years. 
 

The Services

Reputation management
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The Results

Meticulous planning and attention to detail at every stage, from concept to delivery, ensured that we delivered a highly polished and professional event, with glowing feedback from guests.
 
BTTG and Shirley Technologies Commercial Director Lesley Hughes says, “At such a poignant moment in our company’s history, we wanted to mark the occasion with a truly memorable event that staff here in the UK and from further afield could be part of and enjoy.

"The Partners team worked tirelessly to produce an evening that will live long in the memory of everybody in attendance.”

Following the success of the event we're working on a range of PR and digital activities to mark BTTG and Shirley's 100 years in business and create legacy impact.  

Contact us if you've got an event or initiative that you'd like to celebrate in style.