Landsec Spotlight Awards 2024

Client: Landsec

London

In 2024, the Landsec Spotlight Awards needed to go above and beyond their traditional employee reward and recognition function, additionally acting as a landmark celebration of the company’s 80th anniversary and sending a powerful signal of togetherness, optimism and excitement in the wake of a recent company merger.

Our research indicated that employees wanted to take more ownership of the event, while retaining its glitz and glamour. To foster that all-important spirit of togetherness and shared ownership, we decided to have awards categories introduced by employees themselves, both live on-stage and via video inserts showing people from across the company talking about what the anniversary meant to them. It’s daunting being up on stage in front of an audience of hundreds, so we gave our ‘amateur’ presenters ample support, coaching and scripting to keep them safe and feeling confident.

We saw an opportunity to enhance buzz on the night by embracing the principles of experience design, in particular how people journeyed through the event space. In moving the Awards to the East End’s iconic Troxy, we were able to ramp up the glamour, accommodate a bigger audience, and achieve a more dramatic use of space. We placed event hosts at the local tube station, welcoming guests and directing them to the venue, where a drinks reception awaited. When the anticipation was reaching climax, a huge drape fell away, revealing the larger event space (cue screams of excitement!) with a glitzy cabaret feel, live house band, confetti cannons, an arcade of high-end street food stands offering bao buns, tacos and South American barbecue, and a crew of expert mixologists serving classic cocktails throughout the night.

Feedback was glowing, scoring 4.5 out of 5, and the client was delighted: “everyone absolutely loved it – I’ve been basking in the glory!”