am sitting writing this note as my dog Bruno snores by my feet. I’ve been on the road for a few days, and I think he’s missed me. But I must admit, I have missed him too. When you’re bombing it up and down the country, jumping from site to site, you miss the comfort and familiarity of home. And the waggy tails and wrinkly noses that greet you in the morning when you make a proper brew (strong, milk, one sugar).
What do you miss when you’re on the road? Or is it a lifestyle you have come to accept, and love? The events industry is not for everyone, and freelancing is not everyone’s cup of tea either. Advocating for yourself can be exhausting and it can be even harder when you are neurodiverse.
This month, we chatted with Sarah Spurgeon, a freelancer with ADHD and Autism. Sometimes, she finds the world of freelancing a lonely place and can find it challenging. She loves the flexibility that freelancing affords her. Still, she points out that a team effort is required to make the events world appear more accessible to neurodiverse talent trying to break down barriers, get started in the sector, and safely and confidently network.
Sarah is a member of NOWIE, the Network for Women in Events, and in this space, she has been encouraged to feel comfortable with being herself and asking for help when she needs it. Networks such as this are paramount, especially when market conditions change, and challenges rear their head.
According to Parklife co-founder Sacha Lord, freelancers – like Sarah – are the engine force behind festivals, and he believes they are more important than customers. Be honest, would your live event happen without the expertise of a freelance workforce?
In this issue, Sacha talks about his new book Tales from the Dancefloor and the time he left school with two Us and an E, his anxiety as his mates went off to uni, and how the events industry has enabled him to succeed. Now, his new foundation – The Sacha Lord Foundation – aims to help young people from Manchester carve a career in our amazing sector. If you can help, Sacha has asked anyone to contact him via LinkedIn. So if you would like to play a small part in making a big difference to a young Sacha or Sarah, do your bit. It might be a tough market that we’re operating in right now, but we can do great things if our community simply connects and collaborates.
Happy reading,
Caroline
10 EVENT TENDERS
Check out the latest event tenders and news of contract wins
12 A GROWING SHOW
Depot Mayfield hosted the inaugural RHS Urban Show. Operations manager Jess Plant talks about organising the charity’s first largescale indoor event
15 LORD OF THE DANCE
Parklife co-founder Sacha Lord reveals all about his new book Tales from the Dancefloor and how his latest project – The Sacha Lord Foundation – aims to help young people enter the events industry
22 ROUND OF APPLAUSE
There’s an influx of smaller-capacity live music shows in regional and heritage venues. Here, promoters chat about event developments and current trends
26 FULL OF PRIDE
2024 is a big year for many event businesses and organisers, celebrating milestone anniversaries. As Event Buyers Live marks its
10th anniversary, StandOut chats to a host of event professionals about their achievements
33 NET BENEFITS
Robust comms and Wi-Fi are essential to the smooth running of an event and a great customer experience
43 MANE EVENT
Badminton Horse Trials’ Jane Tuckwell reflects on 75 years of the equestrian event and the lessons learned during the 50 years that she has worked on the show
50 BREAKING BARRIERS
Autism, ADHD and advocating for yourself. Sarah Spurgeon talks about her experiences as a disabled freelancer and why open discussions can make positive changes for everyone attending or working on an event
54 COMPETITION
Win Motorola Solutions Radio Hire for your next event with SFL Mobile Radio
Jess has worked in the events industry for almost 15 years, at festivals, shows and exhibitions across industries ranging from aerospace to spirituality. Now, Jess is an operations manager at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Her role is to oversee all operational elements of the shows that she works on and ensure the safe running of the events when live. She has just delivered the new RHS Urban Show, which went live in Manchester, and will soon be heading to Tatton Park to start building the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. In this issue, Jess talks about her recent experience of building the RHS Urban Show and why filming your site visit is so important when you’re working on a new site.
Andrew is chief executive of Wasing Estate, organiser of On the Mount and Solstice on the Mount. Previously an executive director at Arena Racing Company and Lingfield Park, and chief operating officer at Wilderness Reserve, Andrew is an experienced events professional who has –for the last five years – spent time building the Wasing Estate brand and focusing on delivering unrivalled hospitality at the Berkshire venue. This month, Andrew talks with StandOut about On the Mount and how the live concert series is making waves.
Jane first got involved with Badminton Horse Trials in 1974. She became secretary in 1985, assistant director in 2006, and in 2020, she became the event’s first female director. This year, as Badminton Horse Trials celebrates its 75th anniversary, Jane will celebrate 50 years of working at Badminton too and in this June edition, she takes five with StandOut to talk about lessons learned at the much-loved equestrian event. From the importance of having a sense of humour to staying calm, Jane discusses event developments at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials and why it’s important to make everyone feel part of your event at all times.
Matthew Blayer, Director of Live at Event Merchandising
Arena Group has revealed several leadership changes. Clive Stephens transitions to director of global growth, Scott Hayward takes the helm as CEO of overlay and global major events, and Ross Robertson is promoted to managing director for the UK and Europe.
Transport for London has opened some of its disused stations, as well as several other “unique” sites on its network, for exclusive event hire. For the first time, sites famously synonymous with the golden age of the Underground, such as the closed ticket halls at Aldwych, as well as the disused Jubilee line platforms at Charing Cross which regularly feature as a TV and film location, will be available to book. All venues are offered as dry hire, meaning additional event licenses may be required from the local council for drinks receptions or some events.
LINKEDIN POST OF THE MONTH
A client said something to me on a call last week that I thought was catchy. He asked me: “Which areas are we currently fishing in?” What a great way to think about paid social. Your campaigns that go out to a broad audience are like casting a wide net.
If you’re happy with your haul, you fish there again. If you aren’t, then try fishing in other areas and testing different bait until you’re pleased with your catch.
Targeted advertising is like going after the catch of the day. You’re not just throwing your line into the water and hoping for the best. Instead, you’re strategically targeting specific fish. Knowing where they swim and what bait they bite. It’s like having a GPS for your fishing rod. Casting a wide net can be beneficial for testing new locations, market research and building engagement. But often in the vast sea of social media, it pays to be precise.
#GoneFishing #FindingNemo
The Health and Safety Executive has updated the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) guidance.
There are two new chapters in the Purple Guide – Recruitment and Management of Volunteers for Outdoor Events and Zone Ex.
The National Counter Terrorism Security Office has launched ACT in a BOX, a product that enables businesses to rehearse and explore their response to terrorist incidents.
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PORTSMOUTH’S ANNUAL FIREWORKS DISPLAY
Looking for new business opportunities? Discover the latest event tenders and news of contract wins
Production Bureau has been awarded a five-year contract by The R&A to design and fit-out The Open Clubhouse. The company will work alongside other contractors to build and deliver the facility at Royal Troon in 2024, Royal Portrush in 2025 and Royal Birkdale in 2026.
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has issued a tender for a winter-themed multi-content event to be held in Victoria Park in 2024 and 2025, with an optional third year. The deadline is 12pm on June 3. Email sue.walcott@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Securigroup has won the contract to provide security services to the International Ayr Show - Festival of Flight.
Portsmouth City Council has awarded Lizard Events a contract worth £375,000 to provide event equipment and services at Armed Forces Day, the International Kite Festival, the annual fireworks display and the Remembrance Sunday Service and Parade.
The London Borough of Newham requires event production services for both large outdoor and small to medium-sized events. Email procurement.support@newham.gov.uk– the deadline is 12pm on June 14.
Aberdeen City Council has awarded Showsec the contract to deliver crowd management services to events across the city centre.
FIFA is inviting companies to express their interest in supplying temporary infrastructure to the FIFA World Cup 2026 (FWC2026). FWC2026’s stadium and infrastructure team has engaged BaAM Productions to procure and deliver temporary infrastructure at the tournament’s 16 stadiums. Now event professionals are being invited to register their interest in providing additional services.
The University of Bradford has issued a tender – worth £90,000 – for exhibition stand production and installation. The deadline is 11am on June 10. Email k.davison3@bradford.ac.uk
Depot Mayfield hosted the inaugural RHS Urban Show. Jess Plant, operations manager at the RHS, talks about organising the charity’s first large-scale indoor show
n seven weeks, Jess Plant, operations manager at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), will open the gates to the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show. She will welcome thousands of visitors to the outdoor event, which marks its 25th anniversary this year. Yet before she sets one foot on-site, Plant and her team are in full debrief mode, reconciling invoices and gathering feedback following the first-ever edition of RHS Urban Show at Manchester’s Depot Mayfield, a celebration of modern gardening in small outdoor spaces and indoor gardening too.
Plans for the RHS Urban Show have been in development for several years. COVID delayed the show and “proper” work began 18 months ago. “The shows really are like chalk and cheese, night and day,” explains Plant, operations manager on both events. As Plant talks with StandOut, she recalls what she has learned these past few months working on the event, which is tiny [12,650 square metres] compared with Tatton [112,150 square metres].
Plant says: “Firstly, we usually have full control of our shows, but at Depot we couldn’t just set up and say: ‘This is our space, and this
is how we’re running it’ as we do on other events. We had to work in partnership with the Depot Mayfield team, and everything had to be done in collaboration.
“When you’re not used to working a certain way, it can be challenging to begin with,” Plant continues. “Secondly, the venue [Depot Mayfield] is such a vast space, with so many little quirks. Each time you go around a corner, despite 15 to 20 site visits, you still go ‘I don’t remember that step being there’.”
One of the first things that Plant and her team – Alfie Jourdan, deputy operations manager, Lex Falleyn, show manager, Ash Griffith, deputy show manager, and Pauline Cunningham, project manager – knew they had to figure out quite quickly were capacities. They had to work out how to manage crowd movements because a multitude of factors were in play. Signage played a huge role because the venue is not on one level and there was a lot of discussion with DBN Audile about what lighting to use to make the dark venue appear welcoming for a daytime audience.
“One of the most vital things we did, on one of our first site visits, was take a video of the
venue,” adds Plant. “We did an in-depth walk around that we must have looked back on about 100 times.
“When you decide to use a new venue, you can’t physically remember where everything is, and having a detailed video was a massive help. Admittedly, we didn’t remember to do it until our fourth or fifth site visit, and we should have done it from the get-go but once we’d done it, we were able to take that knowledge back to the office and then send it to our team,” Plant comments.
“That video proved to be invaluable.”
Plant is frank in her appraisal of the show, which attracted between 20,000 and 25,000 people over four days.
“The overarching vision of RHS Urban Show is to make gardening and the RHS more accessible to a larger number of people,” Plant explains further. “So the idea behind going to Manchester was that it is a city with a younger audience, where people live in small flats and don’t own a car. We wanted to show people that gardening can be done in small spaces, that there are budget-friendly ideas and there are things that you could do in rental spaces.
“We wanted to show people you could create a beautiful balcony with very little money or grow plants in plastic bottles. We wanted to get more people involved in gardening.”
The show did attract a new audience; 50 per cent of ticket buyers were not members of the RHS. Plant continues: “There were so many young families, young mums, people with babies, students and friends that visited, it was really, really refreshing to see that kind of younger demographic coming to our shows.”
But what else did Plant and her team learn? “We did attract a slightly different demographic than we were used to, and we realised that people maybe weren’t staying quite as long. I think it’s just because people are maybe busier, Millennials/Gen Z have this mindset around short content and people with young kids, the kids don’t want to be in the same place for several hours.
“We do believe that there was enough content for people to engage with, but I think we need to bear in mind that people are not going to hang around at this show, as long as they do at some of our other shows.”
Plants adds: “What did work was our quiet space, which was a new addition. It’s not something that RHS has done before, but we’ve had some fantastic feedback and we’re hoping to roll it out at our other shows.”
The RHS recently revealed massive changes to its portfolio of flower shows in a bid to expand and reach its target market who may not have an RHS garden near them.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show will stay as it is and RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival will become a biennial event. A new show will take place in 2026 in the grounds of the Badminton Estate, Gloucestershire, before the event returns to Hampton Court Palace in 2027. The RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival will remain at Hampton Court Palace for 2024 and 2025.
After 2024, RHS Flower Show Tatton Park will return to the site every three years, with a 2025 RHS show happening at Wentworth Woodhouse, South Yorkshire. A 2026 show will take place at Sandringham, home to His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla. There will be no change to RHS Malvern Spring Festival and RHS Urban Show will take
place in a new location. Plant concludes: “It’s a really exciting time for the RHS. These changes are not something that’s happened overnight. We’ve had teams working on these changes for years. It’s daunting because there are loads of shows, but the feedback so far has been really good.”
Map design – Rebecca Osborne Studios
Electrics – Eurogenerators
Wi-Fi – Let’s Tech
AV/PA – DBN Audile
Crew – N4
Walling – Intershell
Toilets – Dr Loo
Security – Primary and Showsec
Security dogs – Terrance Blackmore
Health and safety –
KRM Safety Management
Cleaning – Ideal Cleansing
Traffic management – Tracsis
Signage – Wasserman
Trolleys – Brandon Hire
Décor – Event Prop Hire
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Spanning
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Tales from the Dancefloor is the new book from Sacha Lord, co-founder of Parklife and The Warehouse Project. Here, he reveals his biggest lessons learned, why freelancers are more important than customers and how the events industry can help with his latest project, The Sacha Lord Foundation
’ve been asked a couple of times to write a book, but it’s never felt right,” explains Sacha Lord, co-founder of Parklife and The Warehouse Project.
Lord is reflecting on life, as he promotes Tales from the Dancefloor, his new book. It’s a love letter to Manchester and a must-read for anyone looking to enter the events industry or recall the heady days of “Madchester”.
“This time, the stars aligned,” he continues. “When the book came out, it was 30 years since the first event I had ever done and when I was writing it, it was exactly 20 years since the first warehouse party I’d ever put on.”
Published exactly 30 years after Lord produced his first event at The Hacienda nightclub, the book is one of Lord’s latest projects. All proceeds from Tales from the Dancefloor will go to The Sacha Lord Foundation, launching this summer, a charity that will support young people from Greater Manchester, who like Lord, did not or could not go down the conventional education route. The foundation will support people who wish to carve out a career in the events or hospitality sector. A sector that Lord staunchly supports.
“I’ve spoken about this before but when I was at school and everybody was going off to university, I was going off to work in a clothes shop. At the age of 16, 17 and 18, I had real anxiety about what I was going to do with the rest of my life.
“This industry has allowed me to succeed, to the extent that I don’t have to worry about paying the mortgage or putting food on the table or anything like that. So I’m at the stage now in my life where I can help kids in Greater Manchester between the ages of 18 and 25, who are in a similar position to me. I can get them into events and hospitality and that’s what the foundation is going to do,” Lord comments.
Lord found writing the book a cathartic experience, an opportunity to get stuff off his chest and pour over memories with the book’s co-author Luke Bainbridge, who also wrote Shaun Ryder’s autobiography.
“I’ve kept most of the flyers and press cuttings over the years, so the book was easy to write,” Lord continues. “Luke and I would drag them all out and start to have conversations.
“But what did those early days teach me? I had two bits of luck in my life. The first one was being born in Manchester and the second one was being born in the year that I was because that coincided with when I was in the sixth form with Madchester and The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, New Order, Factory Records and The Hacienda. But I think it taught me that every time you fail, just brush yourself down and just keep going again,” he says.
“If anyone reads the book, I think that they will learn that if somebody who failed school, failed his A Levels, can go on to co-found the biggest metropolitan festival in the UK, be night time economy advisor of Greater Manchester and now a Sunday Times bestseller, there are absolutely no barriers whatsoever to entering this sector.”
Now a successful businessman, Lord is also night time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, chair of the Night Time Industries Association and chair of Wythenshawe F.C. In his role as Greater Manchester’s first-ever night time economy adviser, he works with Mayor Andy Burnham
and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, consulting on all issues relating to the night time economy and providing a voice for workers, operators and the industry at large.
“If I look back, I think the high for me has not been The Warehouse Project or Parklife,” he adds. “It was when we went into lockdown. Andy [Burnham] tasked me with entertaining people. It was tricky because we were in full lockdown, so I Googled a few things. Three days later, I came across something in Berlin called United We Stream. Basically, it was a techno club that was closed but streaming techno music acts every Friday and Saturday night. I found Andy and said: ‘Look, we can do this in Greater Manchester but on steroids’. Over 10 weeks, we had David Guetta, Calvin Harris and Fatboy Slim play and they didn’t charge a penny. We asked everyone if they could afford it, to donate a pound or two and that money went to the freelancers that the Government forgot. We had 20.4 million viewers and raised £612,000 for freelancers. So that was probably my biggest high.”
As we chat, Lord will soon get the keys to Heaton Park and the Parklife build will begin. Engine No. 4 will deliver all onsite infrastructure and a team of event freelancers will come together to deliver the live event on June 8 and 9.
According to Lord, freelancers are the “engine force of any festival”. Without freelancers, you don’t have a festival.
“They are probably more important than the customer,” Lord comments. “In fact, they are more important because there’d be nothing to go to without freelancers.”
Lord continues: “If people picked up the book, and our industry was still like it was in the 90s, it would definitely discourage people from entering the industry. But I think one thing that people in our industry and freelancers enjoy is work. We get a buzz off it and it’s far more exciting than a nine-to-five job, sitting behind a desk.”
Lord is a huge supporter of the events and hospitality industry and says that the secret to success is having the right team around you. He wants the events industry to contact him and support The Sacha Lord Foundation so that young people can get a shot at a career in live events and festivals, and he wants the next Government [Labour, he says] to pledge that if COVID ever happened again, freelancers would get the same support as furloughed employees.
But what one track would get Lord on the dancefloor? “It’s changed for me actually, over the last few years. It probably would have been Voodoo Ray but now after the attack on Manchester Arena, I think the unofficial track for Manchester is Don’t Look Back in Anger. Now that would be the one that gets me on the dancefloor.”
APRIL 2025
Far and Beyond has taken over the operational management of Download Festival. Read on, as Jess Shields, managing director of Far and Beyond and now festival director of Download Festival, chats…
WHAT NEW MEASURES ARE YOU IMPLEMENTING AT DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL 2024?
We are working on some great customer experience improvements across the site, with a focus on prioritising our accessibility customers. We’ve made some really positive changes to the site design, as well as adding in lots of exciting new content across the site. We’ve been working really hard to improve on the traffic issues faced last year, with support from the safety advisory group and Tracsis who remain in place as our traffic management company.
One of our main focuses for this year has been to build on our relationships within the local community and surrounding areas and to be a good neighbour to those around us. We’ve done a lot of work to engage with local parishes and have looked for ways to bring the local community further into the festival through initiatives such as our new local farmer’s market, Taste The Place, which is designed to support local businesses while introducing fresh content to the festival.
As part of the changes we’ve made to the site layout, we’ve extended District X to roll out some very cool new content including The Ace of Spades – our new destination bar, The Outpost stage packed with amazing food programming and non-music content that includes the Hammer Horror Films cinema take over, plus some exciting new content through our partnership with Liquid Death.
YOU ARE SPECIFICALLY FOCUSING ON ACCESSIBILITY AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT. WHAT CHANGES ARE YOU MAKING?
Last year was a real anomaly in that it was the festival’s anniversary year. There was an additional show day, and customer numbers were the largest they’ve ever been. This year, we’re back to the usual format of three show days and two campsite-only days, which allows for two days of arrivals, as opposed to last year which was reduced down to one day. This will have a huge positive impact on the traffic in general, but we are working extremely hard to mitigate any of the issues that arose last year.
Ensuring our accessibility customers have the best possible experience at Download is
an absolute priority for us. We’ve made huge steps to build on the learnings from last year’s event, including moving the location of the accessible campsite, moving and increasing the size of the accessible viewing platforms at the main and second stages, and partnering with Nimbus to completely overhaul our accessible ticket application process, to name a few. We’re really looking forward to providing a new and improved service to our customers.
ARE YOU TRIALLING ANY NEW PROCESSES AT DOWNLOAD?
We’re continuing to work with Eventree as our accreditation and event admin registration system and are building on the relationship to utilise the system in more ways this year, including guest list.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR TEAM…
One of the most exciting things about Download for me is the fact that we’re bringing an incredibly strong, predominantly female-led team of experts to the festival. There are too many to mention here, but to name check a few: Alex Hulme is our festival manager, who is just as passionate about
Download as I am. I’m incredibly happy to have Vicki Smith by my side as site manager, whom I’ve worked alongside for the best part of 20 years. And the brilliant Andy Grey is coming back as production manager, taking on a wider role, overseeing all stages.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST ABOUT DOWNLOAD 2024?
Download holds lots of special memories for me. It was the first festival I ever worked on when I started at Live Nation, and I saw it through over nine years from starting as a production assistant to finishing as festival manager. Being local to Donington, I grew up living next door to Download Festival (and still do!) so it has really been a huge part of my life over the last 20 years. It’s an absolute privilege to come back as the festival director.
WHAT WILL STAND OUT ABOUT DOWNLOAD 2024?
This year our mantra is “beyond the bands”. We’re all about building on the customer experience across every inch of the festival.
There’s an influx of smaller-capacity live music shows being launched in the regions and heritage venues. Here, promoters chat about concert developments and trends, including the importance of local talent and looking after the artists
t last year’s Association of Artists Managers (AAM) Awards, Australian manager Michael McMartin was presented with the Legacy Award for lifetime achievement. In his speech that day, McMartin called for the reinstatement of an old policy which made it compulsory for at least one local artist to be among the support acts on every international tour that visits Australia.
Sadly, McMartin passed away in April. In his memory, the AAM Awards and its members have called on Australian concert promoters to reinstate what they are now calling “Michael’s Rule”. The rule will mean every international artist must include an Australian artist among their opening acts, the Australian artist must appear on the same stage as the international artist using “reasonable sound and lighting” and the Australian artist must be announced at the
same time as the tour so that they benefit from all tour marketing and promotion.
Maggie Collins, executive director of AAM, says that a slew of festival cancellations means local artists are having a tough time. Furthermore, she also believes that as promoters received “significant public funding” during the pandemic, they should now “do their bit” to give homegrown talent a leg up.
Many bodies within the Australian music industry – including the Australian Live Music Business Council and the Australasian Performing Rights Association – have publicly voiced their support for the new rule. But suppose promoters are not willing to agree to this? In that case, AAM has stated that it will call on the government to step in and make it a condition of issuing visas that international artists touring Australia must agree to comply.
It’s an interesting development as both Niall Horan and Taylor Swift have both recently toured Australia without featuring any local support. Here, in the UK, there is a current and growing trend for “homecoming” shows with promoters specifically programming regional talent and more and more organisers are programming local grassroots bands too.
Hull singer-songwriter Calum Scott will headline Live From The Yard this summer at Zebedee’s Yard, Hull, a new music series from TEG Live Europe, and AGN Events’ Rock N Roll Circus at Sheffield’s Don Valley Bowl will feature local icon Richard Hawley. What’s more, 20 Yorkshire-based bands will play across three stages cementing the Rock N Roll Circus as a hub for local talent.
Yorkshire heroes The Pigeon Detectives and Embrace are set to play Live at Kirkstall
Abbey and Shed Seven will play two dates as part of Live at York Museum Gardens. Both shows are new to the events calendar and the brainchild of Futuresound, the Leedsbased promoter.
Ali O’Reilly, director of AGN Events, explained: “We’re playing into the music and heritage of the city and giving people a stage.”
Rock N Roll Circus launched in 2023. The live event, which combines music and acrobatics, received first-rate feedback in year one. O’Reilly was “blown away” by the reception.
“This year, there are quite a few changes,” O’Reilly continued. “We’ve looked at the feedback and gone, ‘OK, how do we build on last year and grow the event?’ so we’ve added a third stage, we’re opening earlier [at midday] to allow for more music and we’re upping the ante with more circus performers.
“People are buying tickets because of the artist line-up. We’re not naïve. But we want to get to the point where people come for the experience,” O’Reilly added. “VIP areas are something that customers expect – they expect posh loos and more bars but that has to be balanced with more value, more circus and more experiential.”
This year, Rock N Roll Circus will feature an “amplified” VIP area with more décor and there will be a big focus on local talent too. Capacity will remain at 7,500, which means that the live event is “not competing with huge festivals” and O’Reilly and her team are channelling the great musical heritage present in the city.
“We’re putting bands on that people want to see (Becky Hill, Milburn, Jake Bugg, Joel Corry and The Divine Comedy),” commented O’Reilly. “People want to listen to music that brings back memories.
“We’re definitely seeing a positive uplift in sales but that doesn’t mean it’s any less hard to sell tickets.”
There’s a growing trend for smaller capacity shows (3,000 – 5,000 cap) and live music concert series taking place in the regions and within heritage venues. For example, The Piece Hall has expanded its Live at The Piece Hall series to comprise more than 30 shows, RG Live and Merlin Entertainment have launched Warwick Castle Live, Cuffe and Taylor are working closely with Lincoln Castle to deliver Live at Lincoln Castle, a series of concerts for 2024, and following a successful
year one, On the Mount is returning to Wasing Estate, Berkshire.
Andrew Perkins, CEO of Wasing Estate, explained: “It’s always a challenge, launching an event or new venue. I think we set out from the offset, to try and do something a little bit different. And I know probably everyone says that, but I think we gave people access to live music and entertainment, in their neck of the woods – somewhere that they haven’t got to get into major city, they haven’t got to get into London, and then there’s community. How we bring people into a space to experience a live event in a natural environment because nature is the cornerstone of everything. That’s been really important to us.”
On the Mount launched in 2023 and is a small live music series (6,000 capacity) that takes place on the estate. The site features a tree-lined natural amphitheatre and guests are required to walk through ancient woodland to reach the event site.
The site is used to hosting many events – Glade Festival, Medicine Festival and weddings – but On the Mount is the largest event the estate has personally organised. According to Perkins, it’s an opportunity for the local community “to experience what we have here”.
On the Mount 2024 (June 17-29) will feature some operational tweaks, including a larger food area, an extended food offering, an additional car park entrance and an additional car park.
Perkins continued: “I think the biggest change for this year is around the artists and what we’re doing for the artists. It’s very easy to focus on the audience and give them an amazing time, which we’ll carry on doing. But actually, what is it that we need to do to attract the right artists and to give them an amazing experience? A lot of the time, they’re on the tour bus, get put backstage, go into some sort of a marquee, get onto the stage, get off again, and disappear. About 100 metres off the mount, we have a beautiful woodland venue with an outdoor kitchen, a lake, and a sauna. That is now the artists’ green room. The ambition is to make it the best green room in the world and I want the artists also to go away and go, ‘Oh, my God, what an amazing venue, you’ve got to play there’, not just because of the acoustics or the crowd, but because of the experience.
“I think this year, we’re really going to pull out all the stops to make it a great experience, so if the artists decide to stay after the gig, they can stay back, light a fire and chill out for a couple hours afterwards.”
Wasing Estate also hosts Solstice on the Mount, an alcohol-free music event to celebrate the longest day of the year. Perkins and his team plan to extend the events
hosted at the Berkshire site. “We want to create an iconic venue and be known for an iconic venue and for hosting some real cool artists,” Perkins explained.
“We don’t want to be considered run of the mill and we don’t want to put up a stage and see who we get. Our events are much more curated than that and so I think we
might introduce an event to mark the Autumn Equinox so we finish with a celebration. We don’t have anything solid at the moment but it could be in 2025 and we might have two series, one in the summer that’s full of energy and vibrant and one in the autumn that makes you want to hunker down and go a bit deeper,” Perkins concluded.
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This year, many event organisers and suppliers are celebrating anniversaries, including Event Buyers Live. Read on, as they discuss the realities of business, the highs, the lows, lessons learned, their achievements and the future
At the beginning of May, the Duke of Sussex, patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, attended a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral. The service was conducted to mark the 10th anniversary of the inaugural Invictus Games, held in London in 2014.
Now, a decade since the multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans, was launched, the UK Government has backed another bid to host the Invictus Games. This time in 2027. The bid centres on the NEC, Birmingham, and the organising team seeks to deliver a competition comprised of the event’s nine core sports alongside e-sports, and the possible addition of a team triathlon.
The 2014 edition of the Invictus Games took place in September at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and at the closing ceremony, HM Queen Elizabeth commented that the success of the event should and could not be measured by the medals won but by the renewed sense of confidence and purpose that everyone in attendance had gained from the competition.
The first event hosted 409 competitors from 13 countries and the opening ceremony was delivered by a myriad of event suppliers including Peppermint Bars, Showsec, Field and Lawn, and Wernick. This year, the temporary building provider marks its 90th anniversary and is just one of several
companies and organisations celebrating milestone moments, like the Invictus Games.
For example, Badminton Horse Trials is 75, the Balmoral Show is 155, Wychwood Festival and LS Events are 20, and Goose Live Events and RHS Flower Show Tatton Park are 25.
“The wheels are in motion and can’t be stopped,” commented Graeme Merifield, managing director of Wychwood Festival.
When we chat, he is busy on-site, building the much-loved festival that he started because he went to another festival (Larmer Tree) and loved it.
“I had been doing various things like putting up banners for Elton John concerts and thought ‘Could this be a job?’ and then a friend told me about Wychwood Forest Fair [founded in 1796]. Then I met a guy called Sam Shrouder, who was CEO of Apollo Leisure, and badgered him to get on board. Wychwood Festival was born.
“But you don’t always know what you’re giving birth to when you start something.”
Merifield continued: “We soon found that world music was not commercial enough and we had to broaden our lineup to be more mainstream. We also discovered that we had a rich workshop programme, which took off, and we soon got known as a familyfriendly event.”
Wychwood Festival takes place at Cheltenham Racecourse. Year after year, The Jockey Club has developed the site so there’s less and less grass but now the festival is located on a different area of the
site. But what would Merifield describe as his “highs”? “The highs to running Wychwood are ridiculous because you get up in the morning and open the equivalent of a village for the weekend and you look and see what people have made. It’s a huge drug. But the lows are financing and making it work. Is it harder to make it work, now? It’s certainly not easier.
“Post-COVID costs have spiralled and it certainly feels like we’re in an uncertain market but we’re still here as an independent after 20 years,” Merifield states.
In just a couple of weeks, Merifield and his team will open the gates to Wychwood, and they will celebrate 20 years in the industry. Yet, 2024 is a special year for many others, with a myriad of businesses marking ten years in the events sector.
Proud Events, Terminal V, Underneath the Stars Festival, Red Rooster Festival, the Event Photography Awards, ArcTanGent, Blenheim Palace Food Festival, Alternative Stretch, MET Medical, and Event Buyers Live all launched onto the market in 2014.
“I can’t quite believe where the last ten years have gone, but I know it’s been a whirlwind and like many other event owners, I’ve laughed and sometimes cried as the years, and events, have rolled by, one by one,” commented Neil Fagg, co-founder of Event Buyers Live, the hosted buyer event for the live events industry. “When you launch an event or a business, you put your heart and soul into it, so I can totally relate to
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Satisfied
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anyone in the events industry who has been kept awake at night. You can be lying there thinking about content and table plans one minute and deliveries and scheduling the next, knowing that all those decisions and minute details could have a monumental impact on the customer experience.”
Fagg continued: “I’m really proud of everything that Event Buyers Live (November 11-13) has achieved so far and am making plans with the rest of the team to make this year’s event at Carden Park, Cheshire, even bigger and better. I know everyone says that but any savvy event organiser also knows that you cannot rest on your laurels.
“You have to move forward and to quote Badminton Horse Trial’s Jane Tuckwell, who features in this month’s edition of StandOut, just because something has worked for 20 years doesn’t mean it will work for 21. You have to work hard and smart to be a success, listen to what your audience wants and deliver what you say you’re going to deliver. Oh and don’t be a d!*k.”
Fagg added: “Our industry is full of amazing people who are willing to help. It’s my job and that of the Event Buyers Live team to ensure our guests have the most productive and fun time when they attend so that our reputation grows and we can look forward to another fantastic ten years.”
Proud Events, the event production agency, has regularly attended Event Buyers Live. Ben Whur, one of Proud Events’ co-founders, is the event’s diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) advisor. Furthermore, Proud Events uses the event to source suppliers for a plethora of events and festivals. But what has Proud Events’ management team – Ben Whur, Harry Feigen and Joe Sheals – learned in the last ten years, what achievements are they most proud of and what do they consider to be the highs and lows?
Sheals commented: “I was on the phone just the other day and someone told me that my name came up in conversation and they said I was one of the friendliest site managers she’d worked with. That means a hell of a lot. To be approachable. For us as a business to be approachable when we’re on-site and be honest with our suppliers.”
Falcon Cleaning, SLTS, Pearce Hire, Augusta Event Support and Alternative Stretch Tents are just some of Proud Events’ preferred suppliers. Together, they work hard to deliver a range of live events, reporting to Sheals [mainly].
Sheals is Proud Events’ director of production and looks after anything siterelated. Whur is the director of live and oversees operations and licensing and Feigen is the managing director, firmly focused on the business, which counts Afro Nation Ghana, The Cambridge Club Festival, UK Black Pride and Wychwood Festival as clients.
Echoing Sheals’ comments, Whur explained: “Looking after people is a very important thing. Sometimes at the beginning, we weren’t very good at looking after ourselves. But actually, you know, and I know it’s a horrid cliche, but
there is something about us being nice people to do business with.
“I remember in 2021, when we came back after COVID, we were on site with a supplier who had nearly gone bust. We were taking bits of trackway off the back of his van, bit by bit, and everyone could have screamed and shouted at each other and there could have been a lot of blame but we said what do we need to do to help? Since the start, that’s the way we’ve always approached business. We’ve also been brave enough to not work with people that we don’t like. And sometimes that’s been at quite a financial cost to us. But that kind of culture is really important. There have been some pitches that have come our way where we’ve looked at the people who are on the other side and said no, even if it’s work we needed, and we have freelancers that work with us regularly, even if we’re not paying the rates they can get on other projects. That loyalty speaks volumes and that comes from our culture.”
MET Medical is ten this year too. Like the team at Proud Events, Dave Hawkins, CEO of the event medical care provider, takes great pride in knowing that he is helping those he comes into contact with, providing a service that makes a difference.
“The last ten years have been incredible and we have grown year on year keeping many of our clients since we began,” said Hawkins. “COVID was challenging in many ways because our event capacity was repurposed to support the NHS.
“But over the last 18 months, we have seen a lot of positive change with our clients making a real comeback and whilst the cost of living crisis has impacted the events sector over the last 12 months, we have seen the return of some events that haven’t run for three or four years.”
MET Medical is marking its 10th anniversary with a new urgent care service and has developed a range of new offerings, incorporating technology and AI.
He continued: “One piece of advice to anyone thinking of starting a business in any area of events is to make sure your pricing is well-costed. There are rising costs in all aspects of running a business due to the energy prices and cost of living. To survive you must have a solid understanding of your cost base and ensure that your pricing fairly represents your value-offering.”
Tom Wilkes, operations manager at Alternative Stretch Tents, which marked its 10th anniversary with the acquisition of Tent Style, concurs. He said that COVID turned business on its head but it taught him to adapt quickly and that taking positives from not-so-positive situations is key.
He said: “When I started Alternative Stretch Tents I wanted to rig tents in the summer and spend the winter teaching skiing in the French Alps. After 15 winter seasons, my sole attention was turned to stretch tents.
“In the last ten years, I have learned to think in and outside the box and always be prepared for a challenge no matter how simple the job may seem and to treasure the quieter times of the season.”
Right now, the live events industry is going through a challenging time. Sheals is frustrated by this because it’s really hard to grow a business when market conditions are unfavourable. He explained: “Although our reputation and our knowledge are growing, the industry is shrinking. It’s really hard to not be a bit demoralised when you see what’s happening to the industry and the people that you know and love. And there’s nothing that any of us can do other than carry on doing the best we possibly can.”
Feigen suggests that businesses should be bold. It’s one of the lessons he has learned over the last decade. Self-doubt and inner voices can hold you back if you’re not careful. By being bold, learning on the job, and being able to figure things out, as you go along, if you have the right intentions, you will “do amazing things”.
“You know, I couldn’t have dreamed, when we set up Proud that we would have delivered some of the stuff we’ve delivered,” Feigen said. “Those first three years were incredibly tough. Ultimately, it was the making of me as a professional, to be able to come in and learn everything, and go out and do what we did was an incredible achievement.”
Feigen concluded: “We try to embody that in the people that come and work with us as well. You know, we have lots of people who have come through the business, either they’ve been with us full time, or freelance or whatever, who aren’t sure what their next step is, and they want guidance. They want to take the next step from an assistant to a supervisor or supervisor to manager but they haven’t got that confidence. We let people breathe, we let people learn, we teach, we guide them and then we let them take the glory as well when they deliver something. It’s something that they should be proud of. So, in answer to your question, what have we learned? Be bold, say yes to opportunities, be willing to learn and be a good person; make sure that you’re passing that knowledge on, respect yourself, and don’t put yourself through hell, just for the sake of a buck.”
To mark ten years of Event Buyers Live, the organising team is planning an extra special event. If you would like to attend the hosted buyer conference to source suppliers and network, get on the waiting list now. Call the team on 01795 509113 or visit www.eventbuyerslive.com
Organisers
are introducing
free public Wi-Fi hotspots to their events to enhance the customer experience. But who is paying for it? StandOut chats with event Wi-Fi and comms experts about the importance of robust comms systems and the latest trends in event comms
Arecent poll by Noba, the event Internet and Wi-Fi provider, found that 50 per cent of event professionals do not seek expert advice on the quality of the Wi-Fi connection before selecting a venue or site for their event. This is a worrying statistic, given the importance of robust networks to the smooth running of a live event or festival.
If you want hassle-free ticketing, smooth operations, effective CCTV, seamless connectivity, or to gather event data and talk with colleagues, you need a strong communications system, comprised of reliable Wi-Fi and site-wide radio coverage. But these are no longer the only reasons for needing a reliable comms network on-site. A growing number of organisers are providing free public Wi-Fi to enhance the spectator experience simply because good Wi-Fi reception is now expected.
We Out Here has signalled its desire to introduce a public Internet café at the festival this August and at this year’s Brighton Marathon, London Marathon Events (LME) installed free Wi-Fi at various points around the event’s vast site.
“We all know the challenges of getting a mobile signal in very densely populated areas
at major events,” explains Michael Lowry, head of IT at LME. “We ran a trial, providing a public Wi-Fi service at this year’s Brighton Marathon Weekend to enhance the participant and spectator experience. We created strategically positioned hotspots at the Start in Preston Park, along the promenade towards the pier, and in the Finish area at the Festival Village in Hove Lawns to provide seamless connectivity, all powered by Ubiquiti technology.”
The installation was carried out in collaboration with Brighton Marathon’s IT provider, Focus Group, which has supported the event for many years.
Lowry continues: “We were provided access to a 1Gb uncontended circuit connection which was ample bandwidth to support the user load. More than 1,800 connections were recorded during the event, highlighting the demand for the service.”
Feedback from the mass participation event’s attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the convenience of tracking runners and staying updated on social media.
The trial was a success, says Lowry. LME gathered useful information about the realtime adjustments needed and it is now looking at the feasibility of providing this service at
other events and potentially extending it for Brighton Marathon 2025.
Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council trialled the introduction of free Wi-Fi at Bournemouth Air Festival in 2023. At the unticketed show, which takes place on the Bournemouth coast between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers, the free Wi-Fi helped support businesses and charities to take card payments that were initially failing due to insufficient 4G network coverage. It was such a success that high-footfall areas in the Boscombe area can now access free Wi-Fi, benefiting those with limited or no access to affordable Internet.
Delivered by BCP Council’s Smart Place programme – which aims to grow the area’s digital sector and to deliver solutions that benefit local communities – the trial was used at the festival by 2,000 people who used the service to stay connected.
This highlights how important Wi-Fi is to the general public. It’s considered an essential item and no longer a “nice to have”. Good comms are expected and are a must-have, but someone needs to pay for the service.
This is a point that Dominic Hampton, managing director of Attend2IT, makes. “There’s no such thing as free Wi-Fi, someone has to pay for it,” he says. “You either have to get the Wi-Fi sponsored or accept that you need it and decide what that reason is.
“Everyone thinks they should have Wi-Fi, which isn’t a good reason. Especially if you’re at a trade show because you want customers talking to exhibitors and not the office.
“So how do you offer guest Wi-Fi without making exhibitors pay for it? But you need exhibitors to pay for it if you want Wi-Fi at your event. However, you do want to support someone making payments, not someone on Facebook because they are bored.”
This June, Attend2IT is supporting Bauer Media with Rail Live, installing the event’s business lounge with free Wi-Fi and several hotspots for the public to use. These hotspots will allow visitors to access Wi-Fi for a limited amount of time but at a good speed.
These are new event developments and Hampton and his team are working with Bauer to install the required infrastructure. Yet it’s not the only event that Attend2IT is working on this summer.
Attend2IT is working with Brighton Pride, which is extending its CCTV network to cover Pride Village Party. The event’s Silver control will be able to access the cameras, with Attend2IT granting Pride’s command and control team granular permissions.
Matthew Bostock, operations manager at Roadphone NRB, says that a growing number of organisers are asking for citywide and site-wide radio coverage that feeds into Silver control, often located at a remote site. For example, Roadphone NRB provided a radio and comms network to Cheltenham Festival. Hannah Simpkins, The Jockey Club’s group operations director, sat alongside officers from Gloucestershire Constabulary at its headquarters, acting as Silver command. This was the first time that The Jockey Club’s Silver command was located off-site. Yet, Roadphone NRB’s solution ensured that Simpkins and her team were connected at all times.
Connectivity is the glue that makes all things happen, says Noba, part of The Metatech Group. Events cannot afford to have a slow or unreliable network. Mike Lang, sales and marketing director at Pylon One, concurs. He states that over the last few years, Pylon
One has witnessed a steady increase in the requirement for CCTV at events. This comes as a result of organisers recognising the benefits of live situational awareness. He explains: “It is also a likely consequence of Martyn’s Law, so named after Martyn Hett, who lost his life at the Manchester Arena bombing.
“Martyn’s Law is a direct result of the inquiry after the Manchester Arena bombing,” he continues. “Many agencies and organisers have already started to implement the recommendations of the inquiry and now consider this as best practice, even though it is still to be made law. The big question: as an industry, are we really ready?
“At Pylon One, we have been lucky enough to have been involved in some of the UK’s largest events and we understand the processes involved in providing CCTV,” Lang adds. “As with most areas of event management, the devil is in the detail, so planning, risk impact assessments, data privacy and data handling policies will all become the norm.”
Lang concludes: “While these measures undoubtedly increase the cost of organising events, they also provide much-needed reassurance to attendees as they promote a safer environment.”
The demand for robust and effective wireless networks is increasing exponentially.
If a wireless network is poorly designed and poorly delivered, the user experience will be poor, and the event’s integrity could be compromised.
Pylon One is regularly asked to design and deliver enterprise-grade, site-wide, robust wireless infrastructure for high-profile temporary events that need to cater for many thousands of concurrent users/devices.
Pylon One is acutely aware of the importance of designing a wireless network to meet the specific needs of an event, considering elements such as the venue, the audience and the expected bandwidth requirements. Using industry-standard tools, the event Wi-Fi specialist can model the predicted performance of the network to ensure it meets all technical requirements and then install the network in the knowledge that it will meet the event’s needs.
Whilst Pylon One favours two of the world’s leading vendors of wireless architecture, it remains manufacturer-agnostic. Therefore, giving itself the luxury of considering each wireless requirement on its merits and providing the best fit for all parties.
A robust wireless network is essential to the smooth running of an event and a great customer experience. Pylon One, the event Wi-Fi and communications specialist, discusses what it takes to design and plan a system that meets everyone’s needs on site AN EXAMPLE OF
Accurate and detailed planning is a critical component of any wireless network deployment. This is even more true as network size and complexity increase. On larger projects, exacting and demanding requirements mean accurate modelling of the network is mandatory.
There are many excellent tools to aid Pylon One in this task and one of the most exciting to emerge recently is Hamina Wireless. These tools provide invaluable information in the planning and design phase. However, in the wrong hands, they could lead to situations where the network modelling and design may not deliver the expected performance or capabilities. Therefore, formal training in the use of these tools, such as Hamina, is essential to integrate them effectively into the design, planning and implantation workflow.
Whilst attending the Wireless LAN Professionals (WLPC) conference in Phoenix, Will Jones, senior network architect at Pylon One, took part in the first public training and qualification course to become a Hamina Certified Network Architect (HCNA). He became one of the first engineers to attain this certification worldwide. In 2018, Jones also achieved the status of Ekahau Certified Master.
Jones commented: “Hamina has become my go-to tool for planning large and complex wireless networks having worked with it since they began private testing in 2022. Coupled with the training that I undertook in Phoenix, this has helped me gain an even greater understanding of how Hamina works under the hood and how to make the most of its incredibly powerful and exciting capabilities. Moving forward, we will certainly be looking to have more of our engineers trained on its use.”
If you would like to talk with Pylon One about event Wi-Fi and designing a wireless network for your event, call 01494 911170, email pylon@pylonone.com or visit www.pylonone.com
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StandOut looks at how technology is influencing the customer experience at events and enhancing operational processes for event organisers
n April 27, petrolheads and tech fans watched a motorsport race with a difference. Eight cars took to the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi for the inaugural Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) but humans did not drive the cars. Following months of meticulous prep and complex coding, the cars were driven by computers.
They lined up on the grid with antennae, sensors and drive-by-wire systems, pushing the boundaries of autonomous technology while adding entertainment value to the sport.
The inaugural race – organised by Aspire – drew more than 10,000 spectators to the circuit and captured the attention of more than 600,000 online viewers in just 12 hours.
From understanding grip levels, managing tyre temperatures, predicting opponent movements, performing successful overtakes, and operating the Super Formula race car right at the limit of grip, the AI needed to perform all the things that racing drivers do intuitively.
Each team was given an avatar persona, and the event used state-of-the-art Virtual Reality (VR) technology to enhance the fan experience online and offline. Aspire and immersive telepresence specialist Focal Point VR provided fans with an opportunity that went beyond replicating a trackside view.
Utilising high-resolution, low-latency immersive video technology, the VR experience transported spectators into the heart of the action. The experience allowed the projection of a living 3D representation of the Yas Marina Circuit directly into the viewers’ environment. Fans could place the track anywhere in their environment, automatically synchronising with live broadcasts to provide real-time virtual updates alongside the race.
With immediate telemetry race data like speed, tyre temperature, and brake pressures projected directly into their VR environment, fans witnessed the race but were also given access to the strategic decisions and technical challenges faced by the AI drivers.
The technology aims to replicate the sensation of sitting inside an autonomous race car. Stephane Timpano, CEO of Aspire, calls this a “game-changer” because it allows fans to not only watch the race but experience it in a whole new dimension.
It’s always been expected that AI would permeate various aspects of event management and enhance attendee engagement. Bizzabo, the event management software company, predicted in its Event Technology Guide for 2024 that AI would be used to personalise event experiences and
analyse attendee data. Could anyone have predicted its role as the star of the race track?
In the UK, technology is being used by event organisers to enhance experiences. Team Bristol Street Motors – run by EXCELR8 – will ramp up the off-track action in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) paddock this year thanks to a new official partnership with crowd gaming specialist Piing.
Piing, with its mass-participation, multiplayer arcade games, allows brands and organisers to engage with their fans and has already proven to be a runaway success with a motor racing audience.
These games can be enjoyed by anyone with access to a smartphone, without the need to download an app. Instead, the handset becomes the controller as people come together to do battle on a big screen in racing games and quiz shows.
Last season, Piing was a regular feature at #TheStreet – the trade stand operated by team sponsors Bristol Street Motors in the fan zone. Fans were invited to go up against each other in races that involved players navigating a track and dodging obstacles in their battle to cross the finish line first.
As part of the new partnership, Piing will design a bespoke, EXCELR8-branded game
that BTCC fans will be able to enjoy in both the fan zone and the team’s hospitality unit.
For the first time, fans will also be able to put the throttle down on their motor racing brain power in Piing’s interactive gameshow Quiiz. Again, this will bring a new element of fun to race weekends and will form a key part in helping EXCELR8 and its drivers engage with fans at each of the ten meetings taking place this season.
Yet again, this is another example of how brands and organisers are using event engagement technology to enhance the customer experience and engage target markets. But event engagement is just one use for technology.
Tech can also be used to boost the smooth delivery of an event or it can improve operational efficiencies, such as ticketing and badge/visitor registration, accreditation, drone surveillance, data collection and health and safety processes.
For example, Devon County Show recently contracted Iventis, the event and venue planning solution provider, to transform its event planning approach, moving away from traditional A3 paper maps. OnePlan has launched an online tool that enables organisers to calculate how many toilets they need for an event, Sunbelt Rentals has launched an AR app that enables organisers to use real-time visualisation tech and see their site layout come to life and Togather has released Togather Live, which streamlines the process of food and beverage concessions and suppliers applying for public events, drastically cutting hours of admin. Years of data collection have meant that Togather has a list of events that concessions will make the most money at, increasing revenues for suppliers and organisers.
Maciej Golis, co-founder and CEO at dotcraft, a digital development agency, works with event organisers helping them to improve
their customer’s journeys. Golis says that event organisers must prioritise the use of seamless digital technology so that the customer journey, efficiency, easy access and satisfaction can be prioritised from the point of sale.
“The role competent and smooth technology plays in generating new supporters and driving repeat business should not be underestimated, particularly in an age where almost all aspects of life can be accessed at the push of a button,” he said. “Much like players’ tactics on the pitch being fine-tuned before kick-off, marketing teams working behind the scenes have a responsibility to understand their audiences and refine their user journeys to suit different types of eventgoers.”
Dotcraft was tasked by The Jockey Club to shape its digital customer journey using technology across the events space. It prioritised developing a faster checkout experience, creating multiple payment methods and enhancing conversion rate optimisation for its 15 racecourses.
Results included a 30 per cent increase in year-on-year basket conversion rates, transaction times dropping by 33 seconds and a third of ticket buyers taking advantage of an all-new streamlined payment process.
“It underlines to us that eventgoers –especially casual ticket buyers who may or may not be swayed to purchase a ticket – now
demand quick, flexible, payment options,” Golis continues. “It’s the first hurdle in any customer’s journey, so it’s critical to get it right.”
Data and understanding customers’ buying habits is often the starting point of any digital MOT and ensuring website performance is strong enough to cope with thousands of users on one page at any given time.
Custom ticket platform integration via APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) ensures that customers enjoy seamless ticket purchasing experiences.
Golis adds: “Too often, technology is overcomplicated when in fact digital platforms made simple for the user through intelligent design lead to good functionality and an optimal customer experience.
“The events sector has perhaps faced its most challenging period on record with the pandemic promptly followed by steep rises to the cost-of-living. But amid the darker days, innovation and technology have been one of the few great shining lights and have unlocked the sector’s ability to delve deeper into eventgoers’ buying habits and spending preferences. Those who take their digital customer journey seriously and back it up with knowledgeable staff trained in new technology can thrive at a time where competition and expectation have hit new levels,” Golis concludes.
WBADMINTON HORSE TRIALS
BADMINTON HORSE TRIALS PREPARATION
Jane Tuckwell, event director of Mars Badminton Horse Trials, reflects on 75 years of the equestrian event and the lessons learned during the 50 years that she has worked on the show
e’re on the home stretch,” says Tuckwell, event director of the Mars Badminton Horse Trials. Her voice has a sense of relief, as she settles to discuss event developments and celebrations.
This year, the much-loved and revered equestrian event celebrates its 75th anniversary and Tuckwell will also celebrate her 50th year at the show.
“I was a pony club runner before joining the team,” Tuckwell says just days before the show opens. “Then my first job was as assistant secretary, and I would work on the event for three months of the year. I went back to the show every year, and then I was asked to be secretary, in the early 2000s I was asked to be assistant director and now here I am. Event director since 2019.”
Tuckwell is Badminton Horse Trials’ first female event director and relishes the role that she has seen evolve.
“The role has grown,” Tuckwell explains. “What I do now is all connected to what I did then. But now I am the one asking people to do things.”
Spectators at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials can revisit the event’s 75-year history in a museum created especially for the anniversary. The display evokes many
memories, taking competitors and visitors through seven decades of eventing, charting how things have changed and yet other things remain the same.
“In 50 years, the event has grown in some ways but not in others,” comments Tuckwell. “Health and safety has evolved, the infrastructure is far greater and there are more contractors. People’s expectations have got much bigger, and I don’t mean that disrespectfully, but years ago people were happy to be in a green field.”
When Tuckwell started, the event hosted just 80 trade stands. Now, more than 260 trade stands are present with visitors keen to browse and shop as well as watch the world-class dressage, cross-country and show jumping action.
“A sense of humour is needed at all times,” she adds. “I appreciate the great people that work on the event, across the board. Everyone plays an important part in the creation and delivery of the event, and I am very lucky to work with some fantastic people.”
The museum is a walk through history, says Tuckwell; a feature visitors will find both “interesting and nostalgic”.
“To reach 75 years is a feat in itself,” she explains. “When we were looking at how to mark the anniversary, we didn’t want to do lots of things not very well and didn’t want to miss anyone out.”
Put together by photographer Kit Houghton, journalist Kate Green and former competitor and press officer Julian Seaman, and sponsored by Danco, the commemorative and temporary museum reflects the debt owed to the 10th Duke of Beaufort, who
started the horse trials, and the movers and shakers behind its growth and development, the achievements of horses and riders, the memorable victories and the lighter moments.
But the museum is not the only development for 2024. This year’s event features enhanced camping facilities and new traffic management plans.
“I was taught by my first boss that just because it has worked for 20 years, it doesn’t mean it will work for 21. So we’re always looking to make tweaks behind the scenes.
“When you have a wet year, good will always come out of bad,” Tuckwell comments further. “You don’t want your weaknesses to be highlighted but they are and last year, they were.”
Last year, the five-day event was marred by bad weather. Extensive rain caused problems in the event’s campsite, particularly when visitor’s tried to exit the area. “We realised we probably hadn’t looked close enough at the campsite for a couple of years. This year, the campsite has three new exits, more showers and toilets, a sponsor [Yeti] and we’ve made a bit of a hub in the middle of it so people can watch Badminton TV.
“We looked at extending the hard standing in that field, but it has been too wet, so that will happen when we get a dry spell.”
The campsite has been “given a damn good facelift” and the event’s traffic management plans have had a “jolly good” overhaul too.
“The annoying thing about car parks is that one year, you will look at one route which has had some problems, and you’ll look at it in
earnest. Then, the next year, you’ll get another issue on another route.”
Mars Badminton Horse Trials 2024 – held a week later than usual because it swapped its traditional dates with Royal Windsor Horse Show, owing to “exceptional circumstances” relating to BBC scheduling – features an additional car park. It has meant the need for extra communications to visitors, encouraging people to arrive early, but with additional CSAS stewards, Tuckwell hopes that the event’s organising team has “cracked it again”.
But what is she looking forward to the most? Other than good weather. “It’s a special year for us,” she concludes. “I hope to see a lot of happy people, for whatever reason, enjoying themselves.”
Ticketing – TICKETsrv
Marquees – Danco
Signage – Henson Franklyn
Seating – Arena Seating
Wi-Fi – Wired Solutions
Power – Powerline
Toilets and showers – PTL and Site Event
PA – Showhire
Portable buildings – Qdos
Water – Water Direct
CCTV – Viewpress
Trackway – Sunbelt Rentals
Buggies – OBH
Concessions – Freemans Event Partners
Mobile grandstand – Event Equipment Hire
Toilet cleaning – PB Global
Security – WH Management
Waste management – MJ Church
Anything is possible with a promotional unit. From the practical to the creative, shipping containers, branded vehicles and exhibition trailers are central to engaging brand campaigns, offering versatility and functionality
t is a rarity these days for brands to reach out to consumers experientially on a national scale,” explains Rebecca Pratt, account director at Backlash, the experiential marketing agency.
Pratt is discussing CeraVe High, the campaign that the agency has just delivered for beauty brand CeraVe.
From April 22 until May 3, CeraVe toured ten UK universities, giving students access to personalised skincare advice from skincare experts. “The ‘CeraVe High’ Westfield activity targeted a broad demographic and variety of skin types,” comments Cecile Lux, general manager at CeraVe. “We encouraged visitors to pick their team (skin type) –#TeamHydration or #TeamClearSkin and build a simple yet effective CeraVe routine to incorporate into their skincare regimen.
“From research, we know 74 per cent of Gen-Z have skin concerns. For university students, factors around this pivotal life moment can fuel these concerns –exam and deadline stress, diet, lifestyle and hormones. This demographic is therefore a priority to engage and offer effective solutions to help control their blemishprone skin.”
The university tour comprised a wrapped promotional vehicle, which was central to
the “medutaining” campaign, a combination of medical, educational and entertaining content. Students visiting the activation could get their hands on samples, exclusive merch and discount codes to shop for CeraVe products online.
Backlash delivered the CeraVe tour and is now analysing the results. It’s just one example of how brands and agencies are using promotional vehicles, modular buildings, exhibition trailers, branded units and repurposed shipping containers as part of their experiential campaigns.
Verve recently worked with cybersecurity company Surfshark to run a creative marketing stunt on the streets of London. The campaign featured a single transparent truck with a toilet, urging people to take online privacy seriously. The sides of the truck read “How much are you willing to share?” and “Why are you sharing data but not this?” and the promo vehicle visited various busy areas, including Canary Wharf, Soho, and Tower Bridge.
The idea behind the campaign was to create an analogy between overexposing yourself online, especially on social media, and in real life.
The creative stunt was executed in the UK because it is ranked as the 7th most data breached nation globally. To draw attention to these alarming statistics, London’s streets provided an ideal backdrop for initiating crucial conversations about privacy and challenging the status quo.
In April, SportsShoes.com and New Balance joined forces to add to the atmosphere at the TCS London Marathon with a cheer zone activation space. SportsShoes.com is a wholesaler and retailer of New Balance. It operates online and has no physical presence on the high street so the activation played a huge role in promoting the brand.
Syn, the creative agency, was selected to bring the cheer zone concept to life. “We wanted to bring positivity and energy to excite the marathon audience and create an uplifting atmosphere for the runners,” says Chris Newell, creative director and cofounder at Syn.
“In collaboration with New Balance and SportsShoes.com, we designed and created a dynamic space. As well as a DJ to keep things upbeat, we had interactive prize giveaways, photo opportunities, and engaging social media activations.”
The design of the activation was centred around the street environment, reflective of the journey undertaken by the marathon runners. The activation featured three converted shipping containers –including a two-tier structure – provided by The Events Structure.
Syn suggested using shipping containers based on its learnings from previous brand activations, especially as the agency had experience of using a two-tier structure at Boardmasters in 2023.
According to Newell, containers are costefficient. Building structures from scratch can eat a lot of budget due to the health and safety and structural engineering aspect of creating something from scratch vs an existing structure that is structurally sound and portable. By selecting containers for the cheer zone, Syn stated that it could allocate more of the budget to storytelling.
Syn used The Events Structure’s Statement Premium shipping containers for the activation, providing SportsShoes.com and New Balance with a versatile space and strong branding opportunities.
The Events Structures has recently fitted its shipping container fleet with an interior rear wall and right-hand bulkhead stud wall system containing a tension fabric framework. This will allow for more sustainable graphics to be used, which are recyclable.
Rob Statham, head of UK and Europe at Spacecube, recognises the sustainability trend and believes that brands and agencies are considering the environment more in their campaigns, moving away from “build and burn” activations.
Spacecube has recently worked with Google at Mobile World Congress and Alpine at Goodwood Members Meeting. Two Alpine vehicles were showcased inside two of Spacecube’s modular structures against the backdrop of Goodwood Aerodrome.
It was the perfect demonstration of how singular cubes can be used as a blank canvas.
Statham added: “Our ability to be able to drop a unit to an agency for it to be fitted out and branded is attractive. That said, when people want to house something that is the ‘star of the show’, our products give them a blank canvas. The structure doesn’t detract from the main event.”
According to Statham, 2024 is “busy” with brands already doing more in terms of activations and campaigns. Brands are creating assets that can be toured and used several times over, backing up the trend for more sustainable experiential activities.
“There’s a fair bit of stuff going on,” concluded Statham. “I know some areas of the events industry are struggling, but there are a lot of enquiries and the automotive industry is particularly strong. You can’t paint the whole industry with the same brush.”
•
Optics, Trugs, Ice Buckets, Jiggers, Bar Caddies & Waiters Trays
• SITE CLEANING & WASTE: Toilet Rolls, Cleaning Supplies, Litter Pickers & Work Gloves
• STAFF WELFARE & OFFICE: Coffee, Hot Cups, Extension Leads & Fans
Autism, ADHD and advocating for yourself. Sarah Spurgeon talks about her experiences as a disabled freelancer and why open discussions can make positive changes for everyone attending or working on an event
was a late bloomer to festivals but when I finally experienced the music, culture and energy they had to offer, it changed everything. I remember attending Outlook Festival in 2010, taking in the experience and realising I needed to work in events. I couldn’t let it go. I took the first opportunity I could, interning at The Warehouse Project and never looked back.
Fifteen years later, festivals still light a spark in me, and freelancing has been key to keeping that fire burning. My time as a festival operations and event manager has opened doors to different types of locations and events I could have only dreamed of when I started.
When you work as a freelancer, you run a one-person show in charge of your own sales, marketing and networking. While it offers a unique freedom, it can also be isolating, especially when starting out. At times, I found myself looking in from the outside, wondering how I could get in the
room with the people giving out the work or not feeling confident enough to send that email that might lead to something new. Even now, I sometimes find myself still feeling like an outsider, but over time, I have built the confidence to send that email and put myself out there.
Despite its challenges, there is a magic to freelancing that makes it worth it! The autonomy and flexibility paired with the variation and creativity in events are second to none. Most importantly, I’m surrounded by people who want to make things better. From Boomtown to Balter Festival and my Greenpeace team, there’s a moment at each festival where I’ve looked around and am amazed by what I am part of.
Freelancing is a lonely world, but being a disabled freelancer can often feel like being planets apart. I found that to be especially so returning from the pandemic – how do you get back in after being out so long? It
was a challenge for everyone; however, for neurodiverse freelancers, there is the extra challenge of not always knowing how to engage or re-adapt to the industry pace.
I was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD during the pandemic, and while it helped me understand myself better, the barriers remained. I still felt vulnerable and could never fully shake off the fear of being demanding when asking for help or accommodations. And honestly? Advocating for yourself all the time is exhausting! I have been in the events space for 15 years and still find it challenging; imagine what it is like for neurodiverse talent trying to break in. I see a lot of organisations that do want to be more accessible, but they do not always know how. There is a heavy focus on individual practice when it should be a team effort. Through education and creating a defined strategy for the whole industry, we can create spaces for neurodiverse people to safely and confidently network that will follow them into the workplace.
Being freelance and neurodivergent is hard, but being able to give back to the industry helps. At each event, I meet people with different lived experiences than mine, and learn about the barriers they face and the support they need. I take what I learn to the next event and, hopefully, use that insight to help make the experience better for someone else.
Some of the more common topics I hear are:
DOMESTIC ABUSE GUIDELINES
Everyone wants to do right by victims, but there is a stigma, and I think that shakes the confidence of organisers and teams when deciding on affirmative action. It is an area in which we do not have a universal approach. When left to the discretion of individual teams, there is always a risk of victims being put in vulnerable positions or leaving the event space completely. We need to do more as an industry to create environments where survivors feel safe.
While often not intentional, being repeatedly asked for the “actual boss” when leading a project weighs you down, no matter how experienced you are. For new talent and freelancers who already feel like outsiders, the invalidation creates extra barriers and highlights feelings of isolation. It is something we need to challenge as an industry.
A lot of young people do not know it is OK to be struggling; they see events go bust or projects not go as planned and feel they have to carry the stress. They do not reach out for help. It is a sure-fire road to burnout, especially when you add in factors such as general life stressors and loneliness.
Education, awareness, signposting and open discussion are key to making positive changes – and lasting change – for live event freelancers, in-house teams and attendees alike. We are an amazing and supportive industry, and we have already made good progress, but we need to keep that momentum going.
What is the most important thing I can suggest to anyone considering freelance? Find your tribe and build support networks as early as you can. Whether that is in the form of dedicated networking groups or teams that make you feel safe and comfortable being yourself.
By the nature of roles that involve safeguarding, it can be heavy at times; you never know who will walk through the door and what story they may share. Some events are spent basking in the community feel, while others are spent on high alert. Both feelings follow you home and when you work freelance, those are the moments you feel isolated most.
I recently joined EventWell as a freelance event host, and what stood out was the amount of support from the team. When hosting a quiet room, my wellbeing and safety are treated with the same amount of care as attendees. The support doesn’t end when the event does; from calls on the way home, and decompression appointments to regular chat messages, there is always someone checking in. It makes hard days much easier, and I hope to see more event organisations integrate similar systems.
If you want to find your tribe, I recommend joining an organisation like NOWIE! Breaking into and maintaining a client base in the events industry can be daunting for freelancers, but joining networking and mentorship groups opens doors to new connections, work opportunities and projects. Most importantly, being part of a community helps you create consistency and routines outside of freelancing, which goes a long way in maintaining your wellbeing.
NOWIE has been a huge support network for me. There is something uniquely empowering about being surrounded by women who want to uplift each other. In this space, I have been encouraged to feel comfortable with being myself and asking for help when I need it. Being a freelancer still has its challenges and bad days, but I do not have to face them alone.
2024 is the year of career progression! A lot has changed in the past 15 years, and I want to take this opportunity to figure out who I am, and where I fit into this new landscape and add new clients to my roster, which I have already made a start. Having recently passed the first exam towards my NEBOSH qualification, my goal is to complete my studies and continue developing my skills through training.
Staying connected with others in the industry is another big priority. Networking and mentorship programmes have been a big part of helping build confidence, support networks and an expanded client base. I want to keep building those relationships and be a part of empowering others.
APRIL 2025
hether it be coordinating logistics or notifying security of an incident, good communication is crucial for all event organisers to ensure an event’s success. Two-way radios provide a reliable form of communication, free from many of the issues associated with mobile phones such as lack of signal caused by mass gatherings or remote locations.
However, with many events only lasting a matter of days or weeks, it is often not economical for organisers to purchase radio equipment themselves. In this case, radio hire offers a fantastic solution that prevents the need for large upfront investment whilst giving event organisers complete flexibility.
With the summer season just starting, planning will now be in full swing preparing for the busy months ahead. To support event organisers in this busy period, SFL Mobile Radio, the UK’s leading supplier of two-way radio equipment to the events sector, is giving one StandOut reader the chance to win the free hire of Motorola radios for their next event.
SFL Mobile Radio has more than 25 years’ experience suppling two-way radio equipment to the event sector. From small local fetes to international festivals, SFL has the expertise to ensure the best possible
To enter, simply visit www.standoutmagazine.co.uk/monthlycompetition and fill in the coupon online. The closing date is July 5, 2024.
communication set-up. Its equipment is available to hire from as little as one day with purchase options also available.
If you would like more information on how SFL Mobile Radio could help you and your event, email sales@sflmobileradio.co.uk, visit www.sflmobileradio.co.uk or call the team on 0151 334 9160.
The prize includes free radio hire for a short-term event. Maximum number of devices and event duration apply. There is no cash alternative, and the prize is non-exchangeable. Only one winner will be selected at random. Standard terms and conditions apply.
Eventwell
T: 0800 470 0958
E: bookings@eventwell.org
W: EventWell.org
Event Hire Association 2450 Regents Court, The Crescent, Birmingham Business Park, Solihull, B37 7YE
T: 0121 380 4600
E: membership@eha.org.uk
W: www.eha.org.uk
Event Production Services
The Pack House, Drayton St. Leonard, Oxford, OX10 7BG
T: 01844 278446
E: info@epsoxford.com
Hire Frequencies
T: 0203 3026947
E: enquiries@hirefrequencies.co.uk
W: www.hirefrequencies.co.uk
Press Red Rentals Limited Unit H11, Halesfield 19, Telford, TF7 4QT
T: +44 (0) 1952 587049
W: www.pressred.biz
BALLOONS, BUNTING & FLAGS
B-Loony Ltd
Cape House, 105 Bellingdon Road, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 2HQ
T: 01494 774376
E: sales@b-loony.co.uk
W: www.b-loony.co.uk
BAR
Bar Live Events
Unit D215, Parkhall Studios, London, SE21 8DE
T: 0208 761 8424
E: nick@barlive.co.uk
W: www.barlive.co.uk
Cambridge Event Bars
T: 01223 785401
M: 07837 707057
E: Info@cambridgeeventbars.co.uk
W: www.cambridgeeventbars.co.uk
Pop-up-Pubs
T: +44(0)1993 832155
E: info@pop-up-pubs.com
W: www.pop-up-pubs.com
Symonds Event Bars
Drakewell, Stoke Lacy, Bromyard, Herefordshire, HR7 4HG
T: 01885 490267
E: info@eventbars.co.uk
W: www.eventbars.co.uk
BRAND ACTIVATION & EXPERIENTIAL
Instant Marquees
T: 01840 213063
www.instantmarquees.co.uk
BUGGY HIRE
Bradshaw Event Vehicles
New Lane, Stibbington, Peterborough, PE8 6LW
T: 01780 782621
E: enquiries@eventvehicles.co.uk
W: www.eventvehicles.co.uk
Twitter: @Bradshaw_EV
Electric Wheels Ltd
Units B & C Neaton Business Park, Watton, Norfolk, IP25 6JB
T: 0333 3582175
E: enquiries@electric-wheels.co.uk
W: www.electric-wheels.co.uk
Event Buggy Hire
T: 0113 393 4100
E: brian@eventbuggyhire.co.uk
W: www.eventbuggyhire.co.uk
Hopkins Machinery
T: 01633 680754
E: hire@hopkinsmachinery.co.uk
W: www.hopkinsmachinery.co.uk
Qdos Event Hire Ltd
Fernside Place, 179 Queens Road, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0AH
T: 0845 862 0952
E: enquiries@qdoseventhire.co.uk
W: www.qdoseventhire.co.uk
Twitter: @QdosEventHire
: www.facebook.com/pages/Qdos-Event-Hire/ : @qdoseventhire
Wernick Events
Joseph House, Northgate Way, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 8ST
T: 01922 472 900
E: events@wernick.co.uk
W: www.wernick.co.uk/events
: @WernickEvents
: @WernickEvents
Event Traffic Control Limited
Baldersby Gardens, Ripon Road, Baldersby, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 4PS
T: 08000 246 800
E: info@eventtc.com
W: www.eventtc.com
Just Event Services
Unit 7 Broadway Green Farm, Lightwater, Surrey, GU18 5SU
T: 01276 590325
E: contactus@justeventservices.co.uk
W: www.justeventservices.co.uk
Falcon Cleaning
The Falcon Nest, Unit 10 & 11, Lower Gower Road, Royston SG8 5EA
E: admin@falconteam.co.uk
W: www.falconteam.co.uk
Markey Ltd
39b Park Farm Ind Estate, Buntingford, Hertfordshire, SG9 9AZ
T: 01763 271110
E: info@markey.co.uk
W: www.markey.co.uk
Rodeo Crew
128 Wey House, 15 Church Street, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 8NA
T: 020 8075 7799
E: bookcrew@rodeocrew.uk
W: www.rodeocrew.uk
BTN Crew LTD
T: 07780 621 860
E: info@btncrew.com
W: www.BTNCrew.com
www.facebook.com/BTNCREWltd/ www.instagram.com/btncrewltd/
Falcon Festival Services
The Falcon Nest, Unit 10 & 11, Lower Gower Road, Royston SG8 5EA
E: info@falconteam.co.uk
W: www.falconteam.co.uk
Optimal Events Group Ltd /
Trading as Optimal Crew
Marsh Mill Village, 5A, Fleetwood Rd N, Thornton-Cleveleys FY5 4JZ
T: 07375 843976
E: jordan@optimalcrew.co.uk
W: https://optimalcrew.co.uk
S3K Group
The Old Mill Building, Rookery Farm, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO22 6EP
T: 0845 299 7991
E: office@s3kgroup.com
W: www.s3kgroup.com : @s3kgroup
Site and Stage Ltd (SAS)
Festival and Event Crew Nationwide
T: 0207 205 2434
M:07770 521521
W: www.siteandstage.co.uk
Trojan Crewing Solutions Ltd
57 Eastbourne Avenue, Acton, London W3 6JS
T: 07341 922974
E: chris@trojancrew.com
W: www.TrojanCrew.com
Iventis
Think Tank, University of Lincoln, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL
T: 01522 837205
W: www.iventis.co.uk
E: info@iventis.co.uk
Eamon Kerrigan:
E: Eamon.kerrigan@iventis.co.uk
FlightShows
T: 020 3151 6891
E: Hello@FlightShows.com
W: www.FlightShows.com : www.facebook.com/FlightShows/ : www.linkedin.com/company/flightshows/ : www.instagram.com/flightshows/ : www.tiktok.com/@flightshows_drones
Falcon Site Equipment
The Falcon Nest, Unit 10 & 11, Lower Gower Road, Royston SG8 5EA
E: admin@falconteam.co.uk
W: www.falconteam.co.uk
Bunkabin
Tweedale Way, Oldham, OL9 7LD
T: 0345 456 7899
E: hires@bunkabin.co.uk
W: www.bunkabin.co.uk
Zoo Events Group Ltd
Stockton Dairy, Stockton, Warminster, BA12 OSQ
T: 01258 840233
E: info@zooeventsgroup.co.uk
W: www.zooeventsgroup.co.uk
Controlled Events
T: 0203 286 6392
E: info@controlledevents.com
Moorepeople Event Staffing Agency
1st & 2nd Floor, 169 A High Road, Loughton, Essex, IG10 4LF
T: 0208 508 0555
W: www.controlledevents.com
First class Resilience, Readiness, Communication & Control for incidents or pre-planned events.
2Can Productions
T: 029 20 100256
E: info@2canproductions.com
W: www.2canproductions.com
E: bettina@moorepeople.co.uk
W: www.moorepeople.co.uk
uTRAC
24A Lower Abbey St, Dublin 1, Ireland
T: 0808 189 0334
E: hello@utraconline.com
W: www.utraconline.com
CM Production Management Ltd
T: 020 8056465
E: hello@cmpm.co.uk
W: www.cmpm.co.uk : facebook.com/cmpmlive : @cmpmlive
Crow Leisure Group
Award Winning Results
T: 07500 592692
E: info@crowleisuregroup.co.uk
W: https://crowleisuregroup.co.uk/
LFX Events
www.controlledevents.com
Unit 10 Merchants House, Market Place, Stockport, SK1 1EU
E: enquiries@lfxevents.co.uk
W: www.lfxevents.co.uk
Victorious Events
T: 07869 701 616
E: info@victoriousevents.co.uk
W: victoriousevents.co.uk
EVENT STAFF
Eyecatchers
T: 01772 681000
E: sales@eyecatchers.co.uk
W: www.eyecatchers.co.uk / www.myeventpass.co.uk
DWT Exhibitions
Trailer Hire, Sales & Management
Jubilee Park, Honeypot Lane, Colsterworth, Lincolnshire, NG33 5LZ
T: 01476 860833
E: pip@dwt-exhibitions.co.uk
W: www.dwt-exhibitions.co.uk
Inchmere Event Design Ltd
Swan Close Studios, Swan Close Road, Banbury, OX16 5TE
T: 01295 661000
E: alastair@inchmere.co.uk
W: www.inchmere.co.uk
TCM Trailers Ltd
Watery Lane, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 7SE
E: emily@tcmtrailers.co.uk
W: www.tcmtrailers.co.uk
Festival Gas
Priors Revel, Church lane, Middleton, Nr Tamworth, B78 2AL
T: 07930 758893
E: simon@festivalgas.co.uk
W: www.festivalgas.co.uk
Eep Safety Team Unit 42, Dunsfold Park, Guildford, Surrey, GU6 8TB
T: 01483 266486
E: tom@eepteam.com
W: www.eepsafety.com
LFX Safety
Unit 10 Merchants House, Market Place, Stockport, SK1 1EU
E: enquiries@lfxsafety.co.uk
W: www.lfxsafety.co.uk
The Occasionall Group: Festivall Staff | Occasionall Staff
The Circle, 33 Rockingham Lane, Sheffield S1 4FW
T: 01144 055 044
E: hello@theoccasionall.group
W: www.theoccasionall.group
Aero Fire & Rescue Ltd
27 Old Gloucester Street
London WC1N 3AX
T: 0330 111 3635
E: contact@aerofireandrescue.co.uk
W: www.aerofireandrescue.co.uk
Red Rose Fire Solutions Ltd
6 Brissenden Close
New Romney Kent TN28 8JD
T: 01995 503504
E: info@redrosefiresolutions.co.uk
Fuchsia Exhibition Services Ltd
13 Oak Park Industrial Estate, Chelmsford Road, Great Dunmow, Essex, CM6 1XN
T: 01371 644800
E: info@fuchsiaevents.co.uk
W: www.fuchsia-exhibition-services.com
Instant Marquees
T: 01840 213063
www.instantmarquees.co.uk
Coir Store
E: andy@coirstore.co.uk
T: 07884303082
W: www.coirstore.co.uk
Event Flooring Solutions Ltd
T: 01509 768 252
E: sales@efseurope.co.uk
W: www.efseurope.co.uk
Gigtent UK
Sonas House, Button End Harston
Cambridge, CB22 7NX
T: 01223 870935
E: info@gigtent.co.uk
W: www.gigtent.co.uk
Furniture On The Move
Unit B, Canada warehouse, Chittening industrial estate
Worthy road , Avonmouth, Bristol, BS110YB
T: 0845 459 9875
E: info@furnitureonthemove.co.uk
W: www.furnitureonthemove.co.uk
GBJ Event Hire
Graham Jones
T: Office. 0207 205 4226
E: hire@gbjeventhire.co.uk
W: www.gbjeventhire.co.uk
Innovative Hire
Unit N, Lion Works Estate, 543 Wallisdown Road
Bournemouth BH12 5AD
T: 01202 941 068
W: http://innovativehire.co.uk
BiemmedueUK & Arcotherm
Unit 12, Wilson Road, South Wigston Leicester LE18 4TP
T: 01773 836999 | E: sales@biemmedueuk.com
W: www.biemmedueuk.com
Spica Temperature Control Solutions Ltd
20 Crowsport, Hamble, Hampshire, SO31 4HG
T: 02380 453841
M: 07780 638976
E: kay@spicasolutions.com
W: www.spicasolutions.com
Arc International
St. Clare House, 30-33 Minories, London, EC3N 1PE
T: 0207 977 7637
W: www.arc-int.co.uk/
Tysers Insurance Brokers
71 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 4BS
T: 0203 037 8000
E: tim.rudland@tysers.com
W: www.tysers.com
Vento
Event Insurance by Event People
107 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 5JF
T: 0333 090 7589
E: freddie@ventoinsurance.com
W: www.ventoinsurance.com
Laser Grafix
Unit 4A Stratton Park, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8QS
E: info@lgfx.co.uk
W: www.lgfx.co.uk
UK office: 01767 315948
Dubai office: +971 4887 9808
EMF Technology Ltd
Unit 27 Freemantle House, Kingsclere Business Park, Kingsclere, Hants, RG20 4SW
T: 020 8003 3344
E: info@emftechnology.co.uk
W: www.emftechnology.co.uk
Lightmedia Displays
Mobile & Modular LED Screen Hire
T: 0333 600 6000 - 24 hour response
E: sales@lightmedia.co.uk
W: www.lightmedia.co.uk
LIGHTING PART OF
Tech AV Ltd
London, Essex, Birmingham
T: 0345 257 9969
E: lee@techav.events
W: www.techav.events
YSLV
London & York
T: 0800 080 3310
E: hire@yslv.co.uk
W: www.yslv.co.uk
Illumin8
Nick: 07593437891
E: sales@illumin8lights.co.uk
W: www.illumin8lights.co.uk
Alternative Stretch Tents
Building 15, Gateway 1000, A1 (M) jct 7, Stevenage, SG1 2FP
T: 01920 830256
E: info@alternative-stretch.co.uk
Fews Marquees
Chessgrove Park, Ditchford Bank Road, Hanbury, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 4HS
T: 01527 821789
E: info@fews.co.uk
W: www.fewsmarquees.co.uk
Gigtent UK
Sonas House, Button End Harston Cambridge, CB22 7NX
E: info@gigtent.co.uk
W: www.gigtent.co.uk
Instant Marquees
T: 01840 213063 www.instantmarquees.co.uk
TT Tents Ltd
North Waltham Business Centre, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG25 2DJ
T: 01256 397 551
E: sales@tttents.co.uk
Tentickle Stretch Tents UK Ltd
Langley Brook Business Park, Unit 3B London Rd, Tamworth, B78 2BP
T: 0121 7401385
M: 07826 843099
E: jorg@tentickle-stretchtents.co.uk
W: www.tentickle-stretchtents.co.uk
Yes Tents
4b Hall Farm Business Park, London Road, Weston, Beccles NR348TT
T: 07932 642689
E: paul@yestents.com
W: www.yestents.com
Alliance Pioneer Group
Event Medical, Frontline Ambulance & Patient Transport Services
Hawthorne House, 2nd Floor 25 Darklake View, Estover, Plymouth, PL6 7TL
T: 01752717720
E: mail@alliance-pioneer.co.uk
W: https://alliance-pioneer.co.uk/ : @alliancepioneergroup : @AlliancePGUK : https://www.facebook.com/Alliance.Pioneer : https://uk.linkedin.com/company/alliancepioneer-group
Canopy Medical Services Ltd
T: 07514 780025
E: jules@canopymedicalservices.co.uk
W: www.canopymedicalservices.co.uk
Enhanced Care Services
Unit H9, Adanac Park, Adanac Dr, Nursling, Southampton SO16 0BT
T: 02380 201561
E: admin@enhancedcareservices.co.uk
W: www.enhancedcareservices.co.uk
First Aid Cover Ltd
T: 020 8875 5758
E: enquiries@firstaidcover.co.uk
W: www.firstaidcover.co.uk
Location Medical Services Ltd
The Medical Centre, Shepperton Studios, Studio Road, Shepperton, Middx, TW17 0QD
T: 0870 750 9898
E: mail@locationmedical.com
W: www.locationmedical.com
Medirek
8 Primrose Place, Portsmouth Road, Godalming Surrey, GU7 2JW
T: 07776 128 409
safety and medical
E: ryan.soper@medirek.co.uk
W: www.medirek.co.uk
MET Medical Ltd
T: 0203 627 9042
E: info@met-medical.co.uk
W: www.met-medical.co.uk
Trident Medical Limited
Based in Essex, cover events all over the UK
T: 01268 438899
M: 07379 244718
E: events@tridentmedical.co.uk
W: www.tridentmedical.co.uk
NOISE MANAGEMENT
Symphotech Safety. Production. Noise Management
Claire Feeney
T: 0871 711 5264
E: claire@symphotech.co.uk
PLANT HIRE
PORTABLE
Hopkins Machinery
T: 01633 680754
E: hire@hopkinsmachinery.co.uk
W: www.hopkinsmachinery.co.uk
Four Jays Group
Barling Farm, East Sutton, Maidstone, Kent ME17 3DX
T: 01622 843135
E: enquiries@fourjays. co.uk
W: www.fourjays.co.uk
LOOS FOR DOs Ltd
Bakers Court, Forge Road, Kingsley, Hampshire GU35 9NZ
T: 01420 588 355
E: info@loos.co.uk
W: www.loos.co.uk
Just Loos
Paddock Barn, Manor Farm, Itchen Stoke, Hampshire, SO24 0QT
T: 01962 867808
E: office@justloos.com
W: www.JustLoos.com
Ontrax Rentals
Elmwood Farm, Bampton OX18 2PL, England
E: hello@ontraxrentals.com
W: www.ontraxrentals.com
Site Event
The Depot, The Avenue, Lasham, Hampshire GU34 5SU
T: 01256 384 134
E: event@site-equip.co.uk
W: www.site-equip.co.uk
Vacant Event Hire
Unit C White Oak Technology Park, London Road, Swanley, Kent BR8 7AG
T: 01322 761 117
M: 07960 301178
E: info@vacant.events
W: https://vacant.events/
Zoo Events Group Ltd
Stockton Dairy, Stockton, Warminster, BA12 OSQ
T: 01258 840233
E: info@zooeventsgroup.co.uk
W: www.zooeventsgroup.co.uk
ATD Electrical
Unit 93, Greenway Business Centre, Greenway, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5QE
T: 01279 507890
E: office@atdelectrical.com
W: www.atdelectrical.com
Energy Management Services Ltd
T: 0333 305 5144
E: admin@energyms.co.uk
W: www.energyms.co.uk
Festival Power Ltd
Unit 2, Temple Bridge Business Park, Bristol, BS39 5AA
E: info@festivalpower.co.uk
W: www.festivalpower.co.uk
Fourth Generation Ltd
220 Cricklewood Lane, London, NW2 2PU
T: 020 8450 2943
M: 07741 052565
E: tweed@fourthgenerationltd.com
W: www.fourthgenerationltd.com
Gofer Ltd
Unit 7 Arkwright Road, Hadleigh Road Ind. Est, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP2 0UB
T: 01473 282530
E: info@gofer.co.uk
W: www.gofer.co.uk
IDE Systems
T: 01543 574 111
E: enquiries@idesystems.co.uk
W: www.idesystems.co.uk
Head Office & Manufacturing Centre
Unit 3, Swaffield Park Hyssop Close, Cannock
Staffordshire, WS11 7FU United Kingdom
Lifos Advanced Battery Technology Ltd
Stafford Park 5, Telford, TF3 3AS
T: 01952 200198
E: hello@lifos.co.uk
W: www.lifos.co.uk
Midas Productions (UK) Ltd
Unit 1, Uplandside, Manor Road, Clopton, Suffolk, IP13 6SH
T: 0333 772 0772
M: 07949 007 603
E: info@midas-uk.co.uk
Newburn Power Rental Limited
Unit 36 Lidgate Crescent, Langthwaite Business Park, South Kirkby, Pontefract, WF9 3NR
T: 0845 077 6693
E: info@npr-uk.com
Power Events
T: 01277 424800
E: enquiries@powerevents.co.uk
W: www.powerevents.co.uk
Power Revolution
23C Shepherds Grove Ind Est, Stanton Bury St Edmunds, IP31 2AR
T: 01359 256 265
E: info@power-revolution.co.uk
W: www.power-revolution.co.uk
Progen Power Ltd
Belvedere House, Pynes Hill, Exeter,Devon, EX2 5WS
T: 0330 165 5720
E: info@progenpower.co.uk W: www.progenpower.co.uk
Stuart Power Ltd
Stuart House, Hargham Road, Shropham, Norfolk, NR17 1DT
T: 01953 454540
E: enquiries@stuartpower.co.uk
W: www.stuartpower.co.uk
Summit Power
T: 0333 0349433
E: enquiries@summitpower.co.uk
W: https://summitpower.co.uk/
Wernick Power Solutions
Joseph House, Northgate Way, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 8ST
T: 03334 001 247
E: power@wernick.co.uk
W: www.wernick.co.uk/power : twitter.com/WernickGroup : www.linkedin.com/company/wernickgroup
PRINTERS
UK Flyers
Suite 210, Victory House, Somers Road, North Portsmouth, HampshirePO1 1PJ
T: 023 9229 3050
E: sales@ukflyers.com
W: www.ukflyers.com
PRODUCTION AND PROJECT SUPPORT
Smartrad Creative Ltd
5 George Street, Snaith, DN14 9HY smartradcreativeprojects@gmail.com www.smartrad.org T: 07711469787
2CL Communications Ltd
Unit C, Woodside Trade Centre, Parnham Drive, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 4NU
T: 0800 389 2278
E: contact@2cl.co.uk
W: www.2cl.co.uk
DCRS
Edison Road, St.Ives, Cambs, PE27 3LH
T: 0800 043 2688
E: sales@dcrs.co.uk
W: www.dcrs.co.uk
SFL Mobile Radio
6 Woodway Court, Thursby Road
Bromsborough, CH62 3PR
T: 0151 334 9160
E: sales@sflmobileradio.co.uk
W: www.sflmobileradio.co.uk/
Re-uz UK Less is now Limited
Unit 1A Walrow Industrial estate, Commerce Way, Highbridge TA9 4AG
T: 01278 238390
E: info.uk@reuz.com
W: www.re-uz.com & www.green-goblet.com
Ace Seating Hire
T: 01832 279333
E: info@aceseating.co.uk
W: www.aceseating.co.uk
PROJECTION
EMF Technology LTD
Projection Mapping, Water Screens, Flame Effects, Lighting, Mains Distribution
T: 020 8003 3344
E: info@emftechnology.co.uk W: www.emftechnology.co.uk
DBD Group Services
T: 01934 286000 and 07955314124
E: info@dbdgroupservices.co.uk
W: www.dbdgroupservices.co.uk
Newman Event Services Ltd
Crowd Management, Festival & Event Security/Stewarding.
Bloxham Mill, Barford Road, Bloxham, Oxfordshire, OX15 4FF
T: 01295 722844
E: enquiries@newmanevents.co.uk
W: www.newmanevents.co.uk
Right Guard Security
Experts in Crowd Management and Event Security
T: 01227 464588
E: info@rightguard.co.uk
W: www.rightguard.co.uk
Trojan Security Unit B7 Loughton Seedbed Centre
Langston Road
Loughton IG10 3TQ
T: 0330 113 9966
E: info@trojansecurityuk.co.uk
W: www.trojansecurityuk.co.uk
: @trojan-security-uk-ltd : @TrojanLondon :@trojan_security_UK
SET & SCENERY CONSTRUCTION
Staged Events Ltd
Meadow View, Newnham Lane, Old Basing, Hampshire, RG24 7AU
T: 01256578055
E: info@stagedevents.com
W: www.stagedevents.com
Zoo Events Group Ltd
Stockton Dairy, Stockton, Warminster, BA12 OSQ
T: 01258 840233
E: info@zooeventsgroup.co.uk
W: www.zooeventsgroup.co.uk
SITE SUPPLIES
Concept Products Ltd
10 Cary Court, Somerton Business Park, Somerton, TA11 6SB
T: 01458 274020
E: ben@conceptproductsltd.co.uk
W: www.conceptproductsltd.co.uk
STAGING & RIGGING
IPS (Impact Production Services)
29 Mount Avenue, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LS
T: 01908 657950
E: enquiries@ips.co.uk
W: www.ips.co.uk
The Stage Bus 19 Prestwood Road, Birmingham, B29 5EB
T: 0121 585 9264
E: info@thestagebus.com
W: www.thestagebus.com
Steeldeck Rentals
Unit 58, T. Marchant Estate, 42 - 72 Verney Rd, London SE16 3DH
T: +44 (0)207 833 2031
E: rentals@steeldeck.co.uk
W: www.steeldeck.co.uk
TEMPORARY ROADWAYS
Cap Trac Limited
The Stables, Loke Farm, Weston Longville, Norwich, NR9 5LG
T: 01603 880448
E: info@captrac.co.uk
W: www.captrac.co.uk
TEMPORARY STRUCTURES
Fews Marquees
Chessgrove Park, Ditchford Bank Road, Hanbury, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 4HS
T: 01527 821789
E: info@fews.co.uk
W: www.fewsmarquees.co.uk
Gigtent UK
Sonas House, Button End Harston, Cambridge, CB22 7NX
E: info@gigtent.co.uk
W: www.gigtent.co.uk
LH Woodhouse
Wolds Farm, The Fosse, Cotgrave, Nottingham, NG12 3HG
Delivering successful events
T: 01159 899 899
E: sales@lhwoodhouse.co.uk
W: www.lhwoodhouse.co.uk
Losberger De Boer
Castle Park, Boundary Road, Brackley, Northamptonshire, NN13 7ES
T: 01280 846500
E: sales.uk@losbergerdeboer.com
W: www.losbergerdeboer.com/uk
Mehler Texnologies UK Ltd.
Hollinwood Business Centre
Albert Street, Oldham, Lancs. OL8 3QL
E: info-uk@freudenberg-pm.com
W: www.mehler-texnologies.com
NEPTUNUS Ltd
Cob Drive, Swan Valley, Northampton NN4 9BB
T: 01604 593820
E: sales@neptunus.co.uk
W: www.neptunus.co.uk
Stunning Tents
Creative House, Station Road, Theale RG7 4PD
T: 0118 380 5590
E: team@stunningtents.co.uk
W: www.Stunningtents.co.uk
Tentickle Stretch Tents UK Ltd
Langley Brook Business Park, Unit 3B London Rd, Tamworth, B78 2BP
T: 0121 7401385
M: 07826 843099
E: jorg@tentickle-stretchtents.co.uk
W: www.tentickle-stretchtents.co.uk
The Dome Company
T: 07876673354
E: info@thedomecompany.co.uk
W: www.thedomecompany.co.uk
TT Tents Ltd
North Waltham Business Centre, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG25 2DJ
T: 01256 397 551
E: sales@tttents.co.uk
W: www.tttents.co.uk
Worldwide Structures Ltd
Ayrshire Farm, Sharcott, Pewsey, SN9 5PA
T: 01672 565 060 / +44 (0) 7875 027369
E: enquiries@w-sl.com
W: www.worldwidestructures.com
Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference centre
T: +44 (0) 1252 532800
E: event-enquiries@farnborough.com
W: www.farnborough.com/ : @farnborough-international-ltd : @Farnborough_Int : @farnborough_int : @farnboroughinternational/ : @farnboroughinternationalex4694
D C Site Services Ltd
All Weather Access Ltd
County Farm, High Roding, Dunmow, Essex CM6 1NQ
T: 01371 700510
M: 07801 751137
E: henry@all-weatheraccess.co.uk
W: www.all-weatheraccess.co.uk
Event Traffic Control Ltd
Baldersby Gardens, Ripon Road, Baldersby, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 4PS
T: 08000 246 800
E: info@eventtc.com
W: www.eventtc.com
Right Guard Traffic Management
Event Traffic Management
VEHICLE HIRE
CSAS Accredited Traffic Officers
Car Parking
Event Signage
T: 01227 464588
E: info@rightguard.co.uk
W: www.rightguard.co.uk
Fenland District Industrial Estate Station Road, Whittlesey
Peterborough PE7 2EY
T: 01733 200 713
E: info@dcsiteservices.com
W: www.dcsiteservices.com
Falcon Cleaning
The Falcon Nest, Unit 10 & 11, Lower Gower Road, Royston SG8 5EA
E: admin@falconteam.co.uk
W: www.falconteam.co.uk
MTD (UK & Ireland) Ltd
Unit 1 Westerngate, Hillmead Enterprise Park, Langley Road, Swindon, SN5 5WN
T: 01264 773 818
E: sales.uk@mtd.net
W: www.mtd.net
Water Direct
T: 0345 345 1725
E: enquiries@water-direct.co.uk
W: www.water-direct.co.uk
Wicked Event Water Services
Bradshaw Event Vehicles
New Lane, Stibbington, Peterborough, PE8 6LW
T: 01780 782621
E: enquiries@eventvehicles.co.uk
W: www.eventvehicles.co.uk
Twitter: @Bradshaw_EV
Iventis
Think Tank, University of Lincoln, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL
T: 01522 837205
E: info@iventis.co.uk
Eamon Kerrigan: E: Eamon.kerrigan@iventis.co.uk
W: www.iventis.co.uk
Kevin: 07909 771996
E: info@wickedeventwaterservices.com
W: www.wews.biz
Fli-Fi Ltd
UK Wide
T: 020 3778 0454
E: enquiries@fli-fi.com
W: www.fli-fi.com
SimpliWifi
Unit 13, Leominster Enterprise Park, Leominster, Herefordshire, Hr6 0LX
T: 0800 298 9434
E: hello@simpliwifi.agency
W: https://simpliwifi.agency
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CEO John Denning
StandOut Multimedia Limited, 3 The Metford, Evegate Business Park, Smeeth, Ashford, Kent, TN25 6SX T: 01795 509113 www.standoutmagazine.co.uk
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