StandOut May Issue 2025

200 TH EDITION

April 2016

Summer 2017

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Stand Out Magazine

Stand Out Magazine

Summer 2017

April 2016

EVENT NEWS • EVENT EXPERIENCE • EVENT TENDERS

EVENT NEWS • EVENT EXPERIENCE • EVENT TENDERS

FL P

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PUTTING CLASS INTO CLASSIC Nitro CirCus • YouNg VoiCes • Crew • uCi traCk CYCliNg world ChampioNships • teNders

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November 2019

Stand Out Magazine January 2014

Stand Out Magazine

EVENT NEWS • EVENT EXPERIENCE • EVENT TENDERS

TEE TIME

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Event news • Event experience • Event tenders

LIGHTING THE WAY

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CONTENTS

12 GRAND DAY OUT

15 CULTIVATING CHANGE

29 EVENTS: WHERE MEMORIES ARE MADE

25 JOINING THE DOTS

56 LET’S AV IT

10 WINNING PITCHES

29 EVENTS: WHERE MEMORIES ARE MADE

Check out the latest event tenders and news of contract wins

12 GRAND DAY OUT

The Jockey Club’s Dickon White and Carl Pastor on the small tweaks that are needed to deliver big customer experiences at Randox Grand National 2025

15 CULTIVATING CHANGE

The Royal Horticultural Society’s Verena Gielen and Jess Plant discuss operational plans for new and upcoming shows

20 NED BENEFITS

What advantages does a non-executive director (NED) bring to a business? Having appointed a NED, REM’s Ben Hardy reveals all…

25 JOINING THE DOTS

DHP Family’s Anton Lockwood on 20 years of Dot to Dot Festival

As StandOut turns 20, editor Caroline Clift looks back with industry professionals and business-es also celebrating 20 years in the wonderful world of events…

48 RISKY BUSINESS

The Event Safety Shop’s Tim Roberts and Simon James reflect on 25 years in the industry

51 TECH TO IT

From event management software to game changing apps, StandOut looks at how tech is being used at live events and festivals

56 LET’S AV IT

Brands and organisers are delivering high-energy entertainment and immersive experiences thanks to the creative use of lights, sound, and AV

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EDITOR’S LETTER

th 200 Edition I wrote the first ever edition of StandOut magazine, chocolate fountains were all W hen the rage and sustainability wasn’t really a thing. To say that lots has changed in the last

20 years would be an understatement. Yes, I said 20. I can’t quite believe it either. Neil Fagg, StandOut’s publisher, and I have been working together for 20 years and quite frankly, that beats most marriages! So we must be doing something right. Either that or we’re nuts!

Seriously though, and all jokes aside, the live events industry – moreover, the people in it – have brought us both the most immense amount of happiness. We love what we do and we love watching you do what you do, so from the bottom of our hearts, we want to say a BIG thank you for the support, laughs and love that StandOut has received and the good times we’ve experienced.

If you delve deeper into this issue – our 200th edition – you’ll discover a whole heap of standout memories from event professionals also celebrating 20 years in the business. Like us, they are super proud of what they’ve achieved so make a brew, grab a biscuit, and have a read.

This special edition of StandOut is packed with great insight so if you believe running a business is a lonely existence, turn to page 20, if you want to want to know all the inside info on the operational planning that is going in to the RHS’ new shows, turn to page 15, or if you simply want to look at some cool stuff that uses light, sound and AV, turn to page 56.

In every issue, we promise a real blend of advice and information. From small organisers and big ones to people just starting out in the industry and those with tonnes of experience. We have interviewed so many events professionals over the years, you’d think we’d know everyone but we don’t and that’s why our jobs are a continuous run of joy and surprise. We’re still meeting some absolute diamonds, we’re still being introduced to some proper legends, and more importantly, we’re still learning.

We don’t know everything because things constantly evolve and we don’t know everyone because well, there’s just so many of you, but one thing we do know is that we’re going to enjoy the next 20 years or so saying hello and discovering more. So on that basis, make that brew, don’t forget to tell me and the team what you’re up to, and I hope to see you in a field very soon. Thanks so much for the memories. Keep being you.

Happy reading, Caroline Cover image: © Standout

@standout.magazine

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CONTRIBUTORS

This month’s

CONTRIBUTORS:

BEN HARDY

Ben is a seasoned event professional with several years of production experience, specialising in executive-level and highvisibility events. As managing director of REM, the Bristol-based event management company, Ben leads the team, creating and delivering great events in cities and locations across the UK. In this issue, Ben talks to StandOut about why appointing a non-executive director and having an external perspective has really helped him to cut through the noise, bring clarity to what matters most and grow the business.

DICKON WHITE

Dickon is the regional director for Jockey Club Racecourses’ (JCR) North West Region, which consists of Haydock Park, Aintree and Carlisle racecourses. He is responsible for the performance of all three North West racecourses and is based at Haydock Park. He has worked for JCR since 1998 and previously ran Haydock Park for six years as its managing director. Now, he firmly has his eyes across the business, working with JCR employees to ensure customers enjoy a great day out.

In this edition, Dickon discusses tweaks to this year’s Randox Grand National and their impact on the customer experience.

MILLIE DEVEREUX

Millie is production director at The Fair, the live event production agency. Millie oversees all aspects of festival production and manages the festival team, providing a wide range of services, including supplier procurement, technical production management, budget management, site design and management.

A passionate advocate for information sharing and collaboration, Millie discusses why it’s good for “competing” production companies to talk shop and share insight.

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INDUSTRY UPDATES APPOINTMENTS OF THE MONTH

PIC OF THE MONTH

The Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations has appointed Jenna Payne as chief executive. She will succeed current CEO Paul Hooper and join the organisation in July.

DesignScene has appointed Adam Proto as head of production and Prish Bigger as senior producer.

Stephen Brown is strategy and operations director at British Cycling.

Projection mapping, drones, large-scale set pieces and 100 live performers dazzled audiences last month when S&DR200 festival launched in Bishop Auckland. All Change, an open-air event taking place at the home of Kynren, kickstarted the nine-month S&DR200 international festival. Running until November across County Durham and the Tees Valley, the festival is inspired by the first journey on the Stockton and Darlington Railway in the north east of England. S&DR200 is being delivered by Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

LINKEDIN POST OF THE MONTH

NEWS IN BRIEF The Events Industry Forum has agreed to fund new research into the UK outdoor events industry in collaboration with the Power of Events.

The Purple Guide has new guidance on Halloween and Scare Attractions.

AGF has released its annual Festival Sustainability Insights report, which states that more festivals are going meat-free and recycling rates have increased.

Issy Foxon has joined 20-20 Events as event administrator.

Strata has appointed John Farrell as its new non-executive chairman.

AEG Presents has appointed Lisa Mart to the newly created position of regional general manager of indigo at The O2 and Watford Colosseum.

Field and Lawn has promoted Daniel Acford to senior project manager.

Guy Butterworth is the new managing director of TPA. Sophie Bailey is now group commercial director at Broadwick.

Toby Lewis, CEO, The Live Group This year, Live Group turns 50. That’s five decades of delivering when the stakes are high, the timelines are tight, and the goalposts keep moving. Because in events, the show always goes on. No extensions.

No second takes. Just delivery.

We’ve operated through global crises, technological revolutions, and a thousand last-minute curveballs. And through it all, we’ve found a way to make it work.

As CEO, I get a front-row seat to the chaos.

It’s pressure-packed. It can bleed into your personal life. But you also get to watch incredibly talented people turn pressure into performance.

Fifty years in, and what keeps us going?

The thrill of helping others shine. The satisfaction of making something real out of a hundred moving parts. Here’s to the deadlines that don’t move and to the teams that keep hitting them.

Access Industry and Production Futures have announced a new partnership, dedicated to boosting opportunities for young people to access careers in event production.

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EVENT TENDERS AND CONTRACTS

THOROUGH EVENTS

Winning pitches Looking for more business opportunities?

Check out the details of contract wins and the latest event tenders Ontrax Rentals has won the contract to supply Boardmasters festival with toilets, showers, and sanitation facilities.

Destinations International has appointed Encore as its preferred global event production partner.

The University of Aberdeen has awarded Esslemont Marquees a three-year contract worth £315,000 tender to supply marquees and temporary structures to graduation events and freshers fairs. Similarly, the University of Glasgow has appointed Baillies Marquees to provide marquees for its events.

Glasgow 2026 is looking for suppliers and agencies that can help deliver the Commonwealth Games. It is seeking proposals and expressions of interest for ticketing, licensing and merchandise, and brand and creative. Email procurement@glasgow2026.com.

Manchester City Council has awarded FTF2 a three-year contract – worth more than £8 million – to design, deliver, and manage a winter light trail and festival at Heaton Park.

BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025 has appointed Far and Beyond as event producer.

The Ocean Race has appointed GAC as the event’s official logistics partner.

Thorough Events has tasked Reg&Partners with securing sponsors for its roster of events.

The Game Fair has entered into a new partnership for 2025 with When Nature Calls, bringing an upgraded level of comfort and convenience exclusively for the show’s exhibitors.

Eventsec has been appointed by Translink to provide security at transport hubs to look after people travelling to and from events.

Rock Oyster has appointed Togather to curate an “unforgettable line-up” of local street food masters for the festival.

Midland Heart requires an event management company to help with its programme of corporate events. The deadline is 6pm on May 12. Email commercial.team@midlandheart.org.uk

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GRAND NATIONAL

Grand day out The Jockey Club’s Dickon White and Carl Pastor on the small tweaks that are needed to deliver big customer experiences at Randox Grand National

NICK ROCKETT WINS THE GRAND NATIONAL are just three days before The T here Jockey Club welcomes capacity

crowds to Aintree Racecourse when StandOut chats with Dickon White and Carl Pastor. They have kindly carved out some time from their hectic schedules to discuss The Randox Grand National.

As the finishing touches are applied to the infrastructure and facilities needed to deliver the world’s “greatest steeplechase”, both White and Pastor are energetic and raring to go. It’s clear they love the three-day sporting event, which will welcome more than 150,000 people – a real mix of hardcore horse racing fans and “big eventers”.

“2024 was a pivotal year for the Randox Grand National,” explains White, Aintree and North West regional director at The Jockey Club. “We made a number of changes to the race itself. We changed the start time of the race and moved it to 4pm from 5.15pm, and we picked up the first fence of the Grand National and brought it closer to the start line so that the horses would jump it at a relatively slower speed. We were very pleased with the end result but in terms of customer behaviour, we didn’t really know what impact moving the start time would have and what would happen after the race. Would people watch the two races after the Grand National or head off home?”

Thankfully, the new move barely had an impact on the event.

12 n www.olympuscrew.co.uk

White continues: “We retained well over 95 per cent of the crowd who stayed for the event and not just for the racing because as well as being a top quality sporting event, Aintree is really fun with fantastic entertainment.”

“It was so popular, we needed additional room. So this year, we have taken five metres off the back of the stage bar. We’ve pushed another bar further out into the garden to give us maximum capacity and just redeveloped it to give us more space.”

CREATED A MONSTER

THREE-YEAR RULE

According to White, it’s his job – and that of his team – to give ticketholders a fantastic day out from start to finish. Experience is everything, which is why this year’s Randox Grand National has a few subtle changes.

For example, The Jockey Club has put a lot of work into post-racing entertainment, such as expanding popular, existing facilities and creating new food and drink “destination” areas. For instance, the Red Rum Club and Garden has grown in size and The Jockey Club has partnered with Boxpark to bring a Boxpark pop-up to the course.

In 2024, Red Rum Garden and Club was so popular that the team had to stop racegoers from entering the entertainment space. This year, Aintree’s Red Rum Garden can now accommodate an additional 800 “standing bodies”.

Pastor, operations manager at Aintree Racecourse, explains: “In 2024, we redeveloped the Red Rum Garden. We put in a cover over the top of it and added some new bars and when we built it, we realised we’d created a monster. In a good way.

The Red Rum Garden can now accommodate 3,000 racegoers. Furthermore, the event’s West Tip grandstand has increased in capacity, there are internal changes and new entrance features to some of the hospitality pavilions, and there’s more “colour” and variation in the food court areas, as well as the introduction of catering packages. All of these have been introduced to give the customer more value and a better experience.

“I’m already looking ahead to 2026,” Pastor adds. “Planning for 2026 started the day that we started building 2025. From walking the site, I know already that there’s something that I want to do different for next year because I have a three-year rule.

“After three years, it needs to be adapted because when the customer’s visited every year for three years, if they come on site for a fourth, I think they start to see the same old thing and get bored.”

BIGGER AND BETTER

Currently, as White and Pastor chat, a raft of event suppliers – including Arena, Igloos,

GRAND NATIONAL

TEAM EFFORT

Tracsis, Power Logistics, Heckford Signs, Allerton Signage, Wernick Events, and CleanEvent – are busy preparing the site and adding those finishing touches.

Pastor continues: “At the minute, I am looking at procurement for 2026 with the wider Jockey Club team and so it’s something I will be driving really hard with suppliers.

What can they bring to the table? Don’t give me the same thing that we’ve got this year.

I want suppliers to look at our event and tell me that they can give me something bigger and better.”

TEAM EFFORT

White says that whilst the event has sold out, he and his team have witnessed a later buying curve. Plus, cheaper enclosures and more affordable tickets have been first to sell out.

It’s indicative of the economy but that said, White says that just over a week ago, FOMO kicked in and event fans started buying the more expensive options. They do not want to miss out on the racing action.

White concludes: “One of the things that we are extremely aware of is the need to give people a great experience. You know, the economy is tough, there are challenges, and we’ve got to make sure that we make this event really, really special for everybody who comes on site. That takes a huge team effort, which is why I have huge respect for our operations team.”

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RHS

Cultivating change The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has made lots of changes to its events portfolio.

Read on, as the RHS’ Verena Gielen and Jess Plant discuss operational plans for upcoming shows, sustainability moves, and giant cabbages

RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE GARDEN FESTIVAL All images: © RHS/Dominic Lipinski/Megan Taylor

April 2024, the Royal Horticultural I nSociety (RHS) revealed a raft of

changes to its portfolio of flower shows. The news came as quite a surprise and at the time, the RHS described the overhaul – which includes new show locations – as one of the biggest it has made in a generation.

There are no changes to RHS Chelsea Flower Show or RHS Malvern Spring Festival but RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival will become a biennial event after it has taken place this July. A new show will take place in 2026 in the historic grounds of the Badminton Estate, Gloucestershire, before the event returns to Hampton Court Palace in 2027.

RHS Flower Show Tatton Park took place in 2024 but it will not return to the site until 2027. Instead, a new show is set for Wentworth Woodhouse, South Yorkshire, in July 2025 and in 2026, the RHS will take its horticultural extravaganza to Sandringham.

The RHS says that the changes to its roster of events will extend its reach and make the charitable organisation more accessible. Naturally, the new moves create many opportunities to innovate and deliver new ideas and content. A job that is currently being overseen operationally by

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VERENA GIELEN (she/her) Verena Gielen, operations manager for RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival and RHS Badminton, and Jess Plant, operations manager for RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse and RHS Sandringham.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for the RHS, and I feel fortunate to be part of it,”

explains Gielen. “The team responsible for the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival will also be planning and delivering the RHS Badminton Flower Show. This presents a unique opportunity to make our mark and create something from scratch. While I have a deep appreciation for the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, which has been perfected by many great operations managers over the years, this new opportunity allows my team and I to innovate and achieve something truly our own. All with the aim to enable our visitors to have a great day out and bring gardening to life.”

She continues: “As an ops person, working on a show from scratch and putting my stamp on it is incredibly thrilling. I’m honoured to be trusted with such a significant and important task. But I must admit that there are some nerves as well. These events are grand, steeped in tradition, and come with considerable pressure, but I’m ready for the challenges that will come my way.”

SCHEDULES AND SPREADSHEETS

Plant concurs. Like Gielen, she is excited and nervous in equal measure. She says that the expectations on these new shows are high, so the pressure is there. However, as the

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RHS

JESS PLANT (she/her) shows are a result of a collective team effort, suppliers included, both Gielen and Plant are eager to see what can be achieved together.

Plant comments: “Each new location requires numerous changes as you have to factor in each place’s unique characteristics and layouts. It’s definitely not as simple as picking one show up and plonking it down somewhere else.

“I think we’re keen to keep the essence of our RHS Tatton Park and RHS Hampton Court shows and what people loved about them but also embrace the interesting histories and legacies of these new locations and incorporate them.”

She adds: “It takes a lot of time, resource and site visits to really learn and understand a new site before you can advise on what can work where, and then, what would work best. It can also take a lot of time explaining to others that things that may have been

16 n www.röderuk.com

possible at a previous show may not be possible at a new one and balancing what the requests are versus what is actually feasible to have operationally.”

Currently, Plant is either conducting site visits or is deep in schedules and spreadsheets. With a new show just around the corner and another one following it, she finds herself spending a lot of time at Wentworth or Sandringham discussing site layouts and meeting contractors.

“One of my priorities is always take lots of pictures and videos – whether it’s on site visits, build, show open, breakdown, take them,” Plant explains. “On a weekly basis, I find myself looking back from previous site visits or shows and it is so useful when planning new shows. Another learning I take with me is clear communication with contractors and stakeholders, especially when the event is new. It’s important to remember that although

I know our site plans inside out, not everyone has an equal share of knowledge, so ensuring that communications are there in writing for everyone to look back at is vital. Even if most of the time its where the toilets are or where they can get a decent coffee.”

REVIEWING RESOURCES

RHS works with a “fantastic” group of suppliers that it has contracted for many years, such as AAC Power Solutions, Roder, PTL, Fordhall Farm Events, Just Loos, Sunbelt Rentals, Losberger DeBoer, and Enhanced Care Services. Currently, Gielen, for example, is talking to existing Hampton Court Palace suppliers to determine if they can extend their services to Badminton. Plus, she is identifying new suppliers to ensure the RHS has the best possible support for the event.

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RHS

and building relationships with both existing and new suppliers. The team is “diligently reviewing” resources, including staffing, budgets, and changing requirements, to ensure everything is in place for a smooth and successful operation.

But before she gets deep into the detail, she has to deliver RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival in July. A show with a few operational changes for 2025.

Gielen explains: “With less than two months to go before the ops team and suppliers begin building the show, this is an incredibly busy period for me and my team. We’re in the final stages of coordinating with more than 200 suppliers, confirming orders, arrival and setup dates, as well as breakdown schedules.”

She comments further: “We are working closely with our signage supplier to enhance wayfinding and visitor maps, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience for all our guests. Our commitment to sustainability is stronger than ever, with ambitious goals set for 2025. This year, we’ve made significant improvements by upgrading all our generators to Stage V, which emit minimal pollution and particulates. We’ve also removed carpets and floor coverings from most of our main structures, except in catering areas, to further reduce our environmental impact. Following the success of last year’s direct bus service from the station to our showground, we’re thrilled to be reintroducing it for 2025. Additionally, we’ve appointed a new security and stewarding company, and we’ve also introduced Halo as our new control room software.”

EXCITEMENT AND ANTICIPATION

Both Plant and Gielen have regular catch-ups.

Together, they learn a lot from other shows

18 n www.röderuk.com

and benefit from each other’s experience because they share the same goal: to deliver amazing shows.

At Badminton, the RHS is introducing new show content, whilst at Wentworth Woodhouse, the RHS is taking the show inside the house – think floristry demonstrations and giant cabbages! But that’s not the only thing to consider from an operational point of view. The estate’s large house runs through the middle of the show, providing some challenges. Therefore, Plant and her team are having to ensure that adequate content, services and F&B are placed either side of the house because the show site is technically divided in two. Plant adds: “Responses to the new shows have

been full of excitement and anticipation both from visitors and across our teams. I think it’s great that we have the opportunity to bring these shows to new audiences and as an ops manager it’s nice to have new challenges and keep things fresh.”

She concludes: “My team and I loved RHS Tatton Park, it’s always been a joy to work on and has the loveliest of visitors which we will miss this year, but we’ll be back in 2027 with lots of new ideas and learnings from the shows in-between.”

RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2025 takes place from July 1-6. RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse takes place from July 16-20.

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IN BUSINESS

BEN HARDY (he/him) AND BRIAN SHEPHERD (he/him)

NED benefits

What advantages does a non-executive director (NED) bring to a business? Having appointed a NED, REM’s Ben Hardy is now reaping the benefits. He reveals all… a business can be isolating.

R unning When you’re carrying so much

responsibility, knowing that all your employees are relying on you to pay their bills, being an MD or a company director can be lonely. Where do you turn for advice? Who is there to challenge your ideas? When do you carve out the time to think long-term?

When you’re working in the business, lifting your head out of operations to think about growth, restructuring, processes or the big picture can be tricky. So what’s the answer?

Ben Hardy, managing director of REM, appointed Brian “Jock” Shepherd, the former MD of Imagination, as non-executive director (NED) and the benefits are now being realised. Not just from a business perspective from a personal one, too.

Hardy explains: “I’ve been fortunate to have a handful of people throughout my career who have been instrumental in providing support and mentorship. I still remember my first mentor Stephen O’Connor telling me, ‘Change is the only constant’. Words I’ve reflected on regularly ever since.

“In more recent years, Mike Richmond, founder of REM, has been a huge source of guidance and direction. When he and I reached an agreement for a management buyout, it was a humbling moment – the fact

20 n www.olympuscrew.co.uk

that he put his trust in me to take the company into its next chapter meant a great deal.”

FRESH PERSPECTIVE

Hardy finalised the management buyout in 2022. To navigate this “new phase”, he realised he needed to tap into a different set of experiences.

“I started keeping a list, topics to explore, questions to answer, challenges to work through, and successes to build on,” he continues. “While there’s no shortage of content out there – books, podcasts, and YouTube channels offering expertise – it wasn’t enough. It was a one-way dialogue when what I really needed was someone to bounce ideas off.”

That’s when the idea of bringing in a NED really took shape. Hardy wanted someone who could provide that external, objective perspective – a structured way to step outside the daily grind, challenge assumptions, and create space for the kind of conversations that don’t always happen when you’re in the thick of it.

Hardy adds: “None of us have all the answers, so the idea of working with someone who’s been there, done that, and learned from both successes and missteps, was really appealing.

“I’ve always valued Mike’s insight, and I continue to pick his brains, always will, but bringing in a NED meant gaining a truly independent viewpoint. Someone with experience beyond the event industry who could challenge my thinking, offer fresh insights, and help me see the bigger picture.”

BIGGER PICTURE

Hardy was introduced to Shepherd by a mutual acquaintance and he calls their relationship a natural fit from the start.

“Jock and I meet monthly, and ahead of each session, I put together a structured pack of information for him to review. This pulls together insights from our management systems and processes, highlighting key themes, successes, and challenges.

“For me, one of the biggest benefits of working with a NED is that it forces me to step back from the day-to-day and think bigger and broader. I’ve always been struck by how many business leaders stress the importance of carving out time to reflect, it’s just as crucial as the work itself.

“There’s also that well-known challenge for SMEs: working on the business, not just in it. That’s especially tough in the events industry, where project delivery can consume all your focus.”

IN BUSINESS

TEAM REM

UNDER THE SKIN

Shepherd enjoys sharing the experience he has gained in his career. Having worked across multiple disciplines, from smaller agencies to global businesses, both client and agency-side, he has developed a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in a fast-evolving industry. Plus, he loves working closely with individuals, being able to build empathy and trust, getting under their skin and becoming an extension of a part of their brain – the part that needs to be switched on to consider creative options.

Shepherd explains: “I think one of the most important ways I’ve helped Ben is by shaping thinking around priorities. In a SME, it’s easy to get pulled in multiple directions, but a key part of leadership is maintaining focus. I can remind him of his obligations as a leader, to stay committed to what truly matters.

“I’d like to think decision-making is another key area. In a fast-paced, project-orientated business it is so important to make timely decisive decisions, as delaying a decision out of fear of making the wrong choice can be more damaging that making a less-than-perfect call.”

SHIFT IN MINDSET

Hardy says that one of the biggest benefits Shepherd brings is helping him focus on priorities before they become urgent. Having that structured space to talk things through means that he can tackle challenges proactively.

“Events are all about people, so a big focus for me is building a strong, cohesive team,” Hardy adds. “Jock has been great at helping me reflect on how to create the right culture and leadership approach to support that.

MIKE RICHMOND (he/him) AND BEN HARDY (he/him) “Also, I tend to dwell on things that haven’t gone as well as I’d like. Having someone with an objective perspective helps me see situations for what they really are, learn from them, yes, but also move forward quickly rather than getting stuck in self-reflection. That shift in mindset has been invaluable in developing both the business and my own leadership.”

Shepherd concurs. He acknowledges the work that he has done with Hardy that focuses on growth and change, leading people and initiatives and naturally, planning for future value creation.

The results, says Hardy, are already being reaped. In the last 12 months, REM has onboarded a significant number of new clients and he attributes that to having the right support and insight, ensuring the business has the right resources to continue high levels of delivery.

INVEST IN THE PROCESS

According to Hardy, there are two key benefits to having a soundboard and a NED. First, having access to a breadth of experience helps shape strategy. But just as importantly,

it’s a great preventative measure for a business leader’s mental health. Running a business comes with its fair share of challenges, stress, anxiety, imposter syndrome, and bottling all of that up isn’t healthy. Having a trusted soundboard means Hardy can share those pressures regularly.

He continues: “Running a business can be isolating. That said, it’s also a place where you can build incredible relationships. I’m proud of the team we’ve built, from our core team to the freelancers we work with regularly. What stands out most is that they all truly care and are passionate about what we do. That shared commitment makes all the difference.”

But what advice would Hardy give to anyone thinking of appointing a NED? “My advice would be that every business can benefit from having a support function behind them, whether that’s through mentoring, coaching, or a more formal NED structure,” Hardy concludes. “The key is not to overcomplicate it, find someone you really trust, someone you click with. But equally, you must make time for these conversations. You get out what you put in, so it’s crucial to invest in the relationship and the process.”

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VIEWPOINT

Strength in numbers Millie Devereux, production director at The Fair, explains why, despite being competitors, if festival producers don’t collaborate, there’ll be few festivals left to fight for…

MILLIE DEVEREUX (she/her) how tough it can be to work W einalltheknow world of large-scale festival

production. It’s incestuous (though not like that): Everyone knows each other, and it’s extremely competitive for shows and roles.

But what if we use this to our advantage?

We all hear each other’s horror stories, but our reactions are never malicious.

Instead, when we hear about a disaster on another show, our immediate reaction is: “That sounds horrendous. How did they deal with that?”

We all have these questions but rarely find the answers, and these answers could provide the knowledge to prevent such problems from happening again.

The launch of the Event Production Network (EPN) at Event Buyers Live was a great way to kickstart these conversations. It invited festival production agencies to meet in person and talk openly to create better standards across our industry. I’ve had many one-on-one catch-ups with agency directors, but a group of us meeting in one space – though unusual at first – upon reflection made complete sense.

It’s been on my mind in the season’s buildup, and I think there are five reasons why communicating as competitors could be a game-changer.

Meeting as collaborators whilst respecting each other as competitors is a positive start

IT’S OUR DUTY TO DO SO

We’re employed to produce unforgettable events safely. If chatting with a competitor about our process at an event could reduce risks, we all have a duty to do so.

Emphatically, if there is any way I can help a fellow event director reduce even a tiny amount of the stress involved in producing a festival, I would love someone to do the same for me!

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE

Cancellations and costs have left attendees hesitant to buy tickets, and we’ve all felt the impact. We need to increase confidence in the independent sector. The better the experience festivalgoers have across the board, the better our reputation as an industry.

EDUCATION TO BENEFIT FUTURE ORGANISERS

More education from the top down could avoid recurring issues and build a greater sense of collaboration for future festival organisers.

I’ve seen first-hand how demonstrating examples can encourage more profound

understanding. At live tabletops, which I hosted at NTE Summit and EPS this year, we explored some scenarios our team has dealt with on-site.

The feedback was exceptional. Collaborating with other independents in a non-eventspecific, non-competitive environment can significantly improve understanding.

THE ALTERNATIVE IS MUCH TRICKIER…

The bottom line is that we’re all facing the same challenges, and we need to innovate ways to support the event and festival ecosystem, or it will cease to exist.

Yes, we are in direct competition, and we’ll never sit around a table and write tenders together. But nothing is stopping us from viewing ourselves more as a collective industry.

It’s understandable to be cautious about sharing knowledge, but meeting as collaborators while respecting each other as competitors is a positive start. Plus, as an events professional, it’s quite nice to know you’re not the only one struggling with budgets, right?

WE WORK IN A SHARED SPACE

You will unlikely be the first or the last production team to produce a show in that greenfield space. If a competitor is due to deliver in a park you also work in, surely it makes sense to share learnings about existing relations?

One negative event can have a huge knock-on effect, causing uncertainty among SAGs and stakeholders. This can lead to strict conditions being implemented for all festivals using the same site.

SAGs can be complex to navigate. Sharing my knowledge on specific locations can streamline processes, enable companies to challenge where appropriate, and benefit stakeholder relations for everybody.

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DOT TO DOT

Joining the dots DHP Family’s Anton Lockwood on 20 years of Dot to Dot Festival

DOT TO DOT

Images: © Jake Haseldine/Rebecca Marshall/Nic Pedron

Sunday, May 29, 2005, Dot to Dot O nFestival opened its doors for the first

time. At the time, its founders had no real plans for it to become an annual festival. But they knew they wanted to create a live event for real music fans that was solely focused on new music and undiscovered acts.

“We were inspired by a couple of things,” explains Anton Lockwood, director of live at DHP Family and co-founder of Dot to Dot festival. “Things like SXSW and Camden Crawl, but both of these events were really industry oriented. All these industry people were having a great time going out, watching loads of bands and picking up on new music.

We thought, ‘We can we do something like that’, not excluding industry entirely, but focused on giving fans new music on their doorstep in Nottingham.”

Lockwood – alongside Ricky Haley and Gavin Poole – launched Dot to Dot, a music festival held across multiple venues in a city centre location. The inaugural event had capacity for roughly 1,000 people, took over three venues, and charged everyone £12 per wristband. The trio had no ten-year plan. It was simply a case of launching the event and seeing what happened. By year two, Dot to Dot had grown.

“Dot to Dot was something exciting for people in Nottingham to come to, to hear new music and have a good time and that essentially has not changed,” Lockwood continues. “After year one, we expanded into Rock City and that line-up included Mystery Jets and British Sea Power and then in 2007, we expanded and took Dot to Dot to Bristol.”

ANTON LOCKWOOD (he/him) As Lockwood reflects on the last 20 years, he jokes that he needs to consult Dot to Dot’s Wikipedia page to remember some of the festival’s key dates. For example, in 2010, Dot to Dot launched in Manchester but before a move north, Hox to Dot launched in Hoxton, London, in 2008. It didn’t really work.

Londoners were too “lazy” to wander between venues and in London, artists have already got their own shows.

SHITTEST LINE-UP

After the pandemic, DHP opted to pause Dot to Dot Manchester and focus on delivering the festival in Nottingham and Bristol – two major cities with less noise and competition. And it was after COVID that Lockwood also decided to take a step back from programming the festival and hand the reins to “younger folks in the office”. Now

Conrad Rogan leads on programming with support from Josh Ward, Ben Ryles, and Scott Kennedy.

“Every year, you look at the Dot to Dot lineup and think it looks like the shittest line-up ever until you look at it a year in the future, when it looks like the greatest line-up you’ve ever seen,” Lockwood laughs. “If you look at the line-up and know everyone, then we’ve not done a good job because the whole point of Dot to Dot is that you’ll see your current favourite band in the evening and your new favourite band in the afternoon.”

JIGSAW PUZZLE

Lockwood says that DHP drive agents crazy.

The promoter waits until roughly one month out to decide which bands are playing which venues at what time. This “holistic” approach and “journey”, says Lockwood, trying not to

www.olympuscrew.co.uk n 25

DOT TO DOT “The thing with us is that we’re not trying to sell 200,000 tickets,” Lockwood comments.

“We’re trying to sell 5,000 tickets and once we hit that, there’s no turning point as such, where the festival suddenly becomes something else. But I suppose, a massive highlight was in 2021 when we came back after the pandemic and put on Dot to Dot in September. We were going into 27 sweaty grassroots music venues to watch loads of bands and that was a really heartening moment.”

LOOKING FORWARDS

sound like a Strictly Come Dancing contestant, means they can consider artist popularity and ensure that audiences can see as many bands as possible without too much crossover.

“There will always be clashes and people will miss things, but we try and make Dot to Dot the best experience that we can,” Lockwood adds.

“We drive the agents insane, because we’ll make an offer, but we won’t tell them where their act’s going to play. Because you can’t make a jigsaw until you’ve got all the pieces.”

TICKETS AND HIGHLIGHTS

In the last 20 years, Dot to Dot has played host to a multitude of artists and bands,

26 n www.olympuscrew.co.uk

including 1975, Lewis Capaldi, Ellie Goulding, Tom Grennan, Dua Lipa, and Ed Sheeran. Getting the line-up right is hard.

Booking a headliner that’s too big means you end up spending all your budget on them, everyone wants to see them, and that doesn’t encourage ticketholders to go and discover new music. However, book a headliner that’s not big enough and it’s harder to sell tickets.

This is just one of the challenges facing the Dot to Dot team. Finances are another and so the festival has looked at other revenue streams, such as partnerships with Fred Perry and Estrella.

Since day one, the festival’s model has been built on affordability and giving people easy access to new music. The point of the festival, Lockwood says, is to buy a wristband and go and watch as many bands as possible. Yet he acknowledges that the market in which he operates now is not the same as 2005. Artists costs are higher, exclusivity deals are a major factor, and this makes booking “hot new acts more challenging”.

But what’s on the table for 2025 and Dot to Dot’s 20th anniversary other than a new venue for Dot to Dot Nottingham in the form The Palais? Lockwood concludes: “We’re not doing a massive thing because we’re a new music festival. Yes, we can look back and say that we’ve had Ed Sheeran and Mumford and Sons play the festival, and that’s a good calling card, but you don’t survive by looking backwards. You grow by looking forwards.

“Excitement comes from finding something new. We started out wanting to do that and I think we’re continuing to achieve that,” Lockwood concludes.

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ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

2005-2025

Events: Where memories are made As StandOut turns 20, editor Caroline Clift looks back with industry professionals and businesses also celebrating 20 years in the wonderful world of events…

CAROLINE CLIFT (she/her) the last 20 years, I have been in the O ver most ridiculously privileged position to

RYDER CUP 2023

see so many amazing events. Weirdly, some of my top event experiences have all been in sport. Thanks to Gallowglass, I was lucky enough to see the technical dress rehearsal of the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games (still get goosebumps when I hear the music), thanks to Arena I had a ringside seat when Anthony Joshua beat Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium, and I experienced my first Ryder Cup at Gleneagles thanks to the hospitality of GL events UK. Sitting in the grandstand on the 18th, I’ll never forget the sight of a mass throng of golf fans that followed Team Europe across the green. StandOut watched Frenchman Victor Dubuisson halve the match with Zach Johnson before heading back to the hospitality structure only to find a packed room of people watching the action on TV. It was baffling. Why watch the golf coverage on a screen when it was all happening just a few hundred metres away?

Nothing beats the roar of a crowd and a happy audience. But whilst I do love to experience a live event, I am at my happiest during the build.

That first Ryder Cup experience was in 2014 and I have been lucky enough to have travelled to Paris and Rome since, to see action on the course and behind the scenes. In fact, just over 18 months ago, I was clambering over scaffolding on a scorching hot day at the Marco Simone Golf Club with Star Live and Freemans Event Partners. I couldn’t have been happier. Why? Because my job gives me permission to be professionally inquisitive (nosey) and what’s not to love about seeing all those nuts and bolts come together.

Of course, it takes more than one person to create the huge temporary towns and cities that we call event and festival sites and it takes more than one person to create this much-loved mag. As well as the amazing team that puts StandOut together, it also takes you, so it’s a huge thank you from Team StandOut for the last 20 years.

Without you, my job wouldn’t be as bonkers or as interesting as it is. But I know that’s something you recognise as well.

www.olympuscrew.co.uk n 29

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

THIS IS MY EVENT

JO OSBORNE (she/her) 30 n www.olympuscrew.co.uk

Over the last few weeks, StandOut has been chatting with events professionals up and down the country, also celebrating the BIG 2-0. Whether that’s 20 years as an event business owner, 20 years as an events professional, or 20 years in the same role, we wanted to shine a light on anyone also marking a business birthday, a personal milestone, or a standout moment.

For example, this year, Carl Pastor, operations manager at Aintree Racecourse, celebrates his 20th anniversary working at The Jockey Club and he has just celebrated his 10th Grand National. For the last ten years, he has worked at Aintree as operations manager.

2005-2025

He explained: “I’ve done 20 Grand Nationals but I used to support the event from Haydock Racecourse. As operations manager at Aintree, I’ve done eight full Grand Nationals, one abandoned Grand National, and one behind closed doors.

“My first Grand National as operations manager was a really memorable moment.

I’d done ten events as what we call a sector manager, where I’d go to Aintree and support the operations team, doing a bit of documentation, checking contractors, getting hands on and immersing myself in the team.

I did that and then in 2014, I took the reins as operations manager. When the Grand National was underway, I went to the Mound, which

2005-2025

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

JOSHUA V KLITSCHKO AT WEMBLEY is just at the side of the Princess Royal Stand, and I watched the Grand National from there because of the roar off the hill. I must admit, my first year as ops manager, when the race was underway and everyone was cheering, I thought you know what, this is my event and that was a standout moment for me.”

NOT ONE TO BE DEFEATED

Pinning down one memory when there are so many – for good and bad reasons – can be particularly hard. Jo Osborne, director of Jo Event Solutions, recalls one year working on the Nottingham Marathon as production manager and a badly flooded site. But adverse weather has not put her off. Instead, she has

spent her events career in a variety of roles, both employed and freelance. She said: “It is so mean to ask for one memory from the last 20 years as there are so many! I think my proudest memory of my varied career in the events industry is turning two of my passions into my own event, K9 Challenge. I chose to take the leap into the freelance world of events in 2016, creating my own business – Jo Event Solutions.

In September 2017, the first K9 Challenge event took place with 100 dogs! I invested time, money and energy to create a 5km trail event with dogs, taking place in Stanmer Park, Brighton. I created the event from scratch, combining my enjoyment of keeping fit with my love for dogs and by 2019 it had grown

HAYLEY JAMES

(she/her) NICK ADAMS (he/him) AND SARAH PRIESTMAN (she/her)

www.olympuscrew.co.uk n 31

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

2005-2025

K9 CHALLENGE and managed to become profitable. Sadly, the pandemic occurred in the spring of 2020 and I have yet to bring the event back. However, I am not one to be defeated and now that events are back in full swing, I feel like this could be the year that K9 Challenge makes its comeback… watch this space!”

UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

The pandemic had massive implications for the events industry and it’s crazy to think that it’s five years since our industry was shut down. Thankfully, most event businesses managed to survive the tough times that were COVID-19, but the pandemic also provided some key memories, too.

Peter Curtis, account manager at GL events UK, commented: “I recently celebrated my 20-year anniversary at GL events UK and have been lucky enough to be involved in some really interesting jobs over the years.

PETER CURTIS (he/him) 32 n www.olympuscrew.co.uk

“One stand out memory was standing on the platform at Hogsmeade train station as the crew prepared for filming – GL events provided the tents for the Harry Potter movies.

Another one was having the opportunity to in work in Qatar for the FIFA Club World Cup in 2021. It was great to be there for three months especially as the world was in lockdown because of COVID. It was a truly unique experience to work with colleagues from all around the world. Then there is also the humble trip to site to start a build at Leicester City FC the day after they won the Premiership, weaving past the press and celebrations to get access to the site – the kicker being as a lifelong Spurs fan they won the league that day because we lost the night before to Chelsea.”

CULTURAL FUSION

Like many live events professionals that have worked in the events industry for 20 years, Curtis is also looking forward to the next 20.

It’s a rewarding industry to work in that brings so many people an incredible amount of joy and sense of pride.

“Twenty years on, I’m still as passionate about events and entertainment as that optimistic newcomer in 2005,” said Jatender Heer, founder of Asian British Music, an event entertainment specialist. “When we launched Asian British Music in 2005, we started with just a brass band and string

JATENDER HEER (he/him) quartet – both specialising exclusively in Bollywood music. It was a radical concept at the time: traditional Western instruments playing the vibrant melodies of Indian cinema. What began as an experiment soon blossomed into something extraordinary.

“Within months of launching, our calendar was bursting with bookings. I remember thinking, ‘This business is easy’. Little did I know the wonderful whirlwind that awaited us. That first year took us from intimate gatherings in London to grand ballrooms across the UK – each venue more impressive than the last.”

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www.falconteam.co.uk Well done team StandOut and here’s to the next 20 amazing years!

From all at Falcon Team

HAPPY

20th

T: 01283 575749 M: 07778 473064 E: info@excloosive.co.uk Or visit our website - www.excloosive.co.uk

ANNIVERSARY

MAGAZINE!

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ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

2005-2025 Heer continued: “One particular memory stands out: our first international destination wedding in Rome. Watching our musicians perform Bollywood classics as the sun set over the ancient city created a magical cultural fusion that perfectly embodied our mission.

“Since then, we’ve had the privilege of enhancing celebrations across the globe. What began as a niche service for Asian weddings has evolved into a cross-cultural phenomenon, with clients from diverse backgrounds seeking our unique musical blend.”

MAKE SOME NOISE

Like Heer, Rupert Oldridge, CEO of the UK Beatbox Championships, is a big fan of making noise. He founded the annual beatboxing competition with the first annual event taking place in 2005. However, for Oldridge, a pivotal moment came in 2017/2018 when he realised the UK Beatbox Championships was more than a one-day competition. He needed to “let the event breathe” and run it over two days.

“It was the one time of year that the beatbox and vocal arts community would come together for a festival of voice,” explained Oldridge. “We called it Christmas for beatboxers, the annual celebration of the noisemakers!!

“Running it over two days meant we could then exercise educational workshops and talks with international artists, and also give time for beatboxers and music makers to really connect over a weekend. With the addition of under 18s, loops and team categories, and the amount of participants and entries we have each year, it was too much to cram into one day. We learned

that a two-day event is a far more digestible programme, and has chance to access more people with a daytime schedule, as well as the evening battles and showcases. This has encouraged many families of all ages and first time spectators to come along and experience beatboxing and vocal arts in all its shapes and forms. It gives the opportunity to learn, try something new, or develop from novice to experts. This community event is all about sharing sounds and techniques and the entry level is simply your voice and imagination,” he said.

MAKE THE EVERYDAY EXCITING

Adrian Turpin, creative and strategic director at Wigtown Book Festival, can relate. He appreciates what imagination can do if you run with it. However, despite loving the literature event, after two decades, he is stepping down after this autumn’s festival (September 26 – October 5).

Turpin first worked on the festival, which takes place in Dumfries and Galloway, as a volunteer in 2006. He said: “Wigtown Book Festival has always been about intimacy. After two decades, I’ve learnt that good things often come in small or unusual spaces.

“A favourite memory is when we put on an event in a mountain bothy to celebrate Sara Maitland’s wonderful book about fairy-tales, Gossip from the Forest. The audience had to walk for almost an hour to get there (it was a health and safety nightmare), and when they arrived they found that the little stone shelter had been transformed into a woodcutter’s cottage, complete with an axe, a wolf’s head and a basketful of apples carried by Little Red Riding Hood who met them at the door.”

He added: “I’m stepping down this year. But so many of the things I’ll cherish most involved transforming or redefining spaces. One year, we commissioned the artist Astrid Jaekel to wallpaper the exterior of 12 buildings in the town, each with a design that spoke to its history. We’ve also changed a Victorian meeting room into a space age capsule, taken visitors to the wild Galloway salt marshes at night, and hosted a dozen simultaneous book-lovers’ dinners in volunteers‘ houses.

“Festivals should be about making the everyday seem a little exciting and strange.

I hope I’ve managed to achieve that,” Turpin commented.

THANK GOD FOR GOOGLE MAPS

“It’s hard to believe it’s been two decades since I first stumbled into the world of events, quite literally by accident,” said Natasha Russell, founder of NR Events, the event management and production specialist. “I didn’t set out to be a freelancer, but somehow I kept saying yes to interesting opportunities. In the early days, my friends would regularly ask, ‘Are you ever going to get a proper job?’ I was scraping by and wondering if I should be doing something more stable. But over time, I realised that this was just what freelancing looked like – unpredictable and exhilarating!”

Russell continued: “There have been countless ups and downs over the past 20 years, but one moment stands out as a true turning point. Seven years ago I received a message out of the blue from someone I had always looked up to – Leigh Fergus. I’d worked with Leigh previously at Race for Life

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ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

2005-2025

ADRIAN TURPIN (he/him) and was totally in awe of her and her role as head of events at the Evening Standard.

She reached out to say there was a freelance opportunity I might be interested in and invited me to come to London for a meeting.

It turned out to be to run the Evening Standard Film Awards.

“I went down to London the next day to meet her, and she told me she was going on maternity leave in two days and handed it over. It was surreal – suddenly I was at the helm of a major awards show, working with A-list celebrities, in one of the most prestigious venues in London.

“That moment was a real full-circle experience. From admiring someone’s career from afar to stepping into their shoes and realising I was ready. It taught me to push myself out of my comfort zone, and that

the magic of this industry lies not just in the events we work on, but in the people we meet along the way.”

Of course, no career in events would be complete without at least one chaotic anecdote. Russell commented, laughing: “In my early days, after one event, we had the classic post-show team drinks. I was staying in a hotel as I didn’t live near the site, and somehow ended up hitching a lift back to the hotel late at night on a golf buggy with a few colleagues. All seemed fine until the next morning, when I woke up with absolutely no idea where I was, no memory of how to get back to site for the de-rig, and – as I was still very new – no contact numbers for anyone I was working with. A strong start and a steep learning curve! Thank God for the invention of smartphones and Google Maps.”

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PROUDEST MOMENT

Nick Adams, CEO and founder of Sense, can relate. Not to ending up drunk and in a golf buggy but that sense of camaraderie and the importance of team connection after a long pitch or event.

He said: “Twenty years of agency life really is the equivalent to one full normal life in terms of memories. The one that stands out the most? No contest – the beginnings of Sense New York.

“It all began when two colleagues [Hayley James and Sarah Priestman] and I touched down in New York just a few hours before the pitch (we were trying to save on the hotel costs!) Pumped with caffeine and the buzz of the city, we were pitch-ready – set to convince the client that we had what it took to handle their pan-US experiential campaign.

NICK ADAMS (he/him)

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C A P I TA L B A R R I E R S &

London’s Premier Barrier Supplier SECURITY FENCING CROWD BARRIERS TENSA STRETCH BARRIERS VIP ROPES & POSTS GROUND PROTECTION PICKET FENCING

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ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

2005-2025

GRAND NATIONAL

Image: © Grossick Photography

“Honing in on our ‘limiting factor’ (we’d never worked in the US before - minor detail!) we decided it needed to feel ‘real’ for the client. From the office we’d work out of, to the Sense team, to the line-up of vendors ready to dive in. Even we were convinced!

“Pitch done, adrenalin fading, time to eat!

Little did we know that the scene of the pitch post-mortem (a lively rooftop bar) would become the spot of many a team celebration.

It’s still one of my proudest moments. A great reminder of what a determined, talented team can achieve when they go all in.”

A LORRY LOAD OF MEMORIES

One of GT Trax’s standout moments was taking delivery of its first lorry. Trevor Tinker, director of the ground protection company, said that once he had ordered the highly spec’d truck, it seemed to take forever.

“We wanted it to be ready for The Showman’s Show,” Tinker said. “At one point, it wasn’t looking very certain, then two days before we needed to set up the show, we got great news. I picked up my phone and heard this voice say, ‘It’s ready’. It took 2.5 hours to drive to the factory. To stand there, seeing it totally finished, watching it drive out of the yard, back to our depot, overtaking it in my car with pride and excitement was brilliant.

The next day at Newbury Showground, we set up our stand after which we drove the lorry to the front entrance, parking it on our new ground protection panels. That was a standout moment.”

RECORD YEAR

Capital Barriers and Temporary Fencing are

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regular exhibitors at The Showman’s Show, too, but the company’s standout moment was when it won the Hire Association Europe award in 2022 for Event Supplier of the Year. This was particularly special after the total closure of the event industry over the COVID crisis. The event hire and fencing and barrier specialist had had a record year of performance, beating previous years when the industry finally opened for business after lockdown. Garry Wakefield, director of Capital Barriers and Temporary Fencing, explained: “The business was created in 2005 through a lack of event hire quality fencing and barrier suppliers in the south. Temporary Fencing worked closely with Capital Barriers [founded

by Colin Clark] from 2008 and eventually we merged the two businesses to form the company as it currently stands.

“We have had many standout moments over 20 years. For instance, working on five Royal world premieres of James Bond movies, 17 consecutive years supplying the finish zone of the London Marathon, 18 years supplying Bournemouth 7s Festival, numerous Mission Impossible premieres and we were involved with the world’s longest red carpet premiere for the Harry Potter film, The Deathly Hallows. The red carpet was 1,500feet long, which has been recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records.”

Wakefield continued: “Going forward we are looking at how we can grow the business even further, still keeping the attention to detail for supplying quality equipment and personal service that has been a major factor in us retaining such great clients and allowing us to stand out from the crowd.”

EDWARD SCOVELL (he/him)

NR EVENTS TEAM

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ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

ALAN ADAMS (he/him) DISTANT MEMORY

Edward Scovell, managing director of Arc Marquees, is also celebrating 20 years and stated it feels like only yesterday when he started the marquee business with a couple of nine-metre tents. The business began in an old Portacabin office with a hole in the floor, in the middle of a Christmas tree farm.

Scovell said: “Back then, with three staff, I was washing the kit myself, loading the van, driving the van and erecting the tents.

By night it was quotes and invoices, even inventing a purchase order reference number, as ‘ref: 00001’ did not look very established.”

Twenty years on and Arc Marquees has grown organically to have more than 20 full-time staff, rising to more than 40 with seasonal workers.

Scovell added: “With offices in Perth and a 56,000 square-foot yard and warehouses between Glasgow and Edinburgh, we are now able to service annual marquee contracts nationally.

“2024 saw us providing multiple music festivals and sporting events throughout the UK including Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Luton and Radio 2 in The Park in Preston, as well as Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. It has now also been two decades that we have built Scotland’s largest festivals from T in the Park to TRNSMT. “The original business plan to work hard in the summer and take the winter off in the Alps is also a distant memory. The rise of winter

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2005-2025

THE EARLY DAYS – ARC MARQUEES festivals and temporary ice rinks, coupled with better heating and lighting, has enabled us to keep the business steady all year round and retain our experienced staff.”

HOOK, LINE AND SINKER

Despite uncertain economic times and the current cost-of-living crisis, Arc Marquees continues to grow and is looking forward to the next 20 years. Alan Adams, general manager of Southport Flower Show and Victoria Park Events, concurred. He has worked at the flower show for 20 years, after falling in love with the horticultural event when he volunteered to help. After 15 years as a volunteer, he is now responsible for the four-day event and like Scovell, he takes pleasure in seeing growth.

“The first show I worked on was the most memorable one for me because after a while they all blend together,” explained Adams.

“You lose track of who’s been and what the weather was like and what the show was.

But at the first show, I literally fell in love with the event because of the atmosphere, the people, and what the show was about; it was friendly. That first one is the one that really resonates with me. It was my first year going, ‘how cool is this?’

“I was proud to be part of the team that helped deliver the UK’s largest independent show. To see people come in and then walk out the gates with smiles on the faces. It was

a ‘wow’ moment and I just got caught hook, line and sinker.”

Adams continued: “I remember that first year I was in the Amateur Growers Marquee, and I was stood behind the information stand, telling our visitors where the toilets were and the where the food area was. I also walked around the marquee, making sure the exhibits weren’t being stolen because they were so precious.

“To see an empty marquee the day before the show, and then everybody bringing in their blooms and their vegetables and the fruit and the flowers, working all through the night, and then seeing that empty, clear, white marquee being transformed into an array of colour, it just blew me away and I’ve never looked back,” Adams commented.

Neil Fagg, publisher of StandOut magazine and co-founder of Event Buyers Live, can resonate with Adams. Once you experience the events industry, it takes a hold. He concluded: “Like every other events professional that has spent a significant amount of time working in this amazing industry, once it’s in your blood, work will never feel like work. Yes, it’s tough sometimes, yes, there are long hours, but the laughs are huge and the highs are monumental.

“I, for one, have thoroughly enjoyed navigating these last 20 years with Caroline and the rest of the team and can’t wait to see what the next 20 brings.”

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

The future is Brighter’s team and technology are the best in the business so if you’re looking for event planning support and expertise, look no further you’re after unique connections and I funforgettable experiences, with no

drama, it has to be Brighter.

For more than a decade, it has used industry-leading expertise to source fabulous, eco-friendly venues as well as produce immersive events to live long in the memory.

Guided by three core beliefs – Be Meaningful, Be Magnificent and Be Memorable – Brighter, Clarity Business Travel’s Meetings and Events specialist, counts some of the world’s leading organisations and brands among its clients. These include The Met Police, The Royal British Legion, retail chains, universities, prestige car manufacturers and leading lights in the financial and pharmaceutical sectors.

Brighter’s innovative team is a mix of people with more than 30 years’ industry experience who work alongside young people new to sector. Everyone is given their chance to shine with potential career progression inspiring a whole new generation of talent.

TOTAL PLANNING CONTROL

As well as having the brightest in the business in its ranks, Brighter also has some of the best technology in the market, too.

MeetingsPro has been developed in-house, which gives meetings organisers total control of their planning. With live availability and instant book, backed up with valuable insights and data, the MeetingsPro dashboard puts everything at an event organiser’s fingertips.

GLOBAL EXPERTISE

Do you need a conference for 50 delegates, or for 2,000? In the UK or overseas with accommodation? Virtual or hybrid conferencing? Or do you want your team to know how valued they are with an incredible incentive programme?

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Over the past year Brighter has been on site for more than 60 events, with another 20 being virtual. Nine of these were overseas events, while the Brighter team has visited more than 20 international destinations for future event research, including Tulum, Playa Del Carmen, Malta and Lisbon, as well as Rio, Marrakech and Istanbul.

The largest event the team undertook was for 10,500 attendees over a two-week period.

Brighter has planned dinners below the wings of Concorde, on a cliff-top, in the Rialto Market in Venice, and even 162-metres in the air. Plus, it has organised transfers for thousands of guests, including 120 delegates using a water taxi and water bus!

As well as all the above, the team is well versed in booking transport and accommodation, creating event websites, handling delegate registration, offering on-site support for fellow event planners, devising special menus, and creating themes for any occasion – you name it, Brighter can do it.

The team is currently putting the finishing touches to a conference it is holding in Montenegro for 75 delegates, following on from an award-winning conference it planned in South Africa last year.

COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE

Always thinking outside the box, Brighter is a big advocate of the meetings and events industry, regularly taking up invitation slots in Q&As, panel discussions and speaker sessions.

There is also Brighter representation on various boards and committees including beam, mia, GBTA and The BTA. This dedication, backed up with expertise and experience has seen some great rewards for Brighter over the past year.

Gaining the ISO 20121 accreditation for Sustainable Meetings and Events was a proud moment for the whole team, as was being named in micebook’s Power30 Most Sustainable Event Agencies.

Brighter’s team has achieved other industry accolades too, being successful at The Business Travel People Awards, Conference News Awards and miaList while it has also celebrated individual successes through C&IT, Conference News and miaList.

If you want your event taking to the next level, get in touch with the Brighter team today. For more information, visit www.brighter.co.uk/contact-us

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TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND LOGISTICS

CARBONITE TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS

Driven to succeed

Organisers reveal their traffic managements plans and developments for 2025 summer, Brighton and Hove will T his benefit from a new park and ride

facility that will enable motorists to park their cars before taking a bus into the city centre, and out again. The development is the first step in a longer-term plan that could see more park and ride facilities opening across the city, including specific event-based park and ride schemes.

Park and ride facilities and shuttle bus services do ease pressure on congested city centre locations and event sites and can help organisers reduce the number of cars arriving near an already busy event footprint.

For example, in 2024, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) introduced a direct and accessible bus service from Hampton Court Station to RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. It was such a success that it will be reintroducing the shuttle service this July. This move not only encourages people to use public transport, easing traffic near the Historic Royal Palace, but it also improves the customer experience.

GOOD NEIGHBOURS

Carl Pastor, operations manager at Aintree Racecourse, formulates the traffic management (TM) plan for the Grand National, which sees 150,000 people descend on the venue each year. He works alongside Mersey Rail, Mersey Travel, Arriva, and Merseyside police, fire and rescue to create a plan that is robust enough for the large-scale event.

This year, Pastor engaged the local community more to lessen the impact on the

EVENT TRAFFIC CONTROL local area. For example, how could he and his team make sure that one way systems were being adhered to? How could he make sure that people were not parking in residents’ streets? Thanks to constant communication with local residents only a handful came to The Jockey Club’s local residents meeting.

But not to complain. Just for information.

“We can’t forget that we have neighbours,” explains Pastor. “As much as we are a big racecourse, the people that live next door to us are our neighbours, so we’ve got to treat them as neighbours like you would at home.”

MINIMAL IMPACT

Aintree Racecourse works with Tracsis Events on the major sporting event, who will also be providing TM services to Goodwood Festival of Speed, Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, and some RHS Flower Shows this year.

Carbonite Traffic Solutions (CTS) has been awarded the contract to provide

Sponsored by William Ford Traffic Management

traffic management services to RHS Chelsea Flower Show until 2027. This year, it is specifically looking at the way vehicles are registered on-site with Voyage Control, an app-based vehicle logging system that allows exhibitors to register deliveries and specify a time slot. Voyage Control was trialled in 2024 and helped to reduce congestion and the back log of vehicles held in the horticultural show’s holding area at Battersea Park. Hence, it is being rolled out on a much larger scale for 2025.

But it’s not the only organiser that CTS is working with. It is working alongside LS Events on GroceryAid’s Barcode Festival, which is moving to Kenwood House. Plus, it is re-looking at traffic management and egress plans with Festival Republic for all Gunnersbury Park events, which sees CTS use temporary traffic lights and part road closures. Again, to ensure minimal impact on local residents.

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TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND LOGISTICS

SLAM DUNK

CAMP BESTIVAL

PERFECTING PLANS

Event Traffic Control (ETC) has been working alongside Camp Bestival, Live Nation and APL Event to increase parking and gate accesses at the festival’s Lulworth Castle site and it is working with organisers to find innovative solutions to parking changes, such as ANPR, so that events can earn valuable revenue from parking fees without the traditional delays from scanning tickets and sales on entry.

Similarly, The Traffic Management Company is working with Live Nation’s Dave Steele, senior VP of festivals, on the delivery of the Isle of Wight Festival by making tweaks to the TM plans. Furthermore, it is helping Ben Ray, Slam Dunk’s festival director, and LFX Events’ Luke Fitzmaurice, Slam Dunk’s event director, perfect traffic plans for the 2025 festival.

BIG BOY PANTS

Last year, Slam Dunk North (30,000-cap) was hit by torrential rain, which meant that many of the festival’s new traffic management measures could not be put into practice.

The night before Slam Dunk North 2024 opened its gates, things quickly took a turn. The organising team were left with a constantly moving and “dynamic” picture.

At the time, Ray, Slam Dunk’s festival director, said that every time he and his team drew up a plan, they were given a different issue. Then, late on the Saturday, before the event opened on the Sunday, it became clear that the team had to find different solutions for pick up and drop off and come up with different hard standing areas. It was unfortunate because Slam Dunk could not show customers the new traffic measures that the team had been planning since 2023.

Timm Cleasby, operations manager at Slam Dunk North, explained: “We’d lost one of the site’s entrances because the rain just made it impassable, so we had to re-route everyone to a different entrance. And then the pick-up and drop off area on the sports field, that fell apart fairly quickly.

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CTS IN ACTION “We also have a couple of car parks that are on farmers’ fields, which are great if it’s dry. But what we found is that they hold water in really weird places. You’d expect them to hold water at the bottom of the field, but they don’t. We found they hold water at the top of the field, at the entrance.

“We tried to build a road with a load of hardcore and put ground protection down but it just got to a point where we couldn’t operate the car parks.”

A fairly frank conversation ensued, which resulted in Cleasby and the team putting on their “big boy pants” and cracking on. In just a few short hours, Slam Dunk moved the festival’s pedestrian ingress route, refunding anyone who had purchased advance parking.

MAKE THINGS EASIER

For 2025, Cleasby and Ray are working on significant wet weather plans, which include long trackway runs in the festival’s car parks, changes to staff and access parking, access to assistance vehicles, a new hard-standing location for pick up and drop off operations, and increased capacity and pick up points on the shuttle bus facility.

Robust traffic management plans are paramount because if one element of the transport system fails, such as a shuttle bus operation or a pick up and drop off area, it puts more pressure on other already busy facilities and TM measures.

Cleasby explained: “Last year, we shifted 12,000 people in a couple of hours, which is an amazing amount of people to move between 11pm and 1am. But for some people, it’s a bit long. So we’ve looked at that.

“Last year, we only had three pickup points on the shuttle bus loop. This year, we’ll have seven pickup points, so we can have seven busses loading at any one time, and then I can stack a load of busses behind them, further down the road.”

All of these elements will play a vital role in ensuring Slam Dunk North’s customers will remember the festival for all the right reasons, and not just the weather.

Cleasby concluded: “We have a whole new plan that, fingers crossed, is going to stand up. It looks like it should. You know, everything’s on track where we’ve taken everything off grass. That’s been critical so that should make our lives a bit easier.”

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THE EVENT SAFETY SHOP

LIVERPOOL GIANTS

Risky business

SIMON JAMES (he/him), DICK TEE (he/him), TIM ROBERTS (he/him) AND MIKE RICHMOND (he/him)

The Event Safety Shop’s Tim Roberts and Simon James reflect on 25 years in business the last 25 years, The Event Safety I nShop (TESS) has worked on more than

2,450 projects and has had steel toe cap boots on the ground in 43 countries, across six continents. Each year, it looks after 2.5 million people (on average) at events and festivals across the globe. These are some serious stats. But health and safety is a serious business. Which is why, when StandOut sits down with TESS directors Simon James and Tim Roberts to talk about TESS’ 25th anniversary, caffeine is needed. We’re set for a long chat so James plays “mother”, pours the tea and we get stuck in, reflecting on the health and safety landscape, their strengths, big memories, and company ethos.

“I often get asked, what do you do?” says James. “But if we’re working for Red Bull, we

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do this, and if we’re working for Glastonbury, we do that, and if we’re working for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, we do that. Every single client wants something slightly different but they all want it safe.”

SAFETY SERVICES

TESS is a health and safety consultancy, with widespread experience in strategic, operational and public safety planning.

Formed in 2000, TESS has constantly adapted to meet an evolving live events industry and is regularly called on to help clients such as SXSW, Liverpool City Council, cinch Championships, Glastonbury, Red Bull, WOMAD, U2 and Robbie Williams. But what the company does now is not quite what it set out to be 25 years ago.

TESS was started by Mike Richmond, who founded REM, and Dick Tee, founder of EnTEEtainment, who – after seeing crew turn up on-site without essential kit – thought they could make some money from a retail operation that essentially sold PPE and things like leathermans and torches.

As Roberts joined the business, TESS had started selling safety services as opposed to physical objects, to meet a changing safety landscape. Roberts and James, a rigger at the time, first met whilst working at Glastonbury where Roberts was a stage manager. Realising that he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life in a dusty roof, James jumped on a steep learning curve, did his NEBOSH, and learned how to write risk assessments; he soon joined Roberts, Richmond, and Tee.

THE EVENT SAFETY SHOP

THE LONDON MASTABA MITIGATE AND MANAGE RISK

Tee left the business quite early on to concentrate on EnTEEtainment, and Richmond retired in 2018, leaving Roberts and James to run the health and safety business that has international offices, and supports nine full-time staff, as well as multiple long-standing freelancers.

Roberts explains: “Our ethos from the very beginning has always been to never say, ‘No’ to clients, but to say, ‘Hmmmmm. Yes. If you do these things to mitigate and manage risk’.”

Roberts says that TESS comes at an event with the view that risk management is empowering. It enables organisers and big production houses to do things with confidence, allowing people to take risks with less risk. But only if risk management is woven into the fabric of an event from the outset because events have to be exciting, engaging, economically viable, and repeatable. They can’t poo on their own doorstep. They can’t pollute the rivers. They need to take place the following year.

STRENGTHS

James says that Roberts has a big brain that has the ability to come up with incredible ideas. This is coupled with foresight and strategic thinking. Whilst Roberts says that James’ has an aptitude for all things technical, and practical and a great ability to deal with people. Their strengths complement each other, and Roberts likens their partnership to plywood; layers that go in different directions but are bonded together. They simply make things happen for clients who live on the edge of exciting, and the ones that want to make something look like it could go wrong

at any minute; the “geniuses” who think up the crazy and “orchestrated” ideas, like Unboxed’s Sea Monster and Red Bull’s Wings Through Tower Bridge stunt. It befits TESS’ strapline – creative safety.

RELATIONSHIPS

During the interview James quips that he and Roberts are not the creative brains behind the original ideas but they are the pragmatic minds that say whether something is possible. They are calm and sensible and non “flashy”, creative in the application of safety principles and resolute in their choice of control measures. But without a team of “characters” who they are extremely proud of and do a great job, there would be no TESS. Roberts comments: “We have a big roster of freelancers, but the word freelancer sounds like they’re a bit of a throwaway entity.

We’ve got freelancers that have worked for us for 20 years, and as far as some clients are concerned, they are the face of TESS. “It’s all about building relationships. We’ve built relationships with our clients, which have been fantastic. We’ve built relationships with our suppliers and our freelancers, as well as our staff, which have been fantastic, and vicariously, we’ve got a relationship with an audience, even though they don’t realise it.”

HIGHS AND LOWS

Some of James’ favourite projects have included Liverpool Giants, an outdoor spectacle from French street theatre company Royal de Luxe, which visited the city in 2012, 2014, and 2018, drawing extensive crowds.

Plus, he loved overseeing the build of The London Mastaba, a 20-metre-high sculpture that floated on Serpentine Lake in 2018.

These events have left James feeling proud.

But with the massive highs, come huge lows.

Events such as the Bataclan terrorist attack, the Manchester Arena bombing, the crowd crush at Roskilde in 2000, and the Indiana State Fair stage collapse in 2011 – which, to confirm, were not events TESS worked on – have had a huge impact. They have sharpened people’s attention and have influenced the safety landscape, significantly.

To navigate those highs and lows takes physical endurance and mental stamina. So do James and Roberts have what it takes to endure another 25 years at the sometimes slightly pointy end of live events?

James comments: “We are obviously of an age now where we are looking and thinking, but there is no decision. I genuinely am not ready. I still enjoy this. I get up 90 per cent of the time and go, this is going to be good.

Sometimes, there’s 10 per cent of me that doesn’t want to get out of bed, but I still am an optimistic person and want to enjoy life and what isn’t there to like about being sent around the world and doing crazy stuff?”

Roberts concurs. Like James, he still gets a thrill out of work and reckons there are a few “laps left on the trail”. He wakes up in the morning, raring to go, helping clients like F1, Red Bull or any other clients that TESS has the “privilege” and “the good fortune to work with” tell cultural stories that glue us together as a human species. Roberts concludes: “The important thing for us is house lights and tail lights. That’s the thing that still floats my boat.

You know, when the house lights go down and the show is beginning, that’s still exciting for me. When the house lights come up and people leave, effectively, that’s brilliant.”

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EVENT TECHNOLOGY AND APPS

Tech to it

Organisers are using event technology and apps to increase customer engagement and improve the event experience

DRONE PILOTS AT ALLY PALLY January 6, WWE Raw – a starO nstudded in-ring wrestling series – was

broadcast live on Netflix for the first time.

The inaugural event was watched by 2.6 million households (on average) on the streaming service and the buzz and energy surrounding the event’s Netflix debut was huge, but it was not the only “first”.

Drone technology was used during the broadcast, increasing the brand’s production values and enhancing the viewer experience.

So on March 31, when WWE Raw returned to The O2 for the first time in nearly six years, drones were used, too. This was significant because it was the first time that a drone – with a broadcast quality feed – had ever been flown over the crowd at the London venue with footage used on large screens and in Netflix’s outputs.

Graeme Timms, head of health and safety at Alexandra Palace, was invited to watch the televised event alongside Crowded Space Drones’ Andrew McQuillan and Sophie Merivale and Dirty Dishes Productions’ founder and drone pilot JR Catipon. Why? Because he had helped to “let the genie out of the box” when the first drone flight over an indoor event audience took place at Ally Pally.

FIND A WAY

Eighteen months ago, no arena in the UK was permitting drone flights over crowds indoors.

But both Timms and McQuillan found a way to appease the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that it could be done, safely.

Alexandra Palace was getting many requests from artists and production teams to use

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UK HOUSE AT SXSW drones in their shows. Therefore, Timms contacted McQuillan to help him safely enable micro-sized FPV (first person view) drones to be flown over a 10,000-strong crowd.

Timms explained: “Creatives are always going to be creative. They’re always going to want to push boundaries. In October 2023, we had Mike Skinner and The Streets say, ‘We want to do some really fun stuff and put a drone in and film over the audience’.

Initially, the CAA’s response was, ‘No, that’s dangerous’. Whereas my view is always from the creative side. If you don’t work with the creatives to do something safely, they’re going to try and do it anyway.”

LESSEN THE HARM

Crucially, McQuillan and Timms had to think

about the weight of the drone – the less they weigh, the less potential to harm anyone if one fell out of the sky. The drones used during The Streets gig weighed a little over 180 grammes and for WWE Raw, the drones weighed just over 190 grammes, which is less than the CAA’s 250 gramme limit for a drone flying over a person.

But now drone tech is developing even more. There’s a thermal gel that can be applied to the drone, essentially waterproofing it should anyone throw a beer or bodily fluids at it during a gig. Plus, they now also feature tech which senses if there’s something stopping the blades and propellers from rotating, meaning they will cut out if it comes into contact with a finger, for example, lessening the risk of harm.

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EVENT TECHNOLOGY AND APPS THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY

The above is just one example of how technology and attention to detail is transforming live events across the globe.

Event Site Design is currently trialling Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to map event sites with millions of laser measurements. The tech gives high levels of accuracy and creates thousands of data points that will help organisers develop their event and festival sites but using LiDAR tech does not mean ESD will stop using global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). Why? Because sometimes, the right technology is tech that produces less data but has the ability to be more efficient.

LISTEN IN REAL-TIME

On May 14 and 15, Diversified Communications UK and Europe is set to transform the trade show experience by becoming the first UK organiser to introduce the Olyusei App, an app that enables visitors to listen in real-time to seminar sessions through their own mobile devices.

Launching at Accountex London, SITS Service Desk and IT Support Show and MSP Show at Excel London, the Olyusei App will provide attendees with clear audio, using their own headphones. The multichannel functionality allows visitors to easily switch between theatres ensuring they can fully engage with speakers and presentations regardless of their location in the exhibition hall.

Carsten Holm, managing director of Diversified Communications UK and Europe, said: “We are constantly looking for ways to enhance the experience for our attendees.

Trade shows are vibrant and high-energy environments, but that can sometimes mean that important seminar content is missed. By introducing Olyusei, we are ensuring that visitors get the best possible learning experience.”

AI AND ACCESSIBILITY

According to Ben Krebs, head of production at Event Concept, technology now empowers event managers to orchestrate tailored experiences and foster deeper, data-informed connections with their audiences. Yaron Lipshitz, CEO of Prismm, concurs and says that personalisation, real-time collaboration, and immersive digital experiences will be the three key trends shaping event planning and innovation this year.

For example, Gather25, a 25-hour international live-stream worship event, recently took place in Malaysia, attracting 53,000 participants from 192 countries. For 25 hours, Gather25 invited attendees to pray and share stories, and thanks to Interprefy, the multilingual event technology and services provider, participants could fully engage in worship in their own language.

In fact, 70 languages were made available to a worldwide audience in real-time, combining the expertise of professional human interpreters with AI-powered speech translation technology. It’s yet another example of how tech is being used to make events more accessible. Accessibility is a huge tech trend and consideration. Not just in terms of cost but ease of access and use.

USER-FRIENDLY

Last month, Bray Leino Events worked with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the British Music Embassy (BME) to deliver UK House at SXSW, Texas.

UK House took over Palm Door on Sixth, a 500-capacity venue located in the heart of Austin’s historic entertainment district. But DBT required a digital solution to manage UK House’s extensive events programme, which spanned 4.5 days and comprised 110 sessions during the day and more than 80 BME music acts at night. The solution needed to be easily accessible on mobile phones and websites and easily updated by the team.

CrowdComms was chosen by Bray Leino Events as a user-friendly platform that allowed for a high level of personalisation, customisation and branding.

With the events programme confirmed two weeks before the site was launched, Bray Leino Events had just ten working days to build, review and launch the platform.

Visitors to the site were driven by preevent comms through eDMs and socials but when the event was live this was done predominantly through QR codes.

Seventy-one per cent of visitors to UK House accessed the platform via their mobile phones. The previous solution used hadn’t been as mobile friendly and that was something Bray Leino Events was keen to address this year. By using CrowdComms, the agency saw a direct impact through higher engagement with the platform compared to the previous year.

PLAN AHEAD

Closer to home and the Great Yorkshire Show (GYS) is hoping to emulate DBT’s success, increasing visitor engagement and helping visitors to discover more event content, through the launch of the GYS app.

It’s the first time that the four-day agricultural show has introduced an app, which has been in the planning since shortly after the annual show ended in 2024.

GYS has partnered with Attractions.io to develop the app to ensure guests make the most of their visit.

On the introduction of the app, Rachel Coates, show director of GYS, commented: “ The Great Yorkshire Show app is new for this year and has been introduced to help visitors plan their day and navigate the showground more easily. There’s an interactive showground map and in the coming months, details of trade stands and shopping will be added in which we hope will really enhance the visitor experience.”

GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOW 52 n www.simpliwifi.agency

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The technology provides full visibility over the deployed fleet, from generators and lighting towers to power distribution units and much more. The data collected is sent back in real time, allowing our team to track energy usage, fuel levels, location and even carbon output.

It’s all about control, insight, and taking a proactive approach. In a live environment, there’s no room for delays or surprises, so our technology gives us the ability to monitor equipment performance, identify any potential issues before they become problems, and make remote adjustments. We ensure that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes, so the focus stays on delivering an unforgettable experience.

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For event organisers, the benefits of this partnership approach are clear. With remote diagnostics and intelligent reporting, we can minimise site visits, reduce fuel usage and bring down the number of on-site crew needed to manage equipment.

Fewer callouts mean lower costs which equals less travel, less idling and ultimately a lower carbon footprint – this is crucial for events aiming to meet sustainability targets.

THE FUTURE

As sustainability expectations continue to rise across the events sector, remote monitoring is expected to become standard practice.

This isn’t future tech – it’s happening now. The more this technology and innovative thinking is embedded into operations, the more resilient, efficient and sustainable the events industry will become.

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Over the years, we’ve become the go-to provider for seamless, robust connectivity across the UK events scene. Whether it’s music festivals, brand activations, or VIP hospitality, our clients know they can rely on us when it matters most.

As our business grows, so does our team. We’re currently recruiting for a range of event-focused tech roles to help us meet demand across a busy summer calendar. If you’re passionate about tech, live events, and making a difference on the ground, and would like to view our current offerings, visit simpliwifi.agency/careers Looking ahead, we’re excited to be returning to Glastonbury for the seventh year running, delivering more than 25 event days of rock-solid connectivity for We Are Halo, Bauer Media, and Kisstory.

We’ll also be supporting a packed schedule of events for Chatsworth House and other landmark venues throughout the year.

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LIGHT, SOUND AND AV

Let’s AV it

Brands and organisers are delivering high-energy entertainment and immersive experiences thanks to the creative use of lights, sound and AV

F1 75

Images: © XPB Image/Alamy

May 2-4, the largest outdoor F rom spatial audio festival ever to hit the UK

will take over Crystal Palace Park. Presented by spatial audio pioneer Polygon Live, Polygon Live LDN will see ground-breaking artistic performances that are expected to “redefine” the perception of live music.

After highly successful events this year at TOKEN2049 in Singapore, the ADE in Amsterdam, and Wonderfruit Festival in Thailand, Polygon Live’s arrival is a highly anticipated one. Festivalgoers will be enveloped by a dual-dome stage design that will be rigged with a 12.1.4 system. To be precise, 12 L-Acoustics speaker arrays will surround the audience, a festival-grade subwall will deliver earth-shaking bass, and four overhead arrays will rain crystal-clear sound from above. With almost 100 speakers across each dome, the total count features five times the number of speakers typically used for a stage of its size.

SOUNDS GOOD

The artists performing at the festival will collaborate with Polygon’s spatial sound engineers to tease out the individual components of every track using L-Acoustics’ L-ISA processor. This allows every element to move around, above and through the audience as the artists perform, completely immersing the audience in sound.

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POLYGON LIVE But what is spatial audio and how can it be used in non-festival formats? Identity recently released a white paper called Shaping the Future of Immersive Experiences. It is designed to be read brands, event buyers, and CMOs, and outlines the key trends that are set to underpin storytelling and enhance audience engagement. Spatial audio is just one example of immersive technology that Identity believes will shape the future events landscape.

Will Smith, managing director of Hire Frequencies, concurs. Whilst spatial audio is currently not commonly used, its use could become more popular as and when more people grasp the technology.

He explains: “Spatial audio is a bit like surround sound. So if you’re sat in a room and you you’re listening to an orchestra, you’ll hear the violins to your front left. You’ll hear a double bass from the right. You’ll hear the

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Smith believes that spatial audio can deliver an amazing audio experience. It’s something that Hire Frequencies may look to add to some events in the future, but right now, it is investing in moving head lighting, lighting desks, wireless mics, and video walls. In fact, it is increasing its stock of video wall technology “five-fold” because the demand for bigger and better AV content is escalating.

Derek Tallent, director of Press Red Rentals, agrees. He is also investing in more LED products. He says: “We’re finding that customers are wanting ever finer pixel pitch products so we’re investing in 1.9mm and 2.5mm LED panels to meet demand. There’s also an increase in the number of customers asking for ‘creative LED’ with shapes, curves, corners, etc, so we’re now delivering projects providing circular LED banners and columns, and also plenty of corner screens and cubes with 90 degree corner LED panels.”

ELEVATE THE EXPERIENCE

LED video cubes feature within the technical production currently being delivered at London’s Copper Box Arena for Baller League, a new six-a-side football competition that runs until June 7.

ADI is transforming the venue and fan experience with digital infrastructure, interactive light shows and AI-driven fan cams.

Thomas Taylor, global head of sales and sports presentation at ADI, comments: “As specialists in sports presentation and venue transformation, we are delivering a full-scale production to elevate every matchday. Our team is taking over the Copper Box Arena, turning it into an immersive football arena that blends dynamic visuals, technology, and high-energy entertainment. With a focus on in-venue presentation, technical production, Draft order quiz gamification, and broadcast/ stream integration, we are ensuring that every aspect of the event is built for excitement.”

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Smith continues: “Spatial audio uses something called geotagging. So if there’s someone talking to you on stage, for example, a presenter and they’re walking around, they’ll wear a small geotag locator on their belt. This enables the software to know where the presenter is standing, meaning the audiences hears the audio from

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where the person is standing, too and the audio will follow them.

“The whole premise is that your ears will focus on where the audio is coming from. So if someone is stood stage left, but you’re sat stage right and you’re hearing all the audio from stage right, you won’t focus on the person and where they are. Your mind will instantly focus on where the audio is coming from so there’s this disconnect,” Smith says.

The final of the Baller League will be played on June 11 at The O2, which recently hosted F1 75, a live event that launched the new F1 season and marked its 75th anniversary.

Unveiling the 2025 car liveries, F1 75 Live brought together all ten teams and drivers from the sport for an evening of high-energy entertainment. The event was brought to life by STUFISH Entertainment Architects in collaboration with production partner 1826.

The event was meticulously designed as a multi-sensory storytelling experience, with each reveal choreographed to build anticipation and excitement. STUFISH reimagined the stage as a long central runway extending into the crowd – evoking the highspeed straights of an F1 track. But towering above the stage was the largest LED screen ever used at The O2. It stretched across the width of the venue and served a dual purpose - delivering cinematic visuals that built anticipation for each team’s segment.

Hidden beneath the main screen was a garage-style door, which introduced each

press-red.com n 57

LIGHT, SOUND AND AV team’s driver for the 2025 season. In the centre of the stage, a mechanical lift system was incorporated, capable of raising the cars eight metres high adding an element of vertical spectacle. Suspended above it all, a flying LED screen, embedded with dynamic lighting effects, served as both a visual storytelling canvas and seamlessly lifted away to reveal the next team in an unforgettable sequence of reveals.

LONG BEAST

As the production partner for Formula 1’s 75th anniversary season launch, 1826 played a pivotal role in bringing the event to life, ensuring that the spectacle aligned with F1’s evolving vision. 1826 was tasked with bringing all aspects of the production together and The Next Stage was called on to manufacture a huge mainstage structure for the event, a 55-metre long “beast” that had to be built in two halves in order to fit into the workshop.

The whole floor of the stage was made from LED video tiles. To ensure to make these all went down and were located correctly, special frames had to be made to give the correct location holes for the product. To help with a fast load in, the whole stage structure was built to roll into place once the huge video and lighting trusses were hoisted up from the centre of the arena.

Furthermore, a lighting shelf was integrated around the stage to give a space to place more lights which were used to illuminate the drivers and teams as each new car livery was revealed.

GIVING YOU A LIFT

The Next Stage collaborated with Video Design to produce the doorway in the upstage video wall, which was used to get the F1 cars onto the stage. But it’s not their only collaboration. Recently, the two companies have worked together to design and manufacture a new riser system that takes the headache out of attaching video to staging.

The rolling riser system is quick to assemble, it’s on ergonomic castors making it easy to position, and each riser is supplied with a pin-on step unit with handrail for access up onto the deck. Suitable for both indoor and festival stages, the overall riser height can be raised by 30mm to give a bigger ground clearance if needed to run over an uneven surface or clear cables on the floor.

Wayne Croft, director at The Next Stage, says: “Earlier this year, we supplied Craig David with two of the video risers and a custom manufactured rolling DJ console complete with attached video for his 25th anniversary commitment tour.

“At present, we have the range of video risers and we are looking at designs for rentable DJ video counsels. The video hire risers have been designed with simplicity in mind, are quick and easy to assemble by no more than two people and are ideal for a range of live events and tours. They are available to hire now so if anyone wants to have a chat and to see how we can help, give us a call.”

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

Setting the standard Hire Frequencies continues to set the standard in live event production with a client-first approach, innovative technology, and precision planning MAXIMUM EFFECT

Hire Frequencies also plays a vital role in the world of brand activations and experiential marketing. Its production services help brands bring concepts to life in high-impact, highly visual ways, delivering immersive environments that capture attention and generate buzz.

Whether it’s transforming an outdoor space for a product launch or building a bespoke AV setup inside a flagship retail location, its team ensures every activation has maximum effect.

CLIENT-FIRST APPROACH

a reputation for excellence and W ith more than 10,000 successful events

delivered across the UK and beyond, Hire Frequencies has earned its place as one of the most highly rated AV companies in the country. Specialising in live event production, large-scale awards shows, corporate conferences, brand activations, and hybrid and streaming events, the company brings a powerful blend of cutting-edge technology, unrivalled attention to detail, and impeccable customer service to every project.

At the heart of Hire Frequencies lies a passion for creating extraordinary experiences. Whether it’s delivering the audio-visual elements for a high-profile awards ceremony in central London, managing the technical production of a major international conference, or live streaming a hybrid event to thousands of viewers worldwide, the team consistently raises the bar. Hire Frequencies collaborative approach ensures that every element of an event is not only flawlessly executed but also fully aligned with the client’s vision and objectives.

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DECADES OF EXPERIENCE

From the moment a brief is received, Hire Frequencies works closely with event organisers to understand the narrative of the event, ensuring the right blend of creative flair and technical precision. Its highly skilled in-house team, alongside a trusted network of technicians and production specialists, brings decades of experience across all areas of AV and live production.

It’s this depth of expertise that has seen the company partner with some of the UK’s most prestigious brands, venues, and agencies.

SEAMLESS DELIVERY

When it comes to large-scale awards shows and conferences, Hire Frequencies truly shines. These events demand absolute precision and seamless delivery – something the team has become known for. From stunning stage designs and lighting concepts to crystal-clear sound and immersive visual displays, every element is meticulously crafted. The result? Memorable moments that resonate long after the final applause.

In recent years, the evolution of hybrid and live-streamed events has opened new frontiers in event production – and Hire Frequencies has been at the forefront of this shift. Its purpose-built streaming infrastructure and innovative virtual event technologies have helped clients connect with global audiences in real time, without sacrificing the polish and professionalism of an in-person experience.

Whether it’s a panel discussion, product reveal, or full-scale digital conference, the team delivers high-quality, broadcast-grade results.

Above all, Hire Frequencies prides itself on its client-first approach. From initial planning to post-event wrap-up, the team is known for its responsiveness, reliability, and proactive mindset. No detail is too small, no challenge too great. It’s this commitment to excellence that has seen Hire Frequencies become the go-to AV partner for event professionals across the UK. When flawless execution matters, when technology needs to inspire, and when experience counts, Hire Frequencies should be your first call.

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CONNECTIONS ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSION Eventwell T: 0800 470 0958 E: bookings@eventwell.org W: EventWell.org

Pop-up-Pubs T: +44(0)1993 832155 E: info@pop-up-pubs.com W: www.pop-up-pubs.com

ACCREDITATION GOAllAreas E: goallareas@gingerowl.co.uk W: www.gingerowl.co.uk

SIPS Events mikey@sipsevents.net www.sipsevents.net

ASSOCIATION 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 MUTA 10B Red House Yard Gislingham Road, Thornham Magna, Eye, Suffolk IP23 8HH T: 01379 788673 E: info@muta.org.uk W: www.muta.org.uk AV, SOUND & LIGHTING

Symonds Event Bars Drakewell, Stoke Lacy, Bromyard, Herefordshire, HR7 4HG T: 01885 490267 E: info@eventbars.co.uk W: www.eventbars.co.uk BAR/DRINK DISPENSE EQUIPMENT Innserve Ltd T: 01937 535000 E: eventsandstandby@innserveltd.com W: www.innserveltd.co.uk BRAND ACTIVATION & EXPERIENTIAL

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

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 : @Bradshaw_EV

Press Red Rentals Limited Unit H11, Halesfield 19, Telford, TF7 4QT T: +44 (0) 1952 587049 W: www.pressred.biz BALLOONS, BUNTING & FLAGS

Event Buggy Hire T: 0113 393 4100 E: info@eventbuggyhire.co.uk W: www.eventbuggyhire.co.uk

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

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Innovative Hire Unit N, Lion Works Estate, 543 Wallisdown Road Bournemouth BH12 5AD T: 01202 941 068 W: http://innovativehire.co.uk

Hopkins Machinery T: 01633 680754 E: hire@hopkinsmachinery.co.uk W: www.hopkinsmachinery.co.uk CABINS 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 : @QdosEventHire : www.facebook.com/pages/Qdos-Event-Hire/ : @qdoseventhire

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CONNECTIONS 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 CAR PARKING 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 CATERING 55 Event Catering Solutions T: 07734 889638 E: sam@55eventcateringsolutions.co.uk W: https://www.55eventcateringsolutions.co.uk Peaks Catering Ltd T: 07702189920 E: Info@peakscatering.co.uk W: www.peakscatering.co.uk CLEANING & SUPPORT SERVICES Falcon Cleaning The Falcon Nest, Unit 10 & 11, Lower Gower Road, Royston SG8 5EA E: admin@falconteam.co.uk W: www.falconteam.co.uk COFFEE BARS Markey Ltd 39b Park Farm Ind Estate, Buntingford, Hertfordshire, SG9 9AZ T: 01763 271110 E: info@markey.co.uk W: www.markey.co.uk CONTROL ROOM MANAGEMENT MinT Command E: neil@mintcommand.com W: www.mintcommand.com : https://uk.linkedin.com/in/neilminter : @MinTcommand : www.facebook.com/MinTcommand/ CORPORATE CREW Rodeo Crew 128 Wey House, 15 Church Street, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 8NA T: 020 8075 7799 E: bookcrew@rodeocrew.uk W: www.rodeocrew.uk

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CREW SERVICES 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 MLD Event Group T: 01903372773 E: info@mld.events W: www.mld.events Olympus Crew T: 07904 903452 E: info@olympuscrew.co.uk W: www.olympuscrew.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: Enquiries@optimalcrew.co.uk W: https://optimalcrew.co.uk PS Events Crew Suite 117-119 Lovell House, Birchwood Park, Warrington, WA3 6FW T: 0151 319 8888 E: Operations@pseventscrew.co.uk W: www.pseventscrew.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 Trojan Crewing Solutions Ltd 57 Eastbourne Avenue, Acton, London W3 6JS T: 07341 922974 E: chris@trojancrew.com W: www.TrojanCrew.com YOUR Group - A global workforce T: +44 (0) 203 576 2330 E: connect@your-group.co.uk W: www.your-group.co.uk : https://www.instagram.com/your.comp.group : https://www.linkedin.com/company/yourcompanies-group Video: https://vimeo.com/yourvid/ presentationuk DIGITAL PLANNING 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

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CONNECTIONS DRONE DISPLAYS

MNPE Ltd T: +44 (0)203 146 6844 E: info@mnpe.co.uk W: www.mnpe.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

SC Productions Ltd T: 02921 850 650 E: admin@scproductionsltd.com W: www.scproductionsltd.com

EQUIPMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE 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

Victorious Events T: 07869 701 616 E: info@victoriousevents.co.uk W: victoriousevents.co.uk EVENT PASS PRINTING Eyecatchers T: 01772 681000 E: sales@eyecatchers.co.uk W: www.eyecatchers.co.uk / www.myeventpass.co.uk

EQUIPMENT HIRE GAP Event Services Carrick House, 40 Carrick Street Glasgow G2 8DA T: 0333 202 0712 E: events@gap-group.co.uk W: www.gap-group.co.uk

EVENT PRODUCTION b2 Live Events T: 01708 344668 E: info@thisisb2.com W: www.thisisb2.com

EVENT ACCOMMODATION 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 EVENT CONSTRUCTION Setstage Ltd T: 01274 265217 E: info@setstage.co.uk : linkedin.com/in/kate-greenwood-82315223/ EVENT MANAGEMENT Bright Events Ltd T: 07856588815 W: www.brighteventsltd.com : linkedin.com/in/karen-edwards-events/ CM Production Management Ltd T: 020 8056465 E: hello@cmpm.co.uk W: www.cmpm.co.uk : facebook.com/cmpmlive : @cmpmlive LFX Events Unit 10 Merchants House, Market Place, Stockport, SK1 1EU E: enquiries@lfxevents.co.uk W: www.lfxevents.co.uk

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Culture Creative T: 01665 798 007 E: info@culturecreative.co.uk W: www.culturecreative.co.uk EVENT SAFETY 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 EVENT SERVICES Number 8 Events Ltd The Hay Shed, Sparrows Lane, Matching Green, CM17 0RP T: 0203 7437292 E: info@number8events.co.uk W: www.number8events.com EXHIBITION STAND CONTRACTORS Access Displays Unit 38, Whitehill Industrial Estate, Whitehill Lane, Royal Wootton Bassett, Swindon, SN4 7DB sales@accessdisplays.co.uk www.accessdisplays.co.uk 01793 613088

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CONNECTIONS EXHIBITION TRAILERS & MOBILE UNITS

Event Flooring Solutions Ltd T: 01509 768 252 E: sales@efseurope.co.uk W: www.efseurope.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

Gigtent UK Sonas House, Button End Harston Cambridge, CB22 7NX T: 01223 870935 E: info@gigtent.co.uk W: www.gigtent.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

GT Trax T: 01487 823344 E: info@gttrax.co.uk W: www.gttrax.co.uk FURNITURE HIRE / SALES 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

FESTIVAL GAS Festival Gas Priors Revel, Church lane, Middleton, Nr Tamworth, B78 2AL T: 07930 758893 E: simon@festivalgas.co.uk W: www.festivalgas.co.uk

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FIRE COVER

Red Rose Fire Solutions Ltd 6 Brissenden Close, New Romney Kent TN28 8JD T: 01995 503504 E: info@redrosefiresolutions.co.uk WH Management Group PO Box 230, Heathfield East Sussex TN21 1DX T: 01889 500 164 E: info@whmg.co.uk W: www.whmg.co.uk FLAGS

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 INFLATABLE STRUCTURES Dawsongroup tcs Export Drive, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Dawsongroup | tcs Nottinghamshire NG17 6AF T: 01623 518538 E: info@dgtcs.co.uk W: https://dgtcs.co.uk/inflatable-cold-rooms/

Instant Marquees T: 01840 213063 www.instantmarquees.co.uk FLOORING & FLOOR COVERINGS Coir Store 8-9 Yelverton Road, Brislington, Bristol BS4 5HP E: info@coirstore.co.uk T: 07983 614410 W: https://coirstore.co.uk

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INSURANCE Arc International St. Clare House, 30-33 Minories, London, EC3N 1PE T: 0207 977 7637 W: www.arc-int.co.uk/ London Market Partners Group (Entertainment Insurance) T: +44 (0) 204 540 5056 E: enquiries@Imp-insurance.com W: https://lmp-insurance.com/

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CONNECTIONS Tysers Insurance Brokers 71 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 4BS T: 0203 037 8000 E: tim.rudland@tysers.com W: www.tysers.com LASER & FX 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 LED SCREENS 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 Tech AV Ltd London, Essex, Birmingham T: 0345 257 9969 E: lee@techav.events W: www.techav.events

MARQUEES 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

YSLV London & York T: 0800 080 3310 E: hire@yslv.co.uk W: www.yslv.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

Azorra Limited T: +44 [0] 7457 404054 E: hello@azorra.co.uk W: www.azorra.co.uk

Top Cat Big Tops Tents & Marquees Ltd The Old Stable Yard, Gasworks Ln, Achynlleth, SY20 8BY T: 01654 700030 E: info@topcatbigtops.co.uk W: www.topcatbigtops.co.uk

LEGAL

LIGHTING TOWERS Boels Rental T: 01245 208031 E: dale.fletcher@boels.co.uk W: www.boels.com Events Crew Limited T: 01963 364399 E: info@eventscrew.com W: www.eventscrew.com

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MEDICAL SERVICES Codeblue Medical UK Head Office – Codeblue, Grove Farm, Lane End Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP14 3NR T: 0203 835 8486 W: http://www.codebluemedical.co.uk : https://www.linkedin.com/company/codeblue-uk/ : https://www.facebook.com/CodeblueUK

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CONNECTIONS 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 safety and medical T: 07776 128 409 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 PARKING Wise Parking T: 03301 334522 E: info@wiseparking.co.uk W: www.wiseparking.co.uk PLANT HIRE Hopkins Machinery T: 01633 680754 E: hire@hopkinsmachinery.co.uk W: www.hopkinsmachinery.co.uk PORTABLE TOILET HIRE Excloosive Event Hire Field House, Bromley Park, Abbots Bromley Rugeley, Staffordshire WS15 3AH T: 01283 575 749 M: 07778 473 064 Email: info@excloosive.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

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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 POWER & GENERATORS 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 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

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CONNECTIONS 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 Midas Productions (UK) Ltd Unit 20, Clopton Commercial Park, Clopton, Ipswich, IP13 6QT T: 0333 772 0772 M: 07949 007 603 E: info@midas-uk.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 RADIO COMMUNICATIONS 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

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

Audiolink T: 020 8955 1100 E: info@audiolink.co.uk / hire@audiolink.co.uk W: www.audiolink.co.uk

Power Events T: 01277 424800 E: enquiries@powerevents.co.uk W: www.powerevents.co.uk

DCRS Edison Road, St.Ives, Cambs, PE27 3LH T: 0800 043 2688 E: sales@dcrs.co.uk W: www.dcrs.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 Robert Blezard Electrical Contractor Ltd T: 01200 777666 E: hello@robertblezard.co.uk W: www.robertblezard.co.uk Tempower T: 0845 6066049 E: hire@tempower.co.uk W: www.tempower.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

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/ REFRIGERATED STRUCTURES Dawsongroup tcs Export Drive, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Dawsongroup | tcs Nottinghamshire NG17 6AF T: 01623 518538 E: info@dgtcs.co.uk W: https://dgtcs.co.uk/inflatable-cold-rooms/ REUSABLE CUPS 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

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

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SCAFFOLD SYSTEM & TRUSS STRUCTURES Overlay Events Ltd 54 Oxford Road, Uxbridge UB9 4DN T: 01895 813627 E: info@overlayevents.com W: www.overlayevents.com SEATING Ace Seating Hire T: 01832 279333 E: info@aceseating.co.uk W: www.aceseating.co.uk

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CONNECTIONS SECURITY

SHOWERS Anubis Group T: 0800 121 6576 E: sales@anubis-security.com/ recruitment@anubis-security.com W: www.anubis-security.com DBD Group Services T: 01934 286000 and 07955314124 E: info@dbdgroupservices.co.uk W: www.dbdgroupservices.co.uk Manchett Security The Tack Room, Lorkins Farm, Conway’s Road, Orsett, Grays, Essex, RM16 3EL T: 01375 470 022 E: info@manchett-security.com W: www.manchett-security.com : @ManchettSec – : @ManchettSec – : ManchettGroup New Dawn Security and Training Unit 10 Dunley Hill Court, Ranmore Common Effingham RH5 6SX T: 01306779436 E: Events@ndst.ltd W: www.ndst.ltd 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 WH Management Group PO Box 230, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 1DX T: 01889 500 164 E: info@whmg.co.uk W: www.whmg.co.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

Sponsored by the Falcon Team

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 Rigger.co.uk T: 0333 772 0120 E: contact@rigger.co.uk W: www.rigger.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 BRIDGES Mitchell Bridges Limited London Road, Kings Worthy, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 7QN T: 01962 885040 M: 07768630373 E: chris@mitchellbridges.com W: www.mitchellbridges.com 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

www.falconteam.co.uk n 71

CONNECTIONS 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

TRACKWAY TRACKWAY

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

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

TRACKWAY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

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

Losberger De Boer Castle Park, Boundary Road, Brackley, Northamptonshire, NN13 7ES T: 01280 846500 E: sales.uk@losbergerdeboer.com W: www.losbergerdeboer.com/uk

Carbonite Traffic Solutions T: 020 3567 1479 E: enquiries@carbonitetraffic.co.uk W: www.carbonitetraffic.co.uk Right Guard Traffic Management Event Traffic Management CSAS Accredited Traffic Officers Car Parking Event Signage T: 01227 464588 E: info@rightguard.co.uk W: www.rightguard.co.uk

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

TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS

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

VEHICLE HIRE

The Dome Company T: 07876673354 E: info@thedomecompany.co.uk W: www.thedomecompany.co.uk The Halo Group T: 020 787703210 E: info@thehalogroup.co.uk W: www.thehalogroup.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

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Les Jones Transport 329 Cyncoed Road, Cardiff, CF23 6PD T: 0292 1851300 E: Alexander.dodd-jones@dojoservices.co.uk W: www.lesjonestransport.co.uk

Bradshaw Event Vehicles New Lane, Stibbington, Peterborough, PE8 6LW T: 01780 782621 E: enquiries@eventvehicles.co.uk W: www.eventvehicles.co.uk : @Bradshaw_EV VENUE MAPPING 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

Sponsored by the Falcon Team

CONNECTIONS VENUES 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 WASTE MANAGEMENT Falcon Cleaning The Falcon Nest, Unit 10 & 11, Lower Gower Road, Royston SG8 5EA E: admin@falconteam.co.uk W: www.falconteam.co.uk WATER & PLUMBING SERVICES 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

Temporary Water Solutions Water supplies for festivals and events T: 0800 001 6041 E: info@temporarywatersolutions.co.uk Water Direct T: 0345 345 1725 E: enquiries@water-direct.co.uk W: www.water-direct.co.uk Wicked Event Water Services Kevin: 07909 771996 E: info@wickedeventwaterservices.com W: www.wews.biz WIFI, INTERNET & STREAMING 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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Councils are cutting budgets, but local authority event teams continue to deliver amazing events programmes. How? We look at the challenges

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