S Cover image courtesy of Matthew Andrews
o, for some months now, Stand Out has been working hard behind the scenes, listening to your tales of time-consuming tender documentation and procurement processes. The documentation is a drain on small event teams, agencies, production houses and suppliers that must sift through large prequalification questionnaires in an attempt to win new business. Imagine my delight then to be able to tell you that Stand Out has done something about the issue that drives you to despair. Stand Out took your cause to Nick de Bois MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Events, and he has agreed to chair an open session at the House of Commons on January 22 – the session will look at how Government procurement processes can help sustain the events industry and small to medium sized businesses. This is your opportunity to put your questions to a number of local authorities and Government departments, including the chief procurement officer of Westminster City Council – do you have questions in relation to tender processes and pitching for public sector work? Have you had a positive procurement experience? Stand Out magazine, and Nick de Bois, Conservative MP for Enfield North, will host the open session but we do need your support and involvement. If you would like to join likeminded event industry professionals and share your experiences of tendering for events then all you need to do is register for the session by emailing caroline@cimltd.co.uk – there are limited spaces at the event so if you’d like to come along and hear what the Government is doing to support small to medium sized businesses, and local economies, then please get in touch. We want your support, your experiences and your input so that we can influence Government. This is an amazing opportunity to have your say. Can we encourage procurement teams to liaise with the events department so sensible tenders are written? Can you demonstrate how your local authority aided you in your search for new business? If we can highlight positive experiences, draw on best practice and give procurement teams advice then I think we’re onto a winner. The team is really looking forward to seeing you there and hearing your opinions. Our mission to address the thorny issue of event tendering has been on the cards for a while so let’s call this a Happy New Year present, and here’s wishing you a happy and healthy 2014. Happy reading,
Editor Caroline Clift – caroline@cimltd.co.uk
Studio Manager Paula Smith – paula@cimltd.co.uk
Publisher Neil Fagg – neil@cimltd.co.uk T: 01795 509101
Design and Production Grant Waters – grant@cimltd.co.uk James Taylor – james@cimltd.co.uk T: 01795 509108
Publication Manager Jo Stace – jo@cimltd.co.uk T: 01795 509113 F: 01795 591065 Account Manager Sarah Bourne – sarah@cimltd.co.uk T: 01795 509113 F: 01795 591065
Credit Facilities Manager Vickie Crawford – vickie@cimltd.co.uk T: 01795 509103 F: 01795 591065 Chief Executive John Denning – jdenning@cimltd.co.uk
No part of this magazine may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form – electronic, mechanical or physical – without express prior permission and written consent of the publisher. Contributions are invited and when not accepted will be returned only if accompanied by a fully stamped and addressed envelope. Manuscripts should be typewritten. No responsibility can be taken for drawings, photographs or literary contributions during transmission or in the editor’s hands. In the absence of an agreement the copyright of all contributions, literary, photographic or artistic, belongs to CIM Online Limited. The Publisher accepts no responsibility in respect of advertisements appearing in the magazine and the opinions expressed in editorial material or otherwise do not necessarily represent the views of the Publisher. The Publisher cannot accept liability for any loss arising from the late appearance or non publication of any advertisement. Information about products and services featured within the editorial content does not imply an endorsement by Stand Out magazine. © 2014. CIM Online Limited, The Goods Shed, Jubilee Way, Whitstable Road, Faversham, Kent ME13 8GD.
Industry Partners:
event
buyers 30-31 JAN 2014
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EDITOR’S LETTER
January 2014
Event Buyers Live preview
Would like to meet…
e v e t buyen r
30-31 JAN
2014
s
Event organisers will soon gather at the Crowne Plaza, Marlow, to take part in the inaugural Event Buyers Live – the two-day event for live event organisers will see agencies, organisers and production companies convene for a series of pre-arranged meetings and a variety of networking opportunities
T
hey organise more than 650 events per year and spend in excess of £162 million on event suppliers; whom are we talking about? The VIP attendees of the very first Event Buyers Live. Organised by event management company Insight Events, in association with Stand Out magazine, Event Buyers Live will take place at the Crowne Plaza, Marlow, on January 30 and 31, 2014, and will see event organisers meet event suppliers over the course of two days in a bid to find new products and services for future events. The brand new event is designed specifically for organisers of live and outdoor events – festivals, outdoor shows, product launches, community concerts and experiential activity to name a few – and features a myriad of networking and
educational opportunities so that organisers can justify time spent out of the office. What’s more, it’s free for organisers to attend. Event Buyers Live is an exclusive event that can only be attended by those that have pre-registered. Organisers that have budget to spend and who wish to meet industry suppliers in an informal, yet professional, environment will not find a more suited event than Event Buyers Live, says David Wilson, director of Insight Events, the business event’s organiser. “The events industry is extremely creative, but – unfortunately – we have all visited exhibitions and conferences that have left us a little uninspired,” Wilson comments. “Event Buyers Live will change all that, providing a professional platform for pre-arranged, faceto-face meetings.” So how does it work?
“Event organisers that register for the event tell the organising team who they would like to meet,” adds Lee D’Arcy, director of Insight Events also. “Think of the event as a kind of dating service for the events industry. Our VIPs have told us who they would like to meet and we’ve arranged a ‘date’ for them. “All attendees are given a personal agenda, which tells them where to go and when to be there. During the day, attendees have scheduled face-to-face meetings, a personal programme of appointments that each last 25 minutes. These allow buyers and suppliers to begin open discussions and are supported by networking opportunities and a gala dinner on the first evening,” D’Arcy explains further.
Personal agenda Event Buyers Live has embraced technology – attendees can either download their personal agenda onto their own iPad or tablet at the event when they register on January 30, or they can use free of charge an iPad courtesy of ITR Events. This will be supplied to the attendees when they register at the event. Furthermore, GenieConnect has developed the Event Buyers Live app, which can be downloaded – this will contain all event information too, and there’s even good old-fashioned pen and paper information packs for those that prefer scribbling to touch screens. Wilson explains: “We’ve listened to what organisers want from their own industry event and we’ve made sure that Event Buyers Live will deliver in a way that makes life easier for those attending.”
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Event Buyers Live preview
Say hello to... A myriad of event management and production companies, event agencies, inhouse events teams and show organisers have signed up for the event. VIP buyers include representatives from RHS Chelsea, Innovision, Marks and Spencer, Liz Hobbs Group, RPM, Ground Control, Kilimanjaro Live, London Borough of Hackney, Pride Glasgow, Triumph Motorcycles, Judgeday, Bournemouth Sevens, GSK, Westfield, Farnborough International, Generate, Herts District Council and John Lewis – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Of those registered, event spend exceeds £160 million, and as Stand Out writes, more organisers are confirming their attendance.
Organisers of live outdoor events will network at Event Buyers Live
Sharing best practice A series of case studies, round table discussions, problem-solving workshops and seminars will take place, actively encouraging industry professionals to exchange ideas and experiences. Health and safety experts behind the Royal Wedding and Glastonbury and the production team behind the Regent Street lights switch on and Brighton Pride are just some of the educational highlights. The event industry’s MP, Nick de Bois, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Events, and Conservative MP for Enfield North, has confirmed his attendance. De Bois will be presenting on January 30 – the session entitled What has the Government Done for You? will provide attendees with an opportunity to put their questions to the man that represents the sector at Government level. Event industry professionals will be able to talk with De Bois regarding business initiatives, Government policy and tendering. This
Nick Morgan
seminar comes just one week after he chairs an open session with regards to tendering at the House of Commons on behalf of Stand Out magazine. But that’s not all – there are more topical sessions from health and safety experts and festival organisers. Matt Stone, safety advisor at AD Health and Safety, Mike Richmond, founder and director of The Event Safety Shop and managing director of Richmond Event Management, and Steve Kearney, principal safety consultant at Gallowglass Health and Safety, will all take part in a panel discussion that will debate the revised Purple Guide and changes in health and safety legislation, drawing on health and safety best practice. Joe Heap, festival director of Towersey Festival, will also host a session. This seminar will look at the future plans of Towersey Festival, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2014, and share ideas with fellow organisers on how to keep an event fresh. And VIPs will hear from Tony Scott, organiser of Guilfest, who will reveal his challenging event experiences and discussions with his local authority – Guildford Borough Council – after the event was cancelled in 2012. And there’s more... In A problem shared is a problem halved event professionals are encouraged to come along armed with event-related problems so that they can be shared and a solution identified. Dean Parker, production manager at Wilde Ones, Nick Morgan, chief executive officer of Big Cat Group, and Caroline Clift, editor of Stand Out, will facilitate the discussions, which aim to encourage the sharing of best practice and experience. Says Neil Fagg, publisher of Stand Out: “The event is designed for people to do
business in a relaxed environment alongside great content, relevant and topical debate.” The event has received such great support ahead of its January debut that floor space and supplier spaces have sold out. Ace Crew, Owen Brown, Peppermint Bars, Gallowglass, Versatile Venues, Europa International, Macro Art, EventServ, British Red Cross and Powerline are just some of the suppliers attending the event. “We knew the event would do well, but we have been amazed as to how well the inaugural event has panned out. We listened to the needs of the industry, which gave us its feedback, and so it’s been an absolute pleasure to launch an event that it wants, and see the industry respond so positively,” Fagg concluded. As a result, plans are already in the pipeline for Event Buyers Live 2015, and it is set to be a major date in the live event industry’s calendar.
Nick de Bois
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