The hotel reservations are made, train tickets are booked and you’re thinking about packing. You’re almost set for this year’s Labour Party conference.
In part one, we asked our conference veterans for thoughts on planning ahead for Liverpool.
Now, with just days to go before people start arriving, Matt Ball, our senior associate, considers how to make the most of your time at conference, combining his 20 years of experience with insights from:
Roberta Fusco, head of influencing at ACEVO
Tom Collinge, head of policy and comms at Progressive Britain
So, what are our experts’ top tips?
Network relentlessly
Labour conference is a networking bonanza, this year even more so. Use social media to connect with contacts who are also attending and arrange to meet them at your stand or elsewhere at the conference. This is your chance to talk to people who can make a difference, so don’t be shy.
Offer your expertise
Seek out introductions to people you want to meet through your peers and networks and be proactive in asking for invitations to relevant fringe events or drinks receptions.
Even if you haven’t been asked to speak on a panel, you can meet the speakers beforehand to offer some simple, useful insight, and go along to the event to ask a question.
Remember, effective networking is not just about advancing your cause but also about supporting others in theirs - collaboration can lead to lasting solutions.
Fill up your diary
If you don’t have a stand or a fringe, then set up meetings for coffees and/or drinks with people while you’re there. For some organisations with a low budget, placing your CEO and/or senior policy and public affairs people in a conference centre coffee bar for a few hours is an ideal way of managing your meeting time as well as being ideally positioned for chance encounters.
Run an engaging fringe
If you have a fringe booked, you’ll have briefed your speakers before the event so they know everyone involved, how you are framing the topic and some key points you want the event to cover.
Ideally, if diaries allow, arrange a call between all the panellists to break the ice and let everyone get a sense of what the others are talking about. If this isn’t possible, then ask them to arrive early for your event, with the added benefit that you might worry less about them turning up on time.
Stay connected
If you have a politician speaking, make sure you’ve got the number of whoever is staffing them on the day, so you can stay updated on their timings and keep your chair informed – late MPs and MPs leaving early are facts of life.
Support your chairs
Good chairing is key to a good event, so spend some time with yours, even if it’s just the five minutes before the event. Let them know of any issues and reassure them that keeping to time is in everyone’s interest, so not to be afraid of politely interrupting speakers who are long-winded or delegates who are asking lengthy or irrelevant questions from the floor.
There’s a chance some fringes might get interrupted by protesters - in which case, if you’re chairing, say you will allow them to ask a couple of questions when the time comes. Facilitate them taking a picture with their banners when the moment’s right, but until then, ask them to join the audience and behave respectfully. Any further disturbances should be dealt with by security.
Share wisely
Your conference event will be attended by just a handful of the people you want to influence. There is value in sharing interesting insights which come out of your discussion in a blog, podcast or similar. You can use social media and conference hashtags to capture key discussion points live at the event – although do make sure it’s not a closed or confidential session.
Make it interesting
Blogs which simply relay everything that happened are too dull for anyone who wasn’t there to read, as are gigantic threads of live social media posts. Inside the room everything matters, but remember your audience outside only really cares about the top lines especially what might come next for your organisation, its supporters, members or beneficiaries.
A question, not a comment
If you’re attending a fringe event, don’t stand up and say: ‘This is more a comment than a question’ unless you’ve specifically been asked to comment. It’s a surefire way to lose the audience and it will most likely not endear you to the panellists you’re trying to impress – and a good chair will shut you down.
Introduce yourself, your role and organisation, then ask an insightful question to show you understand the issue, in this way you’re more likely to start a conversation at the end of the event.
Take care of yourself
Party conferences can be exhausting, both mentally and physically. While tradition might suggest burning the candle at both ends, it’s essential to pace yourself. You don’t need to attend every late-night event or drink to excess.
Have clear intentions
Set realistic goals, be mindful of your energy levels, and maintain your boundaries. FOMO should not be your motivation; taking care of yourself is crucial for staying effective throughout the conference.
Follow up promptly
After the conference, be sure to follow up on any connections you’ve made. Whether it was a formal meeting or a casual chat in the coffee queue, send a brief email, LinkedIn message, or even a letter to the individuals you met.
Bring value and remember the long game
Offering something of value early on, such as information or potential collaboration, can help solidify these new relationships. Remember, influencing is a long game and party conferences are just the beginning.
Good luck and see you in Liverpool!
You can read part one of the blog here; it outlines how to prepare before the big event.
