Lights, camera, action!

Well, last night represented a very new experience for all of us at Beverley Building Society, and indeed our members.

We live streamed our Annual General Meeting for the first time. And, while we did so largely in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, like so many things over the past year, the learnings from it will no doubt impact positively on what we do in future.

We’re pleased to say our first attempt, led by our Chairman Stuart Purdy and Chief Executive Karl Elliott from our head office boardroom, has been greeted by viewers as a resounding success, despite being a very new experience for all of us!

We’d like to thank all our members for their votes and those members who joined us online for the live stream, we hope you found it enjoyable and informative.

Anyone who was unable to be there ‘on the night’ can read our notes from the proceedings,  our voting results and a recording of the event, at your leisure.

Stuart said: “I sincerely hope that – while prompted by the pandemic and the need for COVID-security – running the event online will make its content accessible to more of our members, including those based beyond our East Yorkshire heartland.

“The fact that we’ve been able to do this for the first time is a great example of how adaptable the Society has been over the past 12 months, in continuing to provide services to our members and our wider community, and this is something I’m sure we’ll take forward into the future.”

And Karl added: “It’s something I might never have imagined doing 12 months ago – sitting, surrounded by lights, camera and crew and delivering an update to our members in something that felt more like the One Show television studio than our familiar boardroom.

“However, we’ve learned a huge amount from the experience, which we now hope to build on in future years – with options under consideration including live member participation and, COVID-permitting, the option of attending either in-person or online.

“We’re also exploring alternative venues and formats for the event, potentially even including an element of entertainment in collaboration with some of our community partners.”

Stuart concluded: “As a mutual building society, owned by its members, we place great importance on being able to engage with our members and hear their views, so we will be canvassing their opinions as part of our planning for future events.”We’d love to have your feedback on this year’s event, and any ideas for what you’d like to see from future AGMs. So, please do contact us if you have ideas to share.