Partnership Opportunities GSA Annual Conference 2017 The Principal Hotel, Manchester Monday 20 Tuesday 21 November 2017 The Annual Conference of the Girls Schools Association, one of the pre-eminent gatherings of key players from the independent education sector and beyond, will take place in November at The Principal Hotel, Manchester. The GSA is delighted that this year s Annual Conference will be held at this historic venue in the heart of Manchester. We are very pleased to invite you to participate. There is a wide range of opportunities for supporting the event this year, from sponsorship, to having a stand in the exhibition, an advertisement in the conference brochure or simply attending the public sessions as a Corporate Delegate. In addition, all sponsoring and exhibiting partners will be listed in the GSA Conference app. The opportunities are listed over the following pages. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions of ways in which you would like to participate, please contact us at events@gsa.uk.com. We look forward to seeing you in Manchester. Why Partner with GSA? GSA represents over 150 of the UK s independent girls schools. GSA schools range from the highly-selective to local community schools, including both day and boarding. Some cater for 100% girls, others provide a predominantly girls-only environment with boys in the nursery and/or sixth form. Some follow a diamond model, with equal numbers of boys but separate classrooms between the ages of 11 to 16. The Annual Conference is the flagship event in the Association s calendar and brings together Heads from across GSA s membership. It attracts upwards of 130 delegates each year, as well as invited guests from across the independent and state sectors. Exhibiting at the Conference provides companies with the opportunity to introduce their new products and services, generate new business, and develop existing customer relationships. 1
Who Partners with GSA? GSA has long-standing relationships with a number of suppliers but, equally, we are always keen to welcome support and involvement from new companies. Some of the services and products offered by companies exhibiting at the GSA Annual Conference in the past include: Management Information Systems School uniforms Catering services Architects Legal services Expeditions Photography Marketing Financial services Educational software and mobile apps Executive search and recruitment How Do I Apply? The online booking form should be completed as soon as possible. Please note that you must return a completed booking form in order to be considered for a space. All applications will be reviewed and the following criteria will be used in the event that there are more bookings than opportunities: o o Bookings will for the most part be considered on a first-come, first-served basis; and The GSA will also take into account the extent and duration of our relationship with the potential partner and the balance and range of sectors represented at the conference. Companies taking up a sponsorship opportunity will be given priority choice of exhibition space. Once sponsors pitches have been selected, GSA will allocate spaces to all other exhibitors. Every care will be taken to keep as much space between competitors as possible. If your company has been unsuccessful in securing a place due to high demand, GSA will inform you as soon as possible. You will then be placed on a reserve list and contacted if any space becomes available. 2
Outline Schedule The current draft programme for the Conference is outlined below. This includes six networking opportunities with delegates during registration, lunch, and refreshment breaks. Exhibitors and sponsors also have the opportunity to purchase tickets for the Annual Dinner, and details of how to do this are detailed on page 7. Sunday 19 November 12.00 6.00pm Exhibitors set-up at The Principal Hotel 6.30 7.30pm Alumnae event at the Chetham s School of Music Monday 20 November All parts of the Conference take place at The Principal Hotel unless otherwise stated 9.00am 10.00am Registration and refreshments President s welcome 10.30 11.30am Keynote session 1 11.15am 12.00pm 12.00 1.00pm Keynote session 2 Break with refreshments in the exhibition area 1.00 2.00pm Lunch in the exhibition area 2.00 3.00pm Keynote session 3 3.00 3.30pm Break with refreshments in the exhibition area 3.30 4.30pm Keynote session 4 5.00 6.00pm Conference Service at St Anne s Church 7.00pm 8.00pm Tuesday 21 November Drinks Reception at the Manchester Art Gallery Annual Dinner 9.00 9.45am AGM (GSA members only) 9.45 10.45am Keynote session 5 10.45 11.30am Keynote session 6 11.30am 12.15pm 12.15 1.00pm Breakout sessions Break with refreshments in the exhibition area 1.00 2.00pm Lunch in the exhibition area 2.00 2.45pm Breakout sessions 2.45 3.45pm Keynote session 7 4.00pm Close of Conference Timings are subject to change 3
Opportunities for Sponsorship Major Conference Sponsors 6750 Up to five opportunities, limited to one company per school service area. Major Conference Sponsors will benefit from: The organisation s logo in a prominent position on the conference staging for the duration of the conference. The logo will also appear in the delegates papers, dinner menus, at the registration desk and on the GSA website Priority allocation, before other sponsors and exhibitors, of a pitch in the exhibition, if required. The sponsorship is inclusive of a 3m stand space, and additional space can be purchased for 500 per metre The right to use Official Sponsor of the GSA Annual Conference 2017 The President giving specific acknowledgement and thanks to the Conference Sponsor in her welcoming letter and Presidential Address One invitation to the Annual Dinner on Monday. Conference Brochure 2250 A high-quality magazine-style brochure frequently referred to and read by delegates. The Conference Brochure Sponsor benefits from: Their organisation s logo prominently displayed on the brochure and specific thanks in the President s letter A full-page full-colour advertisement in the brochure One invitation to the Annual Dinner on Monday. Drinks Reception for New Members Monday, The Principal Hotel 1500 During Monday s lunch break, new GSA members will be invited, along with their mentors and representatives from GSA Council, to attend this special reception to welcome them to the Association. The sponsor of this reception will be invited to include reasonable branding in the venue, and will be formally thanked by the President. This opportunity includes one invitation to the Annual Dinner. 4
Pre-Dinner Drinks Reception Monday, Manchester Art Gallery 2750 The drinks reception prior to the Annual Dinner will take place at the Manchester Art Gallery, providing the opportunity to view many of its world-class collections. The sponsor of the reception will be invited to include reasonable branding in the venue, and will be formally thanked by the President during the Annual Dinner. The company logo will also be included on the dinner menus. This opportunity includes one invitation to the Annual Dinner. Wine at the Annual Dinner Monday, The Principal Hotel 2750 Following the drinks reception, delegates will return to the Principal Hotel for the Annual Dinner. The sponsor of the wine at the dinner will benefit from a prominent position, with logo, on the dinner menu and will be formally thanked by the President during dinner. The opportunity also includes one invitation to the Annual Dinner. Exhibition Trail Prize To encourage delegates to visit the exhibition stands, the GSA Event App will feature a trail competition. Delegates must ask exhibitors for their company s individual code word, enter these into the App, and all those with the most correct entries will be entered into the prize draw. We re looking for a company to provide an exciting and enticing prize for the winning delegate or their school. The sponsor will be thanked by the President during the awarding of the prize and will have their logo featured prominently on the App. Keynote Speakers 1000 We are delighted to be welcoming to the conference a number of highly respected and prominent speakers. Confirmed contributors include: Sherry Coutu CBE, entrepreneur, former CEO, angel investor, and non-executive director Jenni Murray OBE, journalist and broadcaster Natasha Devon, campaigner, writer, and entrepreneur Baroness Sue Campbell, Chair of Youth Sport Trust and Head of Women s Football at the FA The sponsor of a conference session will be invited to add a reasonable amount of branding to the staging for the duration of the session and will be thanked in the vote of thanks. The sponsorship will also be acknowledged on the event app and in the brochure. If you think that your company can provide a service or support the event in a way that is not listed above, please do get in touch to discuss your ideas. 5
Opportunities for Exhibitors Exhibition Overview The exhibition will be held in the Whitworth Suite of the Principal Hotel. All conference hospitality during refreshment breaks and lunches, will be served only amongst the exhibition area, ensuring very good access to the exhibition throughout the breaks. As previously outlined, the allocation of pitches will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Organisations also committed to sponsoring the conference will be given priority pitch allocation. Pitch Pricing There are approximately 40 pitches available to exhibitors and each has a depth allocation of 1 metre; display stands must not exceed the agreed dimensions. Please note that pitches are spaceonly and not shell scheme. Pricing is as follows: Price (no VAT) 2 metre width 1550 3 metre width 1900 4 metre width 2750 5 metre width 3250 The package for major conference sponsors includes a 3m stand space. If a larger pitch is required, this can be purchased at a cost of 500 per metre, up to an additional 2 metres. Additional benefits of exhibiting A listing on the GSA Conference app, including logo, brief company overview and contact details Lunch and refreshments for two representatives on both days of the Conference. Additional company representatives can attend at a cost of 150 for the duration of the event Exhibiting organisations are welcome to join us as observers in all public conference sessions. 6
Annual Dinner Attendance Exhibiting companies have the opportunity to attend the black-tie drinks reception and dinner on the Monday evening at a cost of 150. The reception will take place at the Manchester Art Gallery and the Annual Dinner will be at the Principal Hotel. Due to space restrictions, tickets are limited to one per exhibiting company. However, if you are taking up a sponsorship package that includes a ticket, you do have the option of purchasing a place for a second representative. Please indicate if you would like to do this on the booking form. Places for the reception and dinner will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Corporate Delegate Attendance For those companies wishing to attend the Conference but not exhibit, we are pleased to offer a Corporate Delegate Rate. For 900 per person, company representatives will be able to attend all public sessions as well as network with delegates during lunch and refreshment breaks. Please note that this rate does not include accommodation or evening meals. Tickets for the Annual Dinner can be purchased separately at a cost of 150 per head, as detailed above. Please note that the number of Corporate Delegate tickets is limited and these will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Companies taking an exhibition stand do not need to also purchase Corporate Delegate tickets as this is covered by the exhibition package. Opportunities for Advertisers The Conference Brochure is essential reading for delegates and contains key information relating to the conference including the schedule, speakers biographies and a letter from the President. Full-colour advert Price (no VAT) Full page 500 Half page 350 Event App advert Your company s artwork will appear as part of a continuous rolling loop on the landing page of the event mobile app for the duration of the conference. 500 Companies will be advised upon confirmation of the deadline for artwork to be sent to the designers. No refunds will be given in the event that copy does not reach us by the deadline. 7