Client

Since the 1950s, Kenwood has been famous the world over for innovation, quality and great product design. In 2007, Kenwood had their 60^th anniversary and wanted to celebrate the occasion with a landmark event that demonstrated their appreciation for all the staff.

Brief

To be held in June, the event was to cater for staff and their families; a total of 300 people. Having seen the ‘It’s a Knockout’ event on the Office Events website, Kenwood contacted us for further ideas. The challenge was to provide a fun day with activities for all ages at a venue with easy access from the head office in Portsmouth. It needed to be a truly memorable day ending with an awards dinner and celebration. All this was to be achieved within a relatively modest budget.

Challenges

• To keep toddlers, children, and adults of all ages entertained throughout the afternoon and into the evening
• To locate an accessible and versatile venue that provided options for both inside and outside entertainment, as well as permission for evening firework displays
• To ensure that Kenwood staff had a fantastically fun day they would be talking about for years to come

Event solution

Working to budget, we had great fun creating an event plan the Kenwood  team were really excited about and couldn’t wait for the all the different elements to unfold on the day.

As the guests arrived, the sun was out and the scene was set. Welcome drinks in hand, staff and families greeted each other in the beautiful grounds of the venue. The coconut shy and other fairground stalls were an instant hit with adults and kids alike and the popcorn and candyfloss stall was a popular place to be. The healthier options of the fruit fountain and the smoothie stall (celebrating the famous Kenwood Smoothie Makers) were a big draw. For the tiny guests, there was a crèche to give the parents a break and for the older children there was an organised treasure hunt around the grounds, led by friendly pirates, and the inflatable castle also provided endless entertainment.  

The main theme of the day was a school sports day and we had the Headmaster keeping control throughout the event. After being fortified with a delicious hog roast lunch, teams were formed and scores were kept as the competitive spirit kicked in. Hilarious antics were caught on camera as staff competed in an’ It’s a Knockout’ contest, complete with the essential inflatable pool of foam and Nordic skis. A series of sports day races brought back school memories, and archery and laser clays tested target accuracy.

To celebrate the 60 years of Kenwood, a display of the products ‘through the ages’ had been set up in the foyer of the marquee where, as evening approached, guests were directed to the bar and their tables for the evening meal. Speeches, awards and the presentation of a branded anniversary cake were followed by the Headmasters team quiz challenge and a live band.

The evening finished with a bang as an impressive firework display brought the anniversary day to a close.

The Result

The day came together beautifully on the day and guests were relaxed, happy and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The event design allowed for guests to be as active or chilled out as they liked, so everyone was satisfied and felt included and catered for.

What Kenwood said...

“The event was a fantastic success and was widely appreciated as making staff feel part of a special company with a special history. Office events were attentive to Kenwood’s requirements, were superb at finding the right venue and on the day ensured all went smoothly. I would not hesitate to use them again in the future.”

Helen Neatherway - Marketing Manager