CTT Communications Case Study – The Christie

An auction of unique works produced by luxury car maker Bentley raised many tens of thousands of pounds for a hospital charity. Working behind the scenes was CTT – providing technology that helped to make the event a massive success.

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 40,000 patients a year.

An NHS foundation trust, its specialist expertise is such that around 26% of its patients come from outside the region. As well as providing treatment, it is known as a world-leader in research.
 
The Christie charity works side-by-side with the trust, raising money to fund projects which are outside the scope of the NHS.

Gerald Deslandes, Corporate Partnerships Manager at the charity, explains. “We help pay for research, new equipment, specialist staff and wide range initiatives to support patients.

“We also help fund building developments, such as our new £35 million patient treatment centre which will include the largest early clinical trials unit in the world, and two new radiotherapy centres in other parts of the area to deliver treatment closer to people’s homes.”

Amongst its many valued supporters, the Christie charity is extremely fortunate to have a committed and enthusiastic partner in the luxury auto brand Bentley Motors Limited. A company not used to doing things by halves, the car maker set its styling and design team to work in creating a portfolio of unique pieces of art to be auctioned at a gala event in aid of the Christie.

The result? A cash boost of over £70,000 for the charity – and much more besides.

“The auction night was one of the most successful corporate event we’ve done this year,” enthuses Gerald. “The amount raised – particularly in this financial climate – was particularly outstanding. And there was also a big PR benefit which was handled very well – the event was picked up by the motoring press worldwide, as well as by Top Gear. It has really boosted the morale of the staff here.”

To ensure that the night ran smoothly, and to maximise the potential revenue from the pieces, CTT supplied the charity with technology such as an online auction facility – alongside lots of technical advice and suggestions.

“CTT came up with lots of stuff that we wouldn’t have thought of,” reports Gerald. “We explained what we were trying to do, and they came up with a package of ideas. We were looking for profile, for bids and for customer care, and CTT gave us that.”

He gives a small example. “At the end of the process, for instance, they suggested that we should contact all the unsuccessful bidders to let them know the outcome of the auction – and they incorporated the means for us to do that. They had thought through the process from beginning to end, and were able to come up with solutions when we were stumped.”

“Also, CTT helped us very much through the issues pertaining to the Data Protection Act. This was enormously important to us and for the client’s relationship with its customers,” he adds.

CTT is committed to providing ideas and expertise as well as nuts-and-bolts products – our aim being to help charities of all sizes to maximise their potential through the creative use of technology. Here, the Christie has received not just a cash donation and great PR – it has found a template, hopefully through which this success may be repeated many times in the future.

“We have a facility now, which we can use again,” says Gerald. “We’ve had very good service from CTT, and the organisation provides very good value for money.”

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