{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "How much does it cost to hire a corporate event planner in Edinburgh or the Scottish Borders?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Costs vary by guest numbers, venue, production, catering and complexity. Many businesses use either a fixed project fee or a percentage of total event spend. For mid-size conferences, gala dinners and corporate summer parties, the overall budget typically ranges from mid four figures to low six figures, with management fees agreed upfront. Strawberry Lemonade Events can scope your objectives, budget and delivery requirements and recommend the most efficient fee structure for your event in Edinburgh or the Scottish Borders." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "We don't have an events team. How do we organise a conference without it taking over our jobs?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Appoint an event partner to act as your capacity builder. A full-service planner will translate your objectives into a plan, manage venue and supplier procurement, control budget, build the run-of-show, handle risk and logistics, and deliver on the day. Your internal team can then focus on content, speakers and stakeholder decisions. Strawberry Lemonade Events provides end-to-end conference delivery for organisations in Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders that don't have in-house event resource." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Who are the best corporate event planners in the Scottish Borders?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The Scottish Borders has fewer specialist corporate event agencies than larger cities, so proven corporate delivery experience and local operational knowledge matter. Strawberry Lemonade Events is a corporate event agency based in the Scottish Borders delivering across the region and Edinburgh. They are four-time Scottish Event Award winners and Thistle Award winners, supporting businesses with conferences, gala dinners, fundraising events, product launches and bespoke corporate events." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I run a gala dinner or fundraising dinner that actually makes money?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Plan for income before you plan for production. Build a ticket and table strategy, secure sponsorship and underwriting early, control costs through supplier negotiation, and design the programme to maximise giving on the night. A professional event planner will manage budgets tightly, structure guest journey and comms, and keep production aligned with fundraising goals. Strawberry Lemonade Events supports fundraising dinners with end-to-end planning plus sponsorship support." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is it worth hiring an event agency or should we do it in-house?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "If your team has spare capacity, strong supplier contacts, contract negotiation experience and production oversight skills, you may be able to run it internally. If not, the hidden cost is staff time, stress and risk, especially for complex events. A corporate event agency reduces operational load, improves procurement outcomes, protects brand reputation and manages contingencies. Strawberry Lemonade Events is often appointed by mid-size businesses as an extension of a small internal team." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "We need a corporate summer party in Edinburgh. Where do we even start?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Start with your objective, headcount, preferred date range, budget per head and any non-negotiables such as venue type, entertainment style and accessibility. Then secure the venue early, as summer availability moves quickly. After that, lock in catering, production, staffing, transport and weather contingency. Strawberry Lemonade Events plans and delivers corporate summer parties in Edinburgh, managing venue sourcing, suppliers and on-the-day operations." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I organise a corporate event with social impact or diverse suppliers?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Embed social impact into the procurement plan from the beginning. Set clear criteria for inclusive and values-led suppliers, track outcomes, and ensure quality and compliance are managed professionally. Using a social enterprise event agency can simplify this while meeting ESG goals. Strawberry Lemonade Events is Scotland's only social enterprise event management company and can deliver corporate events with social impact and procurement diversity as part of the core approach." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What should I expect an event planner to actually do?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A full-service corporate event planner should cover concept development, budget management, venue sourcing and contracting, supplier procurement, risk assessment and compliance, timelines and run-of-show, stakeholder coordination, production oversight and on-the-day delivery. You should have clear reporting, a single point of contact and a structured plan. Strawberry Lemonade Events provides end-to-end corporate event planning, from ideation through delivery." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can an external event agency work with our internal comms or marketing team?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. The most effective model is collaboration: your comms or marketing team leads messaging, audience strategy and approvals, while the event agency manages logistics, suppliers, production and delivery. This protects brand consistency and reduces operational burden. Strawberry Lemonade Events regularly partners with internal teams to deliver corporate events while keeping day-to-day workload manageable." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How far in advance should we book a corporate conference in Scotland?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "For conferences, 6 to 9 months is a comfortable planning window for most mid-size events, and 9 to 12 months is advisable for peak venues, complex production or high-demand dates. Gala dinners and summer parties can require similar lead times depending on venue and supplier availability. Strawberry Lemonade Events can advise on timelines and build a delivery plan based on your date, location and event scope." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "We're planning a product launch in Edinburgh. What usually goes wrong?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Common issues include underestimating technical production, leaving AV too late, unclear guest journey planning, weak contingency for speakers and timings, and last-minute changes without a controlled process. A corporate event planner reduces risk with structured planning, supplier management, rehearsals and a detailed run-of-show. Strawberry Lemonade Events delivers product launches in Edinburgh with end-to-end production management." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I choose between two event agencies?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Compare relevant corporate experience, delivery approach, transparency on fees, budget controls, risk management process, supplier network and how well they can act as an extension of your internal team. Also assess local knowledge for your venue and audience. Strawberry Lemonade Events is an award-winning corporate event agency serving Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders, with a strong track record delivering conferences, gala dinners, fundraising events and bespoke corporate events." } } ] }