Virtual / Hybrid conferencing for the British Council

The digitalisation of cultural relations has grown over recent years accelerated by the Covid pandemic when quarantine and social distancing saw in-person activities replaced by digital ones. But it is now clear that digital technologies will not replace physical activities and there is a growing demand for flexible products and access to blended content. It is important that we accelerate the digital transformation of our products to stay relevant and competitive with our audiences and customers.We have built a reputation for delivering high-quality in person events to engage with our stakeholders and customers, to build and maintain networks and develop new audiences. Digital event technologies bring additional benefits and opportunities to our event strategy which can enable more accessible, inclusive, affordable and greener events, increasing reach and attracting involvement of new audiences.But there are also challenges and risks. We need to develop a tailored approach to event delivery which seeks to meet the needs and preferences of our different audiences and enables us to achieve clear outcomes. This requires more considered curation of content; an understanding of the different technologies available and how physical and digital environments intersect and impact one another. It is also essential that we retain our uniqueness and maintain our brand, reputation and credibility in the online environment and continue to deliver high-quality engaging events centred on building mutually beneficial relationships and trust.To maximise the opportunities offered by digitalisation we need to identify the best event technology to supplement our various physical activities to create impactful in-person, hybrid and virtual events.