On 18th July, 46 leaders from across Europe gathered at the majestic Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire for the fourth European Political Community (EPC) Summit, for what promised to be a bright and historical day. Hosted by our newly elected Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, the summit marked a significant moment for the continent.

Against the backdrop of the UK general election, Identity worked closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), to deliver the production services for the entire Summit. We utilised an agile approach to ensure that all deliverables were easily adaptable, to accommodate any last-minute changes during the evolving political landscape. 

The Summit emphasised the importance of unity in response to the growing conflict and instability inside and near European borders, reinforced by the presence of NATO, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation, and the Council of Europe.  

Crafting an extraordinary summit experience

To support these crucial discussions and the delegates attending the Summit, Identity designed and constructed several large bespoke structures in the palace grounds. Amongst these were a plenary room, lounges, multiple round tables, bilateral meeting rooms, a vast media centre, accreditation and search facilities, production offices, press conference spaces, and welfare facilities for a crew of over 1,000 people. Our collaboration with Thames Valley Police ensured the safety and security of al attendees.

Plenary room for EPC

Blenheim Palace: a historic and dynamic venue

Blenheim Palace, a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site, provided an awe-inspiring backdrop for the summit. Despite its summer schedule brimming with events, the palace remained open to the public that we navigated alongside establishing an expansive EPC environment. Our team worked meticulously with in the palace grounds and the palace itself, where HRH King Charles III’s Royal Reception, hosted by Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer, added a touch of regal splendour.

Blenheim Palace & temporary structures

Sustainability at the core 

Sustainability was at the heart of our delivery and a priority for both the FCDO and Blenheim Palace. We aimed to achieve IS020121 Event Sustainability Standard Certification by minimising our environmental impact. Where possible, we made use of existing Blenheim Palace furniture as well as hired pieces to fit out the environment. Anything that was bought or purpose-built will either be reused at other events, donated to local organisations, or gifted to the palace as a lasting legacy of the event.  

A triumph of collaboration and vision 

Our extensive experience with pivotal, world-changing events for the public sector enabled us to deliver what Sir Keir Starmer described as a “very successful and productive” EPC Summit. We created the ideal experience to showcase the UK and the new government to the rest of Europe on a global stage, paving the way for a brighter, more united future. 

If you have a high-level event in mind, get in touch with us here. We would love to talk to you about how we can deliver the perfect environment for your meaningful experience. 

Celebrating success

“Peter Wilson the Director General for Europe (and the senior responsible officer for the delivery of this event) visited the EMC at the end of the day of the event to express his extreme thanks. He said he was over the moon with the team in delivering a legendary event. He asked that everyone takes time to revel in the success of the event and the fact it had been so positively received. He could not be more pleased with it. 

The FCDO European Strategy team said that although they do often get positive feedback the FCDO said they haven’t had this scale of positive feedback before, benchmarking the gold standard for UK government events in the future.”

Robert Preston, Political Journalist, commented this year’s event was the slickest and best organised international summit hosted by the UK he has attended in years!