27 & 28 January 2017 / ExCeL, London 3 & 4 March 2017 / NEC, Birmingham For further information contact Thomas Standfield on +44 (0)20 8394 5235 thomas.standfield@vmgl.com In association with: Your essential event for school leaver recruitment
Why choose What University Live? Students are becoming more rigorous in their selection of a university. They are now making choices based on employment prospects, engagement with industry and lecturer contact hours, in addition to the usual criteria. Students, and their parents, view a university education as a purchase and are asking more in-depth questions about value for money. What University Live? provides universities with the opportunity to promote themselves on a national scale to a large audience of diverse prospective undergraduates in just two days. By exhibiting at What University Live? universities can communicate the value of their undergraduate opportunities and how these can help school leavers achieve their overall career goals. Co-location with What Career Live? The event is co-located with What Career Live? a national event, which showcases apprenticeships and schoolleaver programmes. The co-location of the two events allows students to consider all their options side-byside and enables universities to tap into an audience of school leavers who may not have previously considered university as an option. Who attends? A diverse range of school groups from across the UK Parents and guardians who will be involved in the career decision-making process Individual students seeking an alternative to attending university Careers advisors who actively offer students careers guidance and support 4% Careers Advisors Who visited in 2016? 26% 37% Students Parents / guardians 33% School groups Why Friday and Saturday? With the majority of school groups attending on a Friday, the Saturday offers parents and guardians the chance to attend with their children. As parents and guardians are becoming increasingly involved in decisions regarding university and careers, holding the event on a Saturday enables them to gather information to help them give more informed advice. When did visitors attend in 2016? FRIDAY 44% SATURDAY 56%
Why do visitors attend the exhibition? Features to attract and engage with school leavers More than just a careers fair, What University Live? offers a host of specialised features to aid in their university selection process and career decision. A visit to What University Live? is an experience and not just a fair! The University Theatre A lively and stimulating presentation theatre for universities to profile their establishments during a 30 minute presentation. Raise the profile of your brand to a large audience of potential undergraduates and convey all aspects of student life. This theatre will also provide advice and guidance on the university entrance process and student finance. The Student Union A relaxed environment where visitors can meet with current undergraduates, ask questions and socialise. Universities will be given the opportunity to host the Student Union to help increase engagement with potential undergraduates and parents. Careers Advice Lounge Independent careers advisors will offer advice on guidance on how to approach the selection process and discuss student career ambitions. Mock Assessment Centre Where students can get an insight into the tasks and practical exercises they are likely to face. They will be able to practice their skills in a risk-free environment and benefit from professional feedback and coaching support. The Creative Corner The Creative Corner gives students the chance to learn more about how to get into a career in creative industries including advertising, the arts, music, broadcasting, journalism and PR. The Parents & Advisors Lounge The Parents & Advisors Lounge is where parents can take a break from the exhibition and enjoy refreshments. STEM Challenge Student s can put their practical skills to the test and be in for a chance of winning a prize from a top engineering company.
An extensive marketing campaign What University Live? is supported by a big impact national marketing campaign that offers high-visibility branding opportunities for the organisations involved. The event is co-promoted alongside What Career Live? The campaign will encompass: This will include: TV advertising Radio advertising Outdoor advertising Online advertising National newspaper advertising Promotion via social media such as Facebook and Twitter Extensive PR campaign designed to promote the benefits of attending university and having a career Sending pre-event promotional materials to schools including, posters, leaflets, letters, emails and advisory information Sending pre-event promotional materials to parents via e-shots Guiding schools and students through the pre-registration process Pre-even t marketin g was clea rly very g ood as visitors were foc used, engaged and had great qu estions. School liaison officer A dedicated, VMG school liaison officer will make contact with sixth form schools and colleges. The liaison officer s role will be to promote the exhibition and to register and prepare students before they attend. Grant Tho rnton (Exhibitor in 2016) ExCeL London is London s award winning events venue. Located in the heart of London s Royal Docks, ExCeL London is within easy reach of central London. The venue has 3 onsite DLR stations, access to the Jubilee line, London City Airport and parking for 3,700 cars. For further information contact Tom Hill on * Correct at time of going to press. The organisers reserve the right to alter the marketing campaign where necessary. The NEC Birmingham is the UK s No 1 venue for trade and consumer shows, with over 140 events attracting 2.1 million visitors a year. Located in the heart of the UK, the NEC, Birmingham is easily accessible by road, rail or air, with 16,500 parking spaces available. +44 (0)20 8394 5286 tom.hill@vmgl.com
School locations The percentage of schools per region within the What University Live? schools database. Exhibitor package Scotland 2% 1% Stand package Shell stand (or space only), name and stand lighting Profile entry in What Career Live? magazine, which is distributed free of charge to the UK s top schools as well as to every visitor at the exhibitions Year long profile on Year long access to the database of attendees* Exposure in the comprehensive marketing campaign The opportunity to create maximum exposure for your brand with a 30 minute presentation Thorough and ongoing personal organisational support prior to the exhibition and on exhibition days Refreshments at the exhibition Shell: 338 per square metre plus VAT Space: 319 per square metre plus VAT For further information contact Tom Hill on North East 10% North West 12% Seminar session 30 minute presentation Dedicated logo board within the presentation theatre Logo and company name on onsite signage and leaflets at the event Logo and company name on the presentation pages of the website Logo and company name in What Career Live? magazine Opportunity to distribute literature within your presentation Promotion in What Career Live? eshots East Midlands 19% West Midlands 3% East Anglia Wales London 8% 7% South West 5% 500 per seminar slot plus VAT +44 (0)20 8394 5235 17% Yorkshire and Humberside South East 16% * This includes all attendees who have opted in to receive information from 3rd parties. Correct at time of press tom.hill@vmgl.com
What happened in 2016? The best school leaver event I have ever been to. We ve met a diverse group of people who have had the opportunity to ask questions that they would not normally get answered. We ve seen an amazing number of parents and students. Jack Denton, Co-founder Types of schools 2% 8% State Independent Academy 24% 30% 9% 22% Ellen Dagnall, Student Ambassador Students attended from over 800 schools across the UK from Edinburgh to Dover I m going to recommend this event to all my friends. Alison Crossman, Cambridge (parent) Laura Crane-Brewer, Recruitment Officer This event offers prospective university applicants vital information on further study at a pivotal time in their school careers. It s a chance for students to find out just how good universities are at preparing their undergraduates for successful careers. Aston has worked for decades to help students of all backgrounds realise their true potential, and we are proud to be continuing this with What University Live?. Mel Parker, Recruitment Coordinator 95% of school group leaders rated their visit good or excellent Sixth Form College Free School 5% We ve had a high level of interest from all sorts of students from across the country, they ve had some really good in depth questions for us. All students are really catered for here...it s been a really good event to be part of. Grammar City Technology College It s a fabulous opportunity to engage with our future talent. Paul McDonald, Community Development Officer The engagement with parents and guardians has been fantastic. We have spoken to visitors from across the UK including London, which is brilliant. The students we have met have been prepared and ready to ask informed questions. Karl Devincenzi, Outreach Manager We ve met people from a wide variety of backgrounds and there has been a steady flow of visitors throughout the two days. There s been a great mix for us of students from years 11, 12 and 13. We ve met some excellent potential candidates. Katy Hanby, Student Attraction & Outreach Officer 25,171 visits to WhatLive.com in February Age Group o ver 16 83% 14-16 17%