WOMEN's CLIMBING SYMPOSIUM 2016

Disciplines: PR, Audiences, Consultancy

The BRIEF

The Women’s Climbing Symposium is one of the most exciting and unique events in the annual climbing calendar. It is the only major event in the UK to focus specifically on climbers personal development with events focussed on our three core principles to connect, develop and inspire.

In 2016, the Women's Climbing Symposium aimed to put on there largest event yet in one of the UK's latest and largest bouldering walls: The Depot, Manchester.

OUR SOLUTION

  • We worked closely with the event directors to help refine their organisational mission and objectives. This involved a facilitated session where we helped to apply their key principles (to connect, develop and inspire climbers) to all aspects of their communications and event planning.
  • Developed a PR plan to help promote the event by engaging with national and trade media outlets.
  • Supported the event with targeted paid promotion to engage with the target audience for the event and promote ticket sales.
  • Designed audience survey and evaluation to gain invaluable customer insights to help inform future events and services.
  • Created a sponsor report to steer brand involvement in future events.
“The Women’s Climbing Symposium was probably the highlight of my climbing life so far - it was so inspiring to meet with other female climbers and to support and learn from each other.”
— Attendee WCS 2016

IMPACT

  • 2016 saw the largest ever Women’s Climbing Symposium with over four hundred women attend from around the world, attracting leading keynote speakers from the world of climbing and sport.
  • Band of Birds secured a variety of coverage from  trade outlets reporting announcements of the event such as UKClimbing, the BMC, MyOutdoors, WomenClimb, Sport Sister and Grough Magazine. 
  • We also secured a feature interview with the Symposium's Directors to position and explain the event with Red Bull Adventure.
  • We secured national media interest with BBC Get Inspired, Sky Sports Women and Epic TV Climbing  reporting from the day.