For big internal comms moments, slick tech on its own is not enough. What really makes the difference is how well the people behind it work together. Our long running partnership with Seven Video is built on exactly that idea. Two specialist teams, working side by side from the very first conversation through to the final applause.
That approach recently came to life through a series of internal town hall events for HEINEKEN UK. Rather than a handover from creative agency to technical supplier, this was a shared project from day one. Creative, content and technical delivery all developed together, giving the client one joined up team and one clear, confident route to delivery.
We often see technical delivery treated as something that gets bolted on at the end. Our experience tells us the opposite works better. When technical thinking is part of the early conversations, ideas can be more ambitious and the final result is far smoother to deliver.
With Seven Video, we plan together, design together and problem solve together. Floorplans, stage layouts, camera positions and lighting design are all shaped around the story Seven Video want to tell. That removes the usual friction between creative ambition and technical reality and replaces it with a shared plan everyone believes in.
By the time we arrive on site, there is no agency versus supplier dynamic. To the client, it simply feels like one well drilled team that knows exactly what it is doing.
Paul Sherwood, Director at Seven Video, said:
“The feedback from the HEINEKEN UK leadership team has been brilliant. They don’t see two separate suppliers, they see one joined up team they can rely on. It’s a really good example of what happens when we properly integrate our ways of working.”
For each town hall, our role was to turn a standard corporate environment into a polished broadcast space without losing the in room atmosphere.
We designed the physical layout so the stage worked equally well for people in the room and those watching remotely. Camera sightlines, presenter positions and screen placement were all planned in advance so nothing felt improvised on the day.
A multi-camera setup kept the stream visually engaging, while a carefully designed lighting rig lifted the space out of typical office lighting and gave presenters a natural, studio quality look on camera. Branding stayed punchy and colours stayed true, whether you were sat in the front row or watching from another country.
Audio was treated as a priority rather than an afterthought. Every presenter was miked for clarity and consistency, making sure messages landed just as well online as they did in the room.
HEINEKEN UK’s chosen platform for internal comms was Workvivo, so we managed a secure, high quality live stream directly into that environment. Stability was critical, especially with large global audiences tuning in at the same time. The result was uninterrupted, high bitrate video and audio throughout each session.
Where speakers could not be there in person, we brought them in remotely via Microsoft Teams and integrated them seamlessly into the live production. Remote contributors could interact naturally with on site hosts, without awkward delays or technical distractions.
Behind the scenes we also handled show calling and on screen graphics, keeping timings tight and visuals consistent so the whole event felt more like a professionally produced broadcast than a standard corporate webcast.
What makes this work is mutual trust. Seven Video lead on the creative direction and client relationship. We bring the technical infrastructure and broadcast expertise that makes the creative possible at scale. Neither part works as well without the other.
Pete Amos, Technical Director at Stream7, explains:
“We treat every project like a shared responsibility. Seven Video bring the creative vision and the client relationship, we bring the technical backbone that makes it all possible. Because we’re involved from the very start, we can shape something that works creatively and technically, not compromise on either.”
For HEINEKEN UK, the events benefited from a joined up, end to end approach that reduced pressure on the internal team while delivering a consistently high quality experience for their global workforce.
As Robyn Wallace, Communications Manager at HEINEKEN UK, put it: “From start to finish, it felt really well organised and completely under control. A real standout was the professionalism of the team. Even when things changed last minute, everything was handled calmly and with a ‘no problem’ attitude. The quality of the production and videos was highlighted as really great, and the Management Team felt they were in capable hands. The whole environment felt relaxed, polished and stress free.”
The success of the sessions has strengthened the Stream7 and Seven Video partnership even further, with both teams now seen by the client as a single, trusted delivery partner for future live and hybrid communications.
As Paul Sherwood sums it up:
“It’s a genuine partnership. When we pitch and deliver together, we can be braver with ideas because we know the delivery is rock solid. That confidence shows in the final result.”
If you are an agency looking for a technical partner you can trust to slot seamlessly into your team, we specialise in working behind the scenes to make your creative vision a reality."
