TPP were delighted to engineer and execute the technical production, set and stage design for the Virgin Media O2 graduation ceremony. As the technical production partner, we designed and installed the event lighting, AV, set and stage.

About the Event: The Virgin Media O2 Graduates

The Virgin Media O2 graduate scheme nurtures the future leaders and experts of technology, business, product and marketing. Each year, the partnership opens a variety of schemes to capture the very best people for their business during the early stages of their career. 

Since 2010, 410 graduates have been employed in full time positions, giving each and every one of them the opportunity to thrive the global tech and communications industry, while following a career they love.

After two years working on projects that touch all areas of the business the students graduate, and they graduate in style!

Virgin Media O2 are passionate about celebrating their people and this is evident in the graduation ceremony. Marking the beginning of the graduate’s long career, the event had to be dynamic, fun, and of course, on brand!

Working with Virgin Media O2 

The graduation is one of many Virgin Media O2 events that TPP support. We provide full technical production, set and stage design for many of their corporate events. In fact, we have been with the company since the start of their collaboration; TPP were the event partner for the Virgin Media and O2 VOLT launch.

The Venue: Telford International

The ceremony itself took place at Telford International Centre, a stone’s throw from Virgin Media’s Birmingham offices. The conference centre itself offers a range of spaces, from a large conference hall that seats 1450, to smaller suites and breakout areas. On this occasion, TPP were tasked with setting up the Ludlow Suite with a large set, stage and lighting rig.

The full-size Ludlow Suite is immense and can seat up to 1000 people in a banquet seating style. This event only required banquet seating for 200-300 guests, so the room was divided. 

Set Design and Lighting

We designed the set and lighting rig to fit within the space and facilitate the access to the venue. Having carried out a site survey before the event, we were able to scale each set panel and lighting rig to meet the room size and access, while ensuring the seating arrangement was not compromised. 

The set design had to look spectacular and on brand. So, we opted for a three-panel set geometric design, with two screens on either side.

The lighting design was key to creating the wow factor. It needed to be impactful, on brand and set a tone of celebration and professionalism. Throughout the ceremony, we used brand hues – red and blue – to colour wash the entire set. While gobo patterns were projected onto the floor to give another dynamic layer to the overall design.  

Overhead, we installed a range of moving and static LED fixtures to project down onto the audience and stage. The fixtures included:

• Robe MMX Spots
• Chauvet Rogue wash lights 
• Martin LED ELP CE profiles. 

Using an Avolites Tiger Touch console we programmed the lighting to music and dramatize the announcements.

Above the set, we fitted Astera LED Titan Tubes, which were again programmed in brand hues. They later provided the ultimate after party lighting, as the graduates concluded their celebration.

The Graduation Ceremony 

Throughout the evening each graduate had their moment in the spotlight, as they graced the stage to receive their diploma. 

A live band provided the music throughout the event. Later, the same band played the backing music for the graduates who wanted to take to the stage once again and try their hand at karaoke.

The Full Technical Production 

TPP provided the full technical event production for the Virgin Media O2 graduation ceremony. This included power, rigging, staging and audio-visual equipment. 

Having worked with the event planners for Virgin Media O2 in the past, they were familiar with our all-encompassing technical production package and were reassured that our service is thorough, creative, and professionally produced. 

As the technical production arm of their Virgin Media O2 event team, we collaborated on the design, theme and running order of the ceremony. To ensure everything went as planned and the set-up could be completed in the designated time, we carried out a thorough site visit and worked with the venue to ensure the power and rigging requirements could be met.

TPP were delighted to have once again execute another sensational and professional event for the team at Virgin Media O2.

To discover how we can support your next event, please get in touch.