Think slow, move fast

Words by:

Rob Binns Managing Director Cotton Court

Working for yourself for over 15 years, having staff and various business interests across different sectors, and managing to have a good go at it, means that you have seen and experienced a few challenges along the way.

I could have, hand on heart, said nothing in business was ever a surprise… then along comes the surprise of all surprises. COVID-19, the invisible challenge, which refuses to state its target, its intention or reveal how it can be overcome, strolls in and takes a seat in the room whilst we all sit and watch, half asleep.

With my commercial landlord hat on, renting office space, virtual services, conference and training facilities to PLCs, public sector and SMEs, managing the impact of the pandemic has been like a giant game of Jenga. The traditional approach to fiscal pressure is to contract, retreat and pass the pain down the line hoping you can live to fight another day without regard for those behind you whilst blaming those before you. However, the fiscal impact of this pandemic is like no other as there is nobody to blame and wag your finger at, as everyone is in the same, inconceivable boat.

We are a customer service business at heart, and after a lot of brainstorming and with every good move causing our business Jenga tower to crash a few moves later, we decided just not to play. We went back to our most basic principles and focused on our customer’s needs. We acted fast and spoke with our clients, some had fortunately flourished due to the nature of their business and needed more space and services. Others needed to reduce, pause or end services, but the key was one size didn’t fit all, so we supported each client differently (maybe something our friends in Westminster may choose to consider) and put their requirements at the centre of our actions.

With constant changes in guidance from government and the wider global leadership community, it is important to think slowly, be strategic and remain customer centric with every business decision. However, once that decision is made, swift execution is key so it can be implemented, not giving the ground a chance to move beneath your feet.

Manchester Central and Sterling Event Group have teamed up to launch “Live from the Auditorium”, a virtual event solution that provides an interactive live streaming experience from a professional studio setting.

Unique to the city centre and housed within Manchester Central’s purposebuilt 800-seat Auditorium, a selfcontained event space within the venue’s Exchange Suite, the solution is designed to facilitate a virtual or hybrid event.

The venue’s COVID-secure space allows businesses to host a small live audience at the venue, in line with current Government restrictions, whilst streaming professional, broadcastquality content in real-time; engaging, entertaining and communicating with audiences wherever they are across the globe. Alternatively, content can be prerecorded ready for broadcast at a later date.

The live studio experience is supported by Manchester Central’s experienced in-house events team and the expert production crew at Sterling Event Group, who will be on hand to ensure everything runs smoothly and safely from beginning to end. Shaun Hinds, Chief Executive at Manchester Central said: “We’re really excited about the launch of our new “Live from the Auditorium” experience. During these extraordinary times, we believe it is even more vital for businesses to continue to communicate and engage with employees, customers and peers, and this experience offers them the opportunity to do just that from a ‘live’ studio setting, creating a fun, slick and professional virtual experience. “The studio package includes sound, lighting, screens and live camera systems, all operated by a dedicated events and production team, providing clients with the reassurance that their live broadcast will be of the highest quality, will be engaging and will run smoothly from start to finish – eliminating the risk of technical difficulties that are, more often than not, experienced during video calls! “It’s the perfect way to bring people together to learn and do business in a time when, unfortunately, the events we know and love can’t take place. “We’re delighted to offer an alternative solution at a time when live event capacities are limited, and we’re confident that this virtual solution will be a great addition to our live event services going forward.” Speaking about the NHS, Shaun continued: “At Manchester Central we stand shoulder to shoulder with our colleagues at the NHS Nightingale Hospital North West and will continue to support the operations at the hospital to aid the UK’s response to COVID-19. The event industry has been pivotal in the construction and operation of the NHS Nightingale hospitals and when the call came, we responded without hesitation.

This is in stark contrast to the response we have received from the government. The events industry has yet to receive the essential support required for the survival of our unique and extremely valuable sector.

The talent, capability and attitude that is characteristic of the events industry is at risk of being lost, if not forever, for many years to come. The Prime Minister has frequently quoted the value of events to the UK economy; however his words have yet to be backed by tangible options that are necessary for the industry to survive the economic challenges that accompany this health crisis.

As a major UK events venue, we will continue to do everything we can to push for this government support and advocate for our incredible industry – an industry that we know can be absolutely instrumental in the economic recovery of the nation, as long as it is protected now.”

Richard Bowden, Managing Director at Sterling Event Group said: “We are delighted to partner with Manchester Central to offer a turnkey solution that enables event organisers the opportunity to deliver slick and engaging virtual or hybrid events.

“The purpose-built auditorium offers immense flexibility from a production perspective allowing us to facilitate a wide range of presentation styles and set designs.” For more information about this experience at Manchester Central and how the live broadcast solution can integrate with your existing virtual platforms, please visit www. manchestercentral.co.uk/live-auditorium

Financial services firm Sedulo will be the headline sponsor for the eighteenth annual ‘Livercool’ gala awards dinner.

The event, which has sold out in record time this year, celebrates the most successful entrepreneurs, decision-makers and companies from across the Liverpool City Region. Sedulo, who are due to launch their Liverpool office in the Autumn, creating up to 30 new jobs in the city, are one of the leading professional services businesses in the country, having established the Sedulo brand in Manchester, Leeds and London.

The Managing Director of Sedulo Paul Cheetham said:

The chief executive of Downtown in Business Frank McKenna said:

Accountancy firm CJM Associates will be the headline sponsor for the unique hybrid event ‘The City of Birmingham Business Conference + Awards 2020’, which will take place on the afternoon of Thursday 26th November 2020.

Each year Downtown in Business delivers the City of Birmingham Business Awards, celebrating the very best business leaders, community contributors and entrepreneurs of the region.

This year, in-line with government restrictions on Thursday the 26th of November, we are hosting the City of Birmingham Conference held at the secure and stylish Park Regis. The afternoon will consist of a regional conference including participation from Professor Carl Chinn, Ed James (Heart), Andy Wheelan (LoveBrum) and more to be announced. Discussions will be on post pandemic Brum, culminating in a reflection on our achievements as a city as we announce The City of Birmingham’s award winners as chosen by the judges and public. There will be limited availability for this live hybrid event, all precautions have been taken to ensure delegate safety.

Craig Moore, Director at CJM Associates commented:

Downtown Birmingham’s Abby Goldie remarked:

For further information on attending contact abby.goldie@downtowninbusiness.com