The Academy for Sustainable Communities (ASC) is a key part of the Government’s drive to create local communities that are vibrant, prosperous and attractive to live in.

There are more than 100 professions and disciplines involved in planning, delivering and maintaining sustainable communities. This range includes: planners, architects, surveyors and engineers; housing and economic development managers; local authority officers and elected members; primary health and social care workers.

Many of these professions face acute skills shortages either now or in the near future. There are not enough new entrants emerging to replace those professionals who are approaching the latter stage of their career. This recruitment crisis poses a serious risk to the ability to create sustainable communities in the future.

To support their work in encouraging new entrants into these career areas, the ASC has developed a cross-sector brand identity – “What if?” and commissioned Glasgows to create a large, interactive exhibition stand to showcase the range of careers in the sustainable communities sector.

The 8m x 8m stand was designed to provide a platform for a wide range of media and interactive elements. First and foremost, the stand had to convey the new brand identity through the use of bold graphics and display walls. Secondly, it had to incorporate touch screen presentations providing access to career profiles, testimonials and careers information. In addition, website demonstrations and multiplay plasma displays were required.

The result was a fresh, striking and flexible stand that was used to help launch the brand at the London Graduate Fair held at the Business Design Centre, Islington. The stand was welcoming and visitor friendly with dome directional speakers above each of the interactive touch screen pods. The stand has the flexibility to the pods to be used in stand alone locations and can incorporate a private podcast area to gain the views of visitors.

Glasgows undertook the stand design, stand construction, graphic production, AV, IT and electrical installation as well as coordinating service orders with the organisers and venue.