In 2021, the Diabetes UK Professional Conference – one of the UK’s most prominent healthcare events – moved online for the first time in its history. Known for bringing together clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals from across the diabetes care community, the annual conference is a cornerstone in professional development and research exchange.
Due to the pandemic, the organisation faced the challenge of hosting the event remotely without compromising on quality, credibility, or accessibility. Diabetes UK turned to Stream7 to produce a fully digital solution – one that would not only replicate the live conference atmosphere, but enhance it with the flexibility and reach that only virtual events can provide.
Recreating a large-scale, multi-day conference in a virtual format required more than just live streaming a few presentations. It meant redesigning the experience for an online audience, integrating interactive elements, managing presenters across different time zones, and producing high-quality video content that could be accessed both live and on-demand.
Stream7 worked in close partnership with Diabetes UK’s events and comms teams to develop a plan that would maintain the spirit and professionalism of their established format, while embracing the unique advantages of online corporate events.
From the outset, the project focused on creating a well-branded, accessible and technically resilient environment for the online conference. Every element, from the platform interface to the speaker support workflows, was built to ensure a smooth experience for attendees and presenters alike.
One of the key challenges of any online event is managing contributors in different locations, often with varying levels of tech confidence. To overcome this, Stream7 ran technical rehearsals with every speaker, offering step-by-step walkthroughs and real-time support before and during the event.
Where needed, we provided remote presenters with professional equipment or guided them through improving their home setup – from lighting and framing to sound checks and connectivity. During the live sessions, our production crew monitored every feed, switching between presenters, managing transitions, and ensuring the highest possible broadcast quality.
Live sessions included keynote talks, research panels, breakout workshops, and interactive Q&A segments – all hosted and mixed by the Stream7 team using professional-grade broadcast technology. This allowed the conference to retain its collaborative nature and high production values, despite being fully virtual.
One of the benefits of going digital is the ability to create lasting assets from live content. After the conference, Stream7 worked on editing and packaging every session for on-demand viewing.
This included cleaning up audio, adding branded bumpers, trimming Q&A sections, and creating session-by-session thumbnails for the virtual event library. In addition to full-length recordings, we also produced shorter clips and highlight reels, which Diabetes UK used across social media and for post-event communications with their professional community.
The end result was not only a successful live event, but a reusable archive of expert-led content that extended the reach and relevance of the conference for months to come.
The 2021 conference exceeded expectations in terms of attendance, accessibility, and engagement. By removing the barrier of travel and accommodation, Diabetes UK saw an increase in participation, including from healthcare professionals who may not have been able to attend an in-person event. International attendance also grew, giving the conference a broader footprint than in previous years.
Feedback from delegates praised the professionalism of the delivery, the ease of navigating the online platform, and the value of having recorded sessions available for replay. Many remarked that the format made it easier to absorb complex topics at their own pace, reinforcing the educational value of the virtual charity event format.
Moving the Diabetes UK Professional Conference online could have been a compromise – but with the right planning, technology, and production support, it became an opportunity to evolve. Stream7 was proud to play a key role in helping Diabetes UK deliver a world-class online conference, retaining the energy of a live event while opening the doors to a wider audience.
This project proves that virtual events can be just as engaging and impactful as their physical counterparts – especially when backed by high-quality broadcast production and thoughtful content creation.
Stream7 helps organisations deliver high-quality virtual events, from corporate conferences and live panel sessions to full-scale online charity events. Whether you’re planning a one-day online meeting or a multi-track digital conference, we’ve got the tools, team, and experience to help you succeed.
Get in touch to learn more about how we can support your next online or hybrid event.
