event, media, online & video production

A total of 11 one day roadshows, aimed at Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) saw around 500 companies benefit from the sessions.

Entitled ‘Survival of the Fittest’, the roadshows were an insight for SMEs into the importance of reducing energy consumption and increasing resource efficiency - even more important in the current economic climate - and included sessions from the Carbon Trust, Envirowise and a video feature from organic chocolate company Green & Blacks.

From practical ways to use technology effectively, to reducing spend on wasted packaging and utility bills, the half-day, free programme offered useful advice on how to reduce costs in a tough economic climate.

While AV Unit provided audio visual production and interactive voting systems, supported by expert technicians, the theme of the event rang true with the Suffolk company, who themselves are keen advocates of following a ‘green’ approach.  

Adam Clark, managing director of AV Unit, said: “It is great to be involved in a project like this as managing business in an environmental responsibility manner is an issue that means a lot to us.”

“We have seen from our own experience how reducing our energy consumption and looking more closely at technology we use are simple ways of creating a much greener and more financially efficient business.”

Anna O’Kane of Business Link East Midlands, said: “We were delighted with the technical expertise provided by AV Unit at our recent series of Survival of the Fittest events. All the events were complemented by an excellent audio visual support service.” 

The roadshows also used interactive voting as a fun initiative to help break the ice as well as providing Business Link East Midlands with the opportunity to collect vital information about the way SMEs thought about their green responsibilities.

Mr Clark added: “It’s interesting to see the new found popularity of tools such as interactive voting. We have been able to offer this service for a number of years but it is only now that events organisers are truly recognising the benefits these can have on their event.” 

“The interactive voting handsets provided by the AV Unit were instrumental in engaging with our audiences and were used to full effect to interact with delegates on key issues that we wanted to address" commented Anna O’Kane. 

You'd think we'd be able to come to you with a wild story of rampaging elephants or being bitten by snakes but unsurprisingly the whole event ran without a hitch.

One interesting note though...in accordance with all events (and even more so as this was a safety forum!) there is always a 'housekeeping' brief at the start of the event. You know the kind of thing...exits, bathrooms etc.

However, London Zoo has a slightly different set of rules to most places. If you hear a constant alarm this is a fire alarm and you need to leave the building. But if it's an intermittent alarm you need to stay in the building as this means an animal has escaped!!

It was a night with the stars at Trinity Park with Ipswich Town Football Club players, past and present.

Attending were the the whole of the current team with Jim Magilton plus Roger Osborne, Alan Brazil, John Wark, Mick Stockwell and John Mcgreal.

The show featured huge amounts of video footage from many varied video sources which kept our AV guys on their toes!

The sales manager of ITFC said "I was delighted with the involvement of AV Unit leading up to and on the day/evening of the ITFC End of Season 2007/2008 Dinner that took place on Tuesday 22nd April. It was a pleasure to work with true professionals! I shall look forward to working with the AV team again in the near future".

The Contract General Manager at Ipswich Hospital said "Once again we were absolutely thrilled with what turned out to be an exceptional event."

"All of your team applied such dedication to the job, were such pleasant and accommodating people to work with and far exceeded all expectations.

Thank you all for such a wonderful, professional award show!"

It was another glamorous evening at the Ipswich Hospital Awards 2008.

Volunteers and professionals were awarded for their hard work, care and skill over the year. It's the biggest event of the year at the Hospital and the AV Unit guys were challenged with how to make it an even better event than the previous year.

The Contract General Manager at Ipswich Hospital said "Once again we were absolutely thrilled with what turned out to be an exceptional event."

"All of your team applied such dedication to the job, were such pleasant and accommodating people to work with and far exceeded all expectations.

Thank you all for such a wonderful, professional award show!"

We continue to expand and have taken on several new staff including new Account Manager, Jane Barker (pictured). Jane joins with 10 years experience in the Events industry previously working as Major Customer Event Manager at British Telecom and was responsible for organising their national events.

Jane Barker says "I know that AV Unit has an excellent reputation in the business and I am delighted to be joining at such an exciting time in the company’s development. We need to let everyone know that we manage everything to do with conferences and events...not just the technical stuff…but also the creative and organisational side too!"

"It’s a very busy time of the year to be joining and I’ll certainly hit the ground running as AV Unit already have over 50 events booked for the next two months and the team will be working all over the British Isles and as far a field as Spain!"

"Having been born and bred in Suffolk I also look forward to catching up with many old friends and colleagues as well as meeting new ones in my new role." Jane concludes.

This year's Business Excellence Awards hosted by Cambridge Evening News was a great success once more.

Jeremy Vine was the guest speaker and host of the glittering ceremony. He seemed energised and presented the event with great humour. He said "This is so cutting edge, it's incredible... If you want to see the future, it's here in Cambridge."

AV Unit once again provided all the Audio Visual requirements for the event but this time created a whole New Layout turning the whole event sideways making a wonderful feature of the amazing surroundings of The Great Hall at Kings College Cambridge.

"Great care always has to be taken here" said AV Unit MD Adam Clark. "It's a historic building with many great paintings etc. It's also a nightmare for sound so turning the event to face the longer side of the room helped in many ways...we shortened the projection distance for the sound making it clearer and were able to light the building in such a way as to show off its great beauty and scale."

All the background equipment, sound mixers, lighting controls, autocue systems, video controls and communications had to be housed on a balcony and therefore had to be carried and negotiated up small windy spiral staircase...hard work for the guys at AV Unit.

The longest standing (although he is usually sitting) employee of AV Unit Chris Ellison who normally operates cameras and is also chief video editor back at the edit suites at AV Unit stepped up to the plate on the evening and operated the 'follow spot' for the first time. "Yes, I guess I was quite nervous but I'm used to operating a moving camera in a live situation so I was a pretty safe bet. As it turned out I didn't miss a single cue" he said proudly.

The Winners

We are really busy...we have people running all over the place helping our clients with their ever increasing communications needs and so we are very pleased to announce three new appointments to help us all here at AV Unit.

Firstly, Robert Frost has joined us as Sales & Installation Manager. As the world becomes more technically 'savvy' we are finding that Equipment Sales is an area that is growing very fast for us. Robert will be responsible (as his title might imply) for sales and installation of Audio Visual equipment. Robert comes to us with 20 years (he doesn't look that old!) experience in the Audio Visual industry.

So, if you want a new projector in your boardroom or some digital signage in your reception area or a whole theatre package putting together...whatever your equipment and installation needs...Robert is your man.

Secondly, Audio Visual Technicians Tim Carr and Steve Drawbridge join our Conference and Event team. Between them they have worked for a whole host of audio visual and media companies. Tim claims to enjoy overcoming site specific problems so we are looking forward to giving him some challenges...and Steve too.

All technical staff at AV Unit are trained and sit exams to gain Infocomm accreditation (the worldwide AV Communications Association). Members of the industry are encouraged to adhere to Ten Standards of Excellence.

On probably the roughest night of the year everyone on the cross channel ferry to Ireland was feeling or being sick. However as the wind howled and the ship was tossed around the Irish Sea there was one group of people who looked a bit smug.They had foreseen the problem and all taken anti-sickness pills beforehand.This was typical of this group of people who seemed to be prepared for anything.

Production Manager Hamish Everitt had checked the forecast and seen the dire situation predicted….in fact it looked so bad there was the possibility of the ferry being cancelled. The one after theirs was! So the AV Unit team arrived safe in Ireland, fresh faced if a little windswept.

"It's the little things that make the difference" said Hamish referring to the conferences and events that he runs.

AV Unit were in Ireland on behalf of their global group client Cobra who have over eight thousand Field Sales representatives and interconnect daily in 21 countries to share ideas, resource and knowledge. The event in Ireland was just one of a series of Regional Rallies in a nationwide tour which also included England, Ireland and Wales.

Suffolk based AV Unit travelled a total of 1,800 miles in 2 trucks and provided a complete bespoke curved stage set as well as all the Audio and Video equipment including cameras for live feeds and recording of the events.

The team and their trucks full of equipment have now arrived back in Suffolk exhausted but safe in the knowledge that they have a happy client.

AV Unit are proud to support the community interest company Mentfor run by volunteers. Having produced a DVD edited from existing footage AV Unit have packaged this communication as briefed by their client Paul McIntee. Paul produced this part of the Rotary District 1080 project on helping improve Literacy.

 Click here to watch a short video about Mentfor.

What can be more natural when facing big decisions in life than to turn to friends or family for wise counsel or just a friendly ear?

If buying a car or moving house; getting married or having a baby, do we not instinctively look to someone trusted who has been there, done that?

Sometimes, especially in connection with issues outside the domestic agenda such as those which impact career development or business decisions, familiar networks do not seem so applicable. Our friends or family may not offer the relevant experience on which to base sympathetic support.

This is where a mentor may come in. Mentors are ordinary people who have experience which they find satisfaction in sharing with others. They may have had roles similar to yours at some time and learned from that experience lessons which may help you get things right instead of wrong. They may know people who can assist you in whatever change you may be facing. They may just understand what you are going through.

AV Unit were delighted to assist with the ultimate of client occasions - a visit by Her Majesty.

Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen officially opened the new St John's Ambulance Centre at Greenleys, Milton Keynes. PR agency Lexia Media had called on the AV Unit's expertise to record the high profile event and produce a finished video programme for St John's Ambulance.

Deborah Watson, Managing Director of Lexia Media said "AV Unit's execution was superb and resulted in our client being very impressed with the end result. I would confidently commission the team again and feel very pleased that we are able to call on a company which clearly comprehends our own goals and is keen to help us in servicing our clients at the very highest level."

With a capacity audience of 7,000 AV Unit have once again produced an amazing Christmas Lights Switch-On.

Liaising with Ad Agency Jacob Bailey, radio station SGR, Ipswich Central, Ipswich Borough Council, Regent Theatre, the Police, and many others, Production Manager Hamish Everitt and his team from AV Unit put on an incredible show.

Artificial snow swirled through the air, lasers and lights bounced off the buildings, cheerleaders danced, with appearances from DJ’s, Co-op Juniors, Postman Pat and Cinderella creating a fantastic party mood.

Paul Clement of Ipswich Central, who is committed to a better town centre said "Every year we ask for more, and every year you deliver. 2007 was another fantastically successful switch-on. What a team you are and what an event you put on! I am so grateful to all of you for your hard work."

Ipswich Borough Council’s Craig Oldfield stated "...the reaction from the audience about the spectacle each year only gets better."

"Having heard how successful the event was, other towns and organisations have been calling us asking AV Unit to get involved" said Mike Wilkie, Director at AV Unit.

The public were successfully drawn into the town centre in this pre-Christmas period and Retail Sales were up against the same period last year.

"Commercial and Creative success...plus everybody had a great time! What more could you ask?", said fellow AV Unit Director Adam Clark.

Produced and Edited by AV Unit, Felixstowe Library's DVD presentation "Heart of the Community" won the Delegates' Choice award from the whole of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, at the recent Public Libraries Authorities Conference.

The Library has been transformed by a £1 million refurbishment project. Floor space has been increased by more than a third, allowing for the creation of more meeting rooms, a new café and a complete redecoration and reorganisation of the bookshelves, DVDs, CDs and computers. The library already has 269,000 visitors per year, and those people borrow 250,000 books. Book clubs, internet access groups for both older people and younger people and "Top Time" activity groups for older people all now take place regularly in the Library.

Suffolk County Councillor Graham Newman, portfolio holder for Adult and Community Services said, "This is well-deserved national recognition for the superb facility we now have in Felixstowe Library. I felt very privileged to be at the Public Libraries conference to accept the award."

The quality of teaching has never been as good as it is today according to Estelle Morris, former education secretary, speaking at the West Midlands 2007 Teaching Awards ceremony last Friday.

It was the final event in a four-week TA tour of England, Wales and Northern Ireland covering 7512 miles and held in 13 prestigious locations.

Finalists from the West Midlands come together at the Heritage Motor Centre

Addressing the 35 West Midlands finalists and a 220-strong audience, she said she was "immensely proud" to know the current generation of "best teachers, best teaching assistants, governors and heads".

Presenting the Ted Wragg Award for Lifetime Achievement sponsored by The Innovation Unit, to veteran sports teacher Vince Evans, whose career has spanned 37 years, she said: "Whatever politicians do, it is you who shape the future."

Throughout the series of eventful ceremonies, attended by more than 3000 guests, there were gasps of excitement, heartfelt speeches and sometimes tears. Simon Duncan, winner of the BT Award for Teacher of the Year in a Primary School was not alone when he said: "I wasn't this nervous on my wedding day".

Four weeks earlier at the Café Royal in London, Lord Puttnam, founder of the awards in 1998, had launched the first ceremony and wished more than 420 finalists well. This year's 143 winners now go forward to the Winners' weekend in London on 20-21 October.

Venues have to provide a perfect service and it can be quite a time consuming and technically challenging chore for a venue to ring around getting prices on behalf of their clients for audio visual equipment.

To combat this problem AV Unit have come up with a unique proposal. A venue can have their own ‘hidden’ pass-worded page on the AV Unit website.

Once in your page your staff can access your own unique price list of equipment and be able to add up all the equipment required and quote the client instantly without all the rigmarole of ringing around.

Mike Wilkie, Director at AV Unit, feels that a venue can extend their resources with no investment and no risk and provide a complete event solution to their customers.

"It would also be possible to earn commission on event services but we would need to get together and have a chat about this first."

The deal includes a fixed cost rate card with prices inclusive of delivery and setup.

Online quoting, booking and an order management system is available 24/7. Plus you can get a Technical support telephone service available 24/7.

With all these benefits AV Unit believe they have devised a really useful system for venues.

Founding Director Stuart Bratchell stated "It seems appropriate that having recently celebrated our 10th birthday we have been able to devise a new service for our clients. We have a team of fully trained, full time technicians who will deliver, set up and operate audio visual equipment. All of our technicians are multi-skilled, courteous, reliable, presentable and professional. As they are customer facing they have branded uniforms for setting up and also smart show attire. With such an arrangement in place we would be keen to recommend your venue as we would be able to do so safe in the knowledge that our customer would receive first class treatment and would be able to benefit from a comprehensive, organised and professional service."

To celebrate 10 years in the business, AV Unit, East Anglia's largest Conference, Event, Video and Online Production Company have decided to update their image.

The decision to undertake a re-branding exercise was taken to reflect the different facets of the brand and its standing in the business community.

"As we offer so many parts of the communication mix the new identity and website (avunit.com) is crisp, clean and clear; like our offering" maintains newly appointed Director Mike Wilkie.

The new logo, rendered in lowercase conveys clarity and vision whilst retaining the established recognisability of the previous identity.

We are aware that brand image does have a direct impact on business results so I'm pleased our new identity is finally out there!" said AV Unit co-owner and founder Stuart Bratchell.

As well as all the usual stationary and marketing materials you will see the new brand identity at events around East Anglia and London on AV Units vehicles and clothing and all will contain the strap-line "Sound Advice with Vision".