Stand Out Magazine Summer 2024

CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD BUILDS

SUMMER 2024

hen I sit down and write up a lengthy interview, I will often park the article for a few days and look at it later with a fresh pair of eyes. When you’re presented with a tonne of information that you think is important to the narrative, you need to take a step back. The break provides clarity; it’s an opportunity to assess the flow and structure of the piece, and make changes if you feel the story needs more.

The process is not dissimilar to an event debrief. It’s a truthful assessment of what you’ve created; what more could be done, what could be changed, and what needs improving? And sometimes, you just have to accept if it hasn’t turned out the way you had hoped.

This month, it’s been interesting to meet with so many live event professionals who have been assessing the way they run their events and festivals. Take, for example, Gloucester Tall Ships (page 57) and Pride in London (page 51), which have both had a change of guard in terms of delivery and operations or Slam Dunk, which faced significant site challenges thanks to torrential rain. Slam Dunk’s festival director Ben Ray (page 19) had the best-laid plans but Mother Nature threw a curveball. With teamwork and rational thinking, he was able to deliver a “miracle” and now he and his team will head into a string of debriefs to see what more, if anything, could have been done.

It’s these opportunities to look at something with fresh eyes that make live events and festivals all the more special. It demonstrates the passion that’s within the sector because there’s a wilful determination to get things right and deliver events that customers and fans will return to time and time again.

In this latest issue, we discuss (page 39) this very topic with Threshold Sports’ Tariq El Kashef, chief operating officer. Reflection is necessary if organisations such as Threshold Sports wish to successfully navigate the demands of an evolving sector, that is operating in tricky market conditions.

It’s interesting because as I write, another email has landed in my inbox with news of another festival’s final foray. Yet only this morning, I was talking about the phenomenal growth in sports and mass participation events. We must not be downhearted. Not all areas of our amazing sector are going through such a tough time. Many events are thriving so I wonder, are more fresh eyes needed or is it simply a case of having to accept that despite the best of efforts, things don’t always turn out the way we hope.

Happy reading,

Caroline

Size | Strength | Style

10 EVENT TENDERS

Check out the latest event tenders and news of contract wins

12 A FITTING TRIBUTE

Experienced event professionals worked in collaboration to produce two special events to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day

15 BRANCHING OUT

Forestry England’s Rhodri Jones discusses the expansion of the Forest Live music series

19 TALE OF TWO HALVES

Slam Dunk’s Ben Ray on torrential rain and traffic management plans and how incredible teamwork made a “miracle” happen

27 TOTALLY DEVOTED

Big Church Festival’s Becky Stevens talks about the importance of clear briefs and powering a main stage with green hydrogen…

37 ANSWER OUR CALL

StandOut Multimedia is looking for speakers for Event Buyers Live 2024. Have you got what it takes to inspire others?

39 RAISING YOUR GAME

Organisers are going above and beyond to enhance the spectator and participant experience at sporting events

51 FULL OF PRIDE

Pride in London 2024 featured several operational changes. LS Events’ Meg John walked StandOut through event developments

57 NAVIGATING A NEW COURSE

Gloucester City Council took over the management of Gloucester Tall Ships and changed the format of the free event to ticketed

61 CARE, COSTS AND CONSULTATION

Organisers should prepare for changes in event medical cover

FITTING TRIBUTE

COSTS AND CONSULTATION

This month’s

CONTRIBUTORS:

RHODRI JONES

Rhodri is the national events programme manager at Forestry England. He has been in his post for a year and joined the organisation with more than 15 years of experience in the arts and festivals industries. He oversees the planning and execution of Forest Live, the concert programme in England’s forests, leading a team of event managers and external partners. Before joining Forestry England, Rhodri worked at the Southbank Centre as a senior producer and was the organisational lead on Meltdown Festival. In this issue, Rhodri talks with StandOut about the expansion of Forest Live and developments at this year’s concert series.

MEG JOHN

Meg is a senior projects manager at LS Events. In October 2023, the event production agency won the competitive tender to deliver Pride in London. With extensive experience of working on high-profile and large-scale events and festivals, in project management, delivery and operational roles, Meg forms part of the all-female leadership team in charge of delivering Pride in London, the much-loved and one-day public event.

In this issue, Meg talks candidly about the operational planning behind Pride in London and the changes and improvements that have been adopted for 2024.

JACK FAYTER

Jack is tourism and destination marketing manager at Gloucester City Council and oversees the team that markets Gloucester City’s festivals and events. With a background in digital solutions as well as events, he is passionate about audience development and enticing people to buy tickets. Jack has vast experience in regional arts and heritage and has enjoyed roles at Bristol Old Vic as head of digital marketing and head of marketing and comms at St George’s Bristol. In this edition, Jack speaks about Gloucester Tall Ships and his role in taking the three-day event from a free event to ticketed by developing audience strategies and an extensive multi-channel marketing campaign.

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APPOINTMENTS OF THE MONTH

Gabriel Clark has been appointed global director event operations

Lapland UK has appointed Dan Filmer as director of live shows.

South by Southwest London has appointed Katy Arnander as director of programming.

A behind-the-scenes image from a pre-conference dinner for the European Society of Cardiology won the top prize at the Event Photography Awards 2024. Held at the Royal Institute of British Architects headquarters, the awards saw more than 240 guests peruse a gallery of short-listed photographs before Benjamin Arthur’s image called Set-up Symmetry was unveiled as the winner. The image, taken by Arthur, a Netherlands-based photographer, highlights the attention to detail required for successful events and the pride event professionals take in delivering them.

LINKEDIN POST OF THE MONTH

Recently, I found myself under a truck, trying to get the ramp in place. The locals were all on their phones, sitting on flight cases, because there was no one leading the charge. The production and logistics manager had both left before the load out. All through the job, we (the technical team) had been made to feel like outsiders. There was no real crew care. No toolbox talk/intros on day one, little to no information previous to arriving, no mention of where the tea and toilets were and mostly, no thanks after long physical shifts. Years ago, I promised myself I would always “work happy” and if anyone treated me badly, I would be professional until the job was done. So, here’s the lesson to anyone new to freelancing: You don’t have to work for anyone who makes you feel like cattle. There’s plenty of work with decent people out there. And here’s the lesson to anyone running production on events: If you are struggling to book freelancers, it might not be because they’re all truly busy. Look after your crew and they will look after you.

NEWS IN BRIEF

The Purple Guide Lite has added new chapters on safety advisory groups, events involving vehicles, licensing and water provision.

Sixty festivals and ten local authorities are taking part in a pioneering project to establish a Green Events Code of Practice across England.

National Protective Security Authority has published new guidance – Mitigation of Terrorist Threats at Venues during Ingress and Egress – to help security managers and crowd management professionals help keep people visiting venues and attending events safe.

Supplying the event industry with Traffic Management Parking Solutions Signage ANPR Admissions

Campsite White Lining

Looking forward to a busy summer of events in 2024! www.eventtc.com

Event Site Design has appointed Emma Foster as head of operations.

Owen Kent is the new director of live events at RG Live and Joni Marks is RG Live’s new managing director.

David Tite is the new society manager of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, organiser of the Great Yorkshire Show.

Verve has hired Sunny Patel as creative director.

at SailGP

Tender time

Looking for new business opportunities? Read on and discover the latest event tenders up for grabs and news of contract wins

Innovate UK Business Connect – part of Innovate UK – is looking for an exhibition design company to design, manufacture, install and derig an exhibition stand for the Cenex Expo. This tender is worth between £60,000 and £75,000. The deadline is 5pm on July 19. Email victoria.parsons@iuk.ktn-uk.org for more details.

The City of Edinburgh Council has appointed Metro Production Group, Warehouse Sound Services, Edinburgh Showtec, War Productions, Sound Acoustic Productions, and DM Audio to meet the production needs of live events at its cultural venues.

Stockton on Tees Borough Council has issued a tender to establish a framework of event suppliers. This tender, worth £1 million, has been divided into five lots: Audio, visual and lighting services, staging and structures, power and distribution, stewarding and security, fencing and toilets. The deadline is 12pm on July 24. Email corporateprocurement@stockton.gov.uk if you are interested in this tender opportunity.

Glasgow Life has awarded Paragon Power Services the temporary power contract for Mela, Merchant City Festival and WPBC 2024.

Pearce Hire has been appointed as the official AV, power, lighting, and rigging supplier to Melton Mowbray Town Estate in Leicestershire, the charitable trust that owns and operates the parks and open-air venues in the town.

Jisc has issued a £150,000 tender for contractor services for Digifest, taking place at ICC Birmingham’s Hall 3. Jisc requires the main hall to include a main stage, an exhibition area, stands and catering spaces. The deadline is 12pm on July 22. Interested? Email procurement@jisc.ac.uk

Hay Festival Foundation has awarded Festivals and Events International a contract to conduct an event feasibility study that will look at financial modelling and identify site options for future events.

HAY FESTIVAL

Image: © Hay Festival/Adam Tatton-Reid

A fitting tribute

Experienced event professionals worked in collaboration to produce two special commemorative events on the eve of D-Day

RAF VETERAN JOHN TROTTMAN AT D-DAY 80

All images: UK MOD © Crown copyright 2024/Sgt Jimmy Wise/Sgt Cathy Sharples

n June 5, D-Day veterans, Armed Forces personnel and special guests gathered at Southsea Common to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings and pay tribute to the veterans of World War II. They were joined in Portsmouth by thousands of members of the public to hear powerful testimonies from military personnel and D-Day veterans as well as readings and performances from actresses Helen Mirren and Helen George.

On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, BBC Studios produced two ticketed commemorative outdoor events, enlisting the expertise of Chromatic’s Steve Nolan, who led on the event’s production, and a huge roster of event suppliers – including Star Live, SKYMAGIC, Qdos Event Hire, Entertee, Power Logistics, Roadphone NRB, Sunbelt Rentals, Showforce, BizMonkeys, Terry Tew Sound, Planet FX, MTD, Event Hire, J-EMSS and CW Plant – to deliver the vital infrastructure needed.

BIG DECISIONS

“We always knew that events would take place in Normandy at the Normandy Memorial at Bayeux, but it was a while before we decided to hold an event in Portsmouth,” said Nolan, event production director on behalf of BBC Studios. “We then had to decide how big it would be, who would come, how the events in Normandy and Portsmouth would join up, and who would be producing the event. The BBC or someone else?”

It wasn’t until February this year that it was confirmed that a commemorative event in Portsmouth would take place. The production team visited several sites but creatively, they kept going back to Portsmouth and Southsea Common.

With time quickly passing by and a large and significant event to organise, Nolan contacted Star Live to put a stage roof system on hold and seating. He had to be sure that the event would have the infrastructure it required to meet the needs of its distinguished guests.

EFFICIENT APPROACH

Star Live was contracted to create a largescale intimate arena comprised of a main stage, 4,500 seats, a Royal box capable of holding 180 VVIPS, and various platforms for veterans and BBC camera crews. The arena was to be used for two events; a daytime event attended by members of the Royal family and political dignitaries and an evening event that paid a poignant tribute to those who fought in the war.

Star Live had a very short lead time so it relied on tried and tested tech and equipment to achieve the event’s look, feel and aims. “For projects such as this, typically show designers are the first to be hired,” explained Grahame Muir, chief executive officer of Star Live: “However, in this case, we designed the stage before the BBC tendered for designers, which was an unusual but efficient approach.”

“The BBC went through the tender process to select designers, but given the predetermined stage structure, the focus was on how the design would look, rather than changing the fundamental physics of the structure,” Muir continued. “This was all predicated on the key factor that there would always be a substantial screen with the sea as the backdrop.”

CHALLENGES

The site build began on May 7 with a raft of suppliers loading in a wide range of infrastructure, including 1.6 kilometres of Steelshield, 1.9 kilometres of heras fencing, five kilometres of power cable, 10,800 square metres of trackway, 5,000 square metres of pedestrian walkway, 4,500 square metres of marquees, 22 portable buildings, more than 450 lighting fixtures and five articulated trucks of video screen.

Nolan was joined on site by Ollie Brown, site manager, Kay Perry, site logistics, and Joe Nolan, site production co-ordinator. Gavin Scott, project director at Star Live, led Star’s on-site team, which installed more than 2,000 square metres of stage decking and support for more than 700 square metres of screen with none of it flown.

Scott commented: “Waterlogged ground conditions and the need to preserve the grass in the audience area for the TV coverage were just some of the challenges we faced and given the scale of the infrastructure, unhelpful weather conditions for rigging also made things challenging.

“In addition to this, the original scenic facade was replaced with an LED screen, a late design decision that significantly increased the weight on the cantilever from approximately 4kg to 4 tonnes. The stage cantilever was a critical element to avoid any metalwork being visible in the camera’s sightlines. This design change made things tricky (but not impossible!)”

TEAMWORK

Star Live worked with CT, providing the screen supplier with all the facilities to fix its screens into position and it worked with Blackout and 4 Square, which clad the staging to make it look “spectacular”.

“On-site, it was all about cooperation between suppliers,” Muir continued. “Everyone worked together rather than independently.

“One of Star Live’s USPs is the ability to have a proper understanding of what all the other contractors need. We must have a deep understanding of what they need from us in terms of facilities and a safe working environment. This job was all about on-site collaboration.”

FOCUS AND RESPECT

The event highlighted the value of strong partnerships and showcased how technology used on major rock and roll shows is now deployed on ceremonial occasions. For example, SKYMAGIC, which has produced drone shows at Coachella and Wilderness, worked with the BBC and Star Live in 2023 on the King’s Coronation Concert. The use of drones was such a success that BBC Studios once again called on SKYMAGIC to produce a drone show for the commemorative evening event called Tribute to the Fallen. It featured 500 drones and was a poignant tribute televised on BBC One.

“There was a great deal of respect for the occasion,” Muir added. “The focus of any event is usually on the main performer. In this case, it was all about marking the occasion and had little to do with who was on stage.”

Nolan concurred. He concluded: “Concerts [like the Jubilee and Coronation] are wonderful to be a part of but this event was special and a wonderful moment to be a part of.

“We all talk about putting on major events and about the amount of Steelshield used but that pales into significance when you look at the logistics that went into the invasion.”

SKYMAGIC

Branching out

Forestry England’s Rhodri Jones, national events programme manager, discusses the expansion of the Forest Live music series

rganising an event in a coniferous forest for 5,000 people could not be more different to organising a festival at London’s Southbank Centre but it’s the precise situation that Rhodri Jones finds himself in.

Jones is the national events programme manager at Forestry England and it’s his job to lead a small events team and deliver Forest Live, a major live music series held among the trees in six of the UK’s most beautiful forests – Cannock Chase, Delamere, Thetford, Sherwood Pines, Westonbirt Arboretum, and Dalby Forest.

When StandOut meets Jones, there are just two days before a woodland arena within Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire, opens its gates to thousands of music fans who – over three nights – are coming to see Bryan Adams, Nile Rodgers and Chic, and Richard Ashcroft.

“I don’t think during my 10 years at Southbank Centre, I talked about car parking,” Jones says, laughing. “Transport. Logistics. Just getting these massive set-ups in these sites in the most responsible way we can, is such a big part of this event and it’s been a learning curve.

“I wanted to get out of London and I wanted to get some experience in green field sites and this is about as green field as you can possibly get.”

ARTISTS AND AUDIENCES

Jones is open and honest. He has been in his role for just over a year. In 2023, he observed Forest Live and how the events worked. Now he has taken a more hands-on role in what he calls a “transformational year”.

For starters, Forest Live is taking place on six sites compared to four sites in 2023 and there will be 23 Forest Live concerts compared to 14 last year. VIP ticket options and experiences have been introduced and the production of the concerts has been outsourced too.

In March 2023, Live Nation’s Cuffe and Taylor agreed to an exclusive seven-year contract [starting in 2024] to present Forest Live. A competitive tender process was signed and sealed before Jones was appointed national events programme manager.

According to Jones, there are several reasons why Cuffe and Taylor were

appointed and access to artists was just one.

“Forest Live has a very loyal audience, an audience that comes back year after year, which we’re so grateful for,” explains Jones.

“For me, the next stage for this festival is to make it something for everyone. We want the forest to be a place for everyone. Access to artists and being able to get artists from all types of music, across the spectrum, was really important. We want different audiences to keep coming back to the forest.

“I would say we were hitting certain demographics, but not really younger audiences,” Jones continues. “This year, we’ve got Becky Hill and Anne-Marie again. We want everyone to come here and experience Forest Live for the first time and then come back and walk the dog. It’s that kind of Trojan horse for a lifelong experience, a lifelong relationship with the forests. People are attracted by a big-name artist, but then go ‘Wow, I didn’t realise this was half an hour’s drive away’.”

WIDER NETWORK

Jones says that one of the big challenges of

his job is to try and navigate the changes that come with organising a live event for 5,000 people and balancing them with day-to-day operations in the forest. He has to ensure that the event delivery teams and local teams are happy with everything that’s happening around them.

“Another reason why we brought in Cuffe and Taylor was that we were doing it [organising Forest Live] once a year,” adds Jones. “Big seismic changes once a year were really difficult. There’s a tendency to go, right, what did we do last year, that’s how we manage waste, that’s how we do the generators.

“But what we really wanted to do is, along with the diversity of our line-ups and the audiences that we attract, we really wanted to step up in terms of sustainability and step up in terms of audience reach and those were some real primary drivers.

“It’s a huge upheaval for us internally to mobilise that every year with our core staff but also, if you want to make big, big changes, we need to take learnings from organisers who are doing this day in, day out and who have a much wider network,” Jones continues.

STEP CHANGE

Becky Hill kicked off Forest Live on June 13 with a show at Delamere Forest. So how did the show – the first with a new delivery partner – go?

“Considering the number of changes there was, personally, I don’t think it could have been any better,” Jones comments. “You know, you’ve seen behind the scenes of many live events, and there are a million variables and considering we’d changed hundreds of things, there was a lot that could have gone wrong, and it didn’t. It was a great one to get under our belt.

“I’m also very privileged that I have colleagues at Forestry England who have a granular level knowledge about which area of the woods gets waterlogged first and how to drain it and then you’ve got a massive events promoter in Cuffe and Taylor who can share with you what they have done at Lytham Festival and details such as, this is how they got their event licence from this amount of people to this amount.”

Jones is excited for customers to experience Forest Live’s new additions, including “enhanced production values”. But what will stand out? He says: “Forest Live has been going for decades, and there are people who know what it is. I think those people, when they come, are going to be really impressed by the enhanced production values and the step change in terms of sound,video and the presentation of the concert. That’s going to be the wow factor for those guys. And then there’s the other half of the audience, which are new and who will enter the forest and go ‘Wow, these are genuinely unique settings’.”

Jones concludes: “Having that experience of seeing an incredible concert in the middle of dense woodland is just something else.”

SUPPLIERS LIST

Stage – Acorn Event Structures

Power – Pearce Hire

Marquees – Coopers Marquees

Toilets – Excloosive and YorToilets

Site management – Events Design Company

Barriers – Arena

PA Hire – Adlib Audio Ltd

Tower lighting – Illumin8

Traffic management – CSP

Radios – Roadphone NRB

Wi-Fi – Redbox Events

Portable buildings – Search

Catering – Krakin Catering

RHODRI JONES ( he/him)

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Tale of two halves

Ben Ray, festival director of Slam Dunk, discusses torrential rain and traffic management plans and how incredible teamwork made a “miracle” happen

SLAM DUNK

Images: © Eddy Maynard/ Soph Ditchfield/Alex Wilkinson

t’s great to have a plan but until you test any plan, that’s all it ever is. A piece of paper with detailed instructions that you hope will resolve a problem should you face a particular scenario on-site.

Slam Dunk – the UK pop-punk, emo, metal, and alternative music festival held in Hatfield and Leeds – has always been lucky with the weather, until this year. The organising team has always had a wet weather plan but this May, that plan finally got fully tested.

“The event happened and customers went away happy but what customers didn’t see or realise is what went on behind the scenes to achieve that,” explained Ben Ray, festival director. “Believe me, it was an absolute miracle.”

Ray is talking to StandOut just days after Slam Dunk has taken place. We had been together just six days earlier, sitting in crew catering, chatting over a drink as the operations and production team put the finishing touches to a sunny Hatfield site. But when we catch up, on the other side of two crazy days of music, joy, and mud, Ray is keen to acknowledge the site challenges in Leeds that made life a little more difficult than he had hoped and praise the team for their hard work, steadfastness and tenacity.

CONSTANTLY CHANGING PLANS

Slam Dunk is a large-scale 30,000-capacity festival that takes place in Hatfield on one day (May 25) before the entire production team jumps on a bus and travels overnight to do it all again the next day (May 26) in Leeds.

The Hatfield event – which benefited from a revised site layout, new traffic management measures, increased toilet provision and more traders and drinking water points – ran smoothly. Yet with fewer than 24 hours to go,

Ray and his team knew they were not in for an easy ride in Leeds.

“There had been some rain earlier in the week on both sites,” continued Ray. “In Leeds, the site was in good condition and we didn’t think there were going to be any issues but on Saturday, we were made aware that the car parks were not looking good. They had not dried out as we had hoped and we were concerned.

“We started coming up with some plans but every time, we were given a different issue. The team came up with a solution and different scenarios were projected. Ultimately, it got to a point late on the Saturday, that we had to come up with different solutions for pick up and drop off, changing where we parked some people, and come up with different hard standing areas.”

A CLEAR PICTURE

At the 2023 event, the festival’s car parks came under scrutiny. This year, the organising team – led by Ray and LFX Events’ Luke Fitzmaurice, Slam Dunk’s event director –worked hard to rectify the issues experienced by customers last year.

Speaking from the Hatfield site, Fitzmaurice explained: “The challenge that we had in 2023 was the line-up attracted a significantly increased number of people. Some of them were not our usual Slam Dunk fans.

“The festival has always offered the ability to pay for parking on the door but because we had such a difference in our arrival profile – going from 10 per cent on the door to closer to 50 per cent – it meant that our plans for the number of vehicles we were expecting were out by about 30 per

MAIN STAGE ACTION

LUKE FITZMAURICE ( he/him)

LIVE EVENTS & SAFETY MANAGEMENT

cent. We had planned to receive 4,500 cars and we got 6,500. It just took longer to get them in and longer to get them out than we’d planned so this year, we’ve introduced advance parking only, with no availability to pay on the day, giving us a very clear picture of who’s arriving.”

GET A FEEL FOR SALES

Changes to the traffic management plan and car parking were not the only development at Slam Dunk 2024.

Fitzmaurice continued: “We’ve had a lot of site changes in terms of layout. We’ve redesigned the site so that we don’t have bar queues overlapping and we have worked with D&J, our catering provider, on that. Plus, we’ve massively increased the number of toilets on site, and that was a public pledge that we have fulfilled.”

He added: “We have also changed a couple of the stages, moving from a big top to a trailer stage, and changed our security provider in Hatfield to NDST.”

Ray stated that several site changes made this year were “cost driven” and there are several things on site that the team would not have done if the festival had sold out.

Ray explained: “The site [Hatfield] was designed for 30,000 people like we sold last year. One of the things that I didn’t like about this year was that it was quite obvious from early sales that we weren’t going to get to the 30,000 mark but still, we ploughed ahead with the design and the procurement for a 30,000-capacity site.

“Ultimately, we should have changed certain designs a lot earlier on. I have to take

full responsibility because I was there going ‘Don’t worry, we’re going sell those tickets’ –like every promoter does. But yeah, I should have made the call a lot earlier and asked people to wind back.

“We need to get some initial feel on sales before we go: What are we designing? Are we designing a 20,000-capacity site or a 30,000-capacity site or anything in between?”

COMMS

Ray and the Slam Dunk team must get site infrastructure, facilities and operational movements spot on. Hardcore Slam Dunk fans come for the bands and the line-up and might grab something to eat and drink.

Therefore, how they get to the site, exit the site and queue for essential amenities is vital.

In Hatfield, the new traffic management plans worked “like a dream”, cars flowed quickly both on the ingress and egress and customer feedback was “great”.

“It was a massive success,” Ray commented. “The annoying thing was that we didn’t get to run that operation in Leeds and show people that we had solved the traffic problems.

“On the Saturday night, in Hatfield, we knew we would have to change things [in Leeds] dramatically. But we didn’t want to issue any instructions to our customers the night before because we knew there was

NDST IN OPERATION

JAMES CRUTE ( he/him)

NEXT LEVEL EVENT CATERING

a good chance on Sunday morning, that we would have to change them again. We decided not to put out any comms on the Saturday, because we wanted to make sure when the comms went out, they were the final, definite plans.”

DEBRIEFS AND TEAMWORK

The Slam Dunk team received some criticism for communicating the new parking plans on Sunday morning. Ray and Fitzmaurice closed some of the festival’s car parks in Leeds, refunded anyone who had purchased advance parking and laid on additional, and free shuttle buses. Slam Dunk also moved the festival’s pedestrian ingress route.

The rain continued throughout the day and some areas of the festival site did become a mud bath.

“We did get the site open and we did make the event happen because of the staff. It’s a big thank you to them and I want to give them the recognition they deserve,” commented Ray.

“We’ve not been affected by that much rain before. It was a challenge but Luke Fitzmaurice, LFX Events, and his team really made the event happen.”

Fitzmaurice was assisted in Leeds by Timm Cleasby, operations manager, and Eddie Grant, health and safety officer while the Hatfield site featured the site management expertise of James Crute and Will Hodgson, safety consultant.

According to Ray, ultimately, there was a lot that couldn’t be helped. Now that the festival is over, the team will have a debrief and make better fallback plans for 2025 in case the site is waterlogged again and the car parks become inoperable.

Ray concluded: “I cannot thank them [the teams] enough for their hard work and their determination. There were problems thrown at us and he [Luke] was coming up with solutions to those problems when they appeared. If Luke and the rest of them weren’t as good as they were, the event probably wouldn’t have happened.”

SUPPLIERS LIST –SLAM DUNK SOUTH

Site, production and event management: LFX Events

Security: NDST

Medical: Events Medical

Health and safety: LFX Safety

Traffic management: The Traffic Management Company

Staging: SRG

Trailer stages: Hire-A-Stage

Screens: AV Matrix

Lighting: Zig Zag Lighting

PA: SAS Audio

Crew and artist catering: Flying Trestles

Catering/concessions management:

D&J

Bars: Futuresound Group

Portable buildings: Qdos Event Hire

Toilets: Fortis Hire

Big tops: A&J Big Tops and Carlinden

Marquees: Strawberry Marquees

Fencing: GAP Group

Event safety barrier: Arena Group

Accreditation: Eventree

Power: Flying Hire

Wi-Fi: Lets Tech

Water: H2O

Trackway: Sunbelt Rentals

Buggies: Enterprise Flex-E-Rent

Plant: Charles Wilson and Ardent Hire

SUPPLIERS LIST –SLAM DUNK NORTH

Site, production and event management: LFX Events

Security: Advantage Crowd Management and Titan Risk Management

Medical: Trinity Medical

Health and Safety: LFX Safety

Traffic Management: The Traffic Management Company

Staging: Acorn Event Structures

Trailer stages: 3D Productions

Screens: AV Matrix

Lighting: Zig Zag Lighting

PA: SAS Audio and 3D Productions

Crew & Artist Catering: Flying Trestles

Catering/concessions management: D&J

Bars: Futuresound Group

Portable buildings: W G Search

Toilets: UK Loos

Big tops: A&J Big Tops and Carlinden Marquees: Nationwide Marquees

Fencing and event safety barrier: Arena Group

Accreditation: Eventree

Power: Innovation

Wi-Fi: Lets Tech

Water: H2O

Trackway: Sunbelt Rentals

Buggies: Enterprise Flex-E-Rent

Plant: Charles Wilson

BEN RAY ( he/him)

Totally devoted

Becky Stevens, event manager of Big Church Festival, talks about the importance of clear briefs, growing demands for accessible facilities, and powering a main stage with green hydrogen…

My first year as event manager was horrendous,” says Becky Stevens, event manager of Big Church Festival. Stevens sits opposite StandOut with a brew. She is being brutally honest as she reflects on her working journey at the Christian music festival, as we look out the window at some big black clouds and shelter from an impending downpour.

“This is my sixth event, working on Big Church,” she continues, chatting honestly, dressed head to toe in waterproof gear.

“Before COVID, I was the festival’s safety manager when we had about 10,000 attendees. When we came back from COVID, I came in as event manager and because we had postponed the event, we ended up with 35,000 people. Ticket sales spiked just before the event, we had planned for 28,000 but ended up with 35,000.

“The problem we also had, like everyone that year, was that we couldn’t find suppliers, and we’d lost people but people with historical knowledge.”

Stevens soon discovered that not every aspect of the event – what goes where and who does what – was well documented. She entrenched herself in her new role and quickly ensured that everyone had a clear job description, a clear brief and knew exactly what was expected of them.

Now, in her third year as the event manager, Stevens and the Big Church team are reaping the benefits that come with adopting sound processes, and now that everyone knows their parameters, the team has the time and head space to make positive changes to the event plan; for 2024 that includes more weather planning,

enhanced accessibility facilities and the introduction of green hydrogen power.

“I think it’s important to look at where you can be more efficient and make sure you’re more resilient as an organisation,” Stevens adds. “The event is always more than just one person, and I want to make sure that if I get run over by a bus tomorrow, someone can step in and the plans are not in one person’s head.”

TEAMWORK

At Big Church Festival 2023, it rained and rained and rained. Much of the site was waterlogged but the festival team was lucky that the rain stopped before the gates opened and hot weather followed. During the build, it was soon obvious that some areas of the event site were not fit for purpose. Therefore, more resilient weather plans have been a big focus for 2024.

BIG CHURCH FESTIVAL

Images: © Big Church Festival/Christopher Werrett

ROBBIE THOMSON ( he/him) AND BECKY STEVENS ( she/her)

Stevens explains: “We’ve worked a lot with the estate to look at drainage and grounds maintenance. We moved some things to higher ground so that it won’t be so bad if it rains like it is now. That’s been a key thing.”

Stevens is joined on-site by Robbie Thomson, production manager, Georgia Bond, volunteer manager, Gemma Manvell, logistics manager, Ian Money, who is leading the safety team, and Mary Corfield, access manager. Together, they oversee the delivery and operations of Big Church Festival, the Christian music festival that takes place within the beautiful – but rather hilly – grounds of the Wiston Estate, West Sussex.

Stevens continues: “We’ve looked at accessibility this year. We’ve increased the accessibility team to meet a growing demand for our access facilities, including accessible showers and toilets.

“We also have a very big and hilly site, so there’s an access bus that takes people with mobility issues around the site because it can be difficult to get from A to B.”

But that’s not all. Big Church Festival has a mammoth team of volunteers who have all been briefed on accessibility. They understand how to respond to a customer if they are asked a question about accessibility facilities. It is not just the job of the access team to make customers with accessibility needs feel comfortable and welcome. It’s the job of everyone on site.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

Over the last 12 months, the organising team has surveyed customers. The results have led to several event developments, including the movement of some children’s activities and the development of the festival’s main

avenue area. Again, it’s not the only change. This year, sustainability is a big focus too. For example, everyone who has gone through the accreditation process has been asked about their mode of transport and mileage so that the event’s carbon footprint can be reduced. But what’s more, Big Church Festival has opted to use green hydrogen to power the main stage.

Pearce Hire, the event power specialist, and GeoPura, the renewable energy provider, are working together to power the main stage [20m x 44m] and surrounding services –including a bar area – entirely from hydrogen.

GeoPura’s hydrogen-powered generators harness green hydrogen to deliver power –750kW – with no emissions other than water. On-site, there are three huge hydrogen power units (HPU). Each HPU is comprised of a shipping container, fuel cell, cooling fans,

battery storage and a whole heap of control panels that baffle StandOut’s non-tech brain.

“They [the HPUs] have the most amazing and complex RAMs I’ve ever looked at,” comments Stevens, as she walks StandOut around the units alongside Alan Hobbs, field engineer and manager at GeoPura, and Alan Radband, team lead at Pearce Hire.

As we sample the tepid water that is produced by the unit, we soon realise that if you had enough of it, you could technically make your own gin, but that’s another story. The use of green hydrogen will help the festival to reduce its emissions [5.8 tonnes of CO2 we’re informed, post-festival] and it didn’t cost a great deal more than any standard traditional diesel generator solution.

Stevens continued: “Myself and Robbie were keen to improve sustainability on site. We have been looking at lots of different

things that we can do. We were really pleased when we were approached by Pearce Hire and we were really happy to trial the units. Eventually, it would be fantastic if we could have all our areas powered by hydrogen.”

BIG CHANGES

Stevens and the team have an eye on the future and hope to build on the sustainability initiatives that have been introduced this year. Already, the team are planning for 2025 with big changes on the horizon. The event is moving from the May Bank Holiday to the August Bank Holiday weekend in direct response to artist availability and the event will become a three-day event.

“Luckily, I have 15 months to plan it,” Stevens concludes, laughing. “It definitely keeps you on your toes. It would be boring if it was the same every year.”

SUPPLIERS LIST

Power – Pearce Hire and GeoPura

Marquees and structures – Brooks Marquees, ABC Marquees, Intents, A&J Big Tops, Marquee2Hire and Microspan

Staging – Star Live, Alistage and Bullet Stage

Health and safety – Hybred Events

Water – MTD

Accommodation – Bunkabin

Security – Vespasian

Toilets – GigLoo, Zoo Loos, and Mobiloo

Sound, light and AV – MTS Live, Solotech, and ADI

Vehicles – OBH and Bradshaw Event

Vehicles

Radios – DCRS

Portable buildings – Wernick Events

Event medical – Event Medic Services

New power generation

An increasing number of organisers are turning to cleaner, greener energy sources to power their events…

hen Coldplay first announced it was touring with its Music of the Spheres Tour in 2021, the band pledged to reduce its direct carbon emissions by at least 50 per cent. Now, the band is happy to report that direct CO2 emissions from the first two years of the world tour are 59 per cent less than their previous stadium tour.

According to the figures, which have been collated by Hope Solutions and verified by the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative, changing how the tour is powered has had a significant hand in the overall results. Eighteen shows have been powered entirely using Showpower’s SmartGrid system, a special tourable battery solution made from recycled BMW i3 batteries. Plus, an average of 17kWh per show has been generated using in-venue solar installations, kinetic dance floors and power bikes. That’s enough to power the band’s C-stage performance each night.

NEW STANDARD

The latest statistics are setting a “new standard” for touring and the live events industry and form part of a study, suggesting practical solutions to reduce the

environmental impact of live music events. This is anticipated to be completed this summer. What’s more, Coldplay’s approach is inspiring others, and the adoption of battery tech is growing at a rapid rate. More and more organisers are realising the cost savings and efficiencies that can be achieved by changing how they power their events.

GREEN POWER

Project Power, which recently worked with Ops People and Smart Power on Red Bull Soapbox Race, trialled Lifos’ Fort solar PV hybrid products at Brockwell Live, powering site lighting as well as a small production area.

Lifos’ Fort solar PV battery storage solution is comprised of an integral solar panel system that packs into the Fort unit. The solar units come with a kick stand but a solar panel roof kit frame is also available, making it easy to erect the panels on the roof of a welfare unit or production cabin.

Packed with 18 solar panels that neatly fit inside when transporting, the Fort delivers 3.4kW of green power and is ideal for use on any site where mains power is not available. Full telemetric software monitors the Lifos

Fort, so organisers can see power outputs and solar inputs and calculate the diesel and CO2 saved all in real-time. In turn, this enables organisers to understand loads and when they can switch off any generators and run their site on solar and battery.

NEW PRODUCTS

Yet Lifos’ Fort unit is not the only new product to hit the market. Instagrid, the company behind the portable battery-based power system, has launched Instagrid Link. It’s a modular smart power distribution device that lets users connect multiple power sources – including different products from different manufacturers – allowing seamless switching between them.

For example, up to three portable power units can be connected simultaneously to Instagrid Link. Once one unit runs out, Instagrid Link – which can be used with any combination of 230 V AC power supplies – seamlessly switches to the next available unit, enabling extended runtimes. If the user continuously ”hot-swaps” units in and out as the discharged units recharge, an effectively unlimited supply of power is ensured.

GEOPURA’S HYDROGEN-POWERED UNIT

BATTERY POWER

“We’ve invested heavily in greener products such as battery energy storage and recently brought medium capacity sized battery units into our fleet around the 250kVA power capacity with battery storage for 575kWh,” said Ross McConachie, managing director of Summit Power. “These units can work in conjunction with generators of similar capacities to supplement the power provision for areas in festivals such as main stage power or in more sound-sensitive areas such as campsites, as the sole power source, with enough energy storage to cover two to three days of energy usage.”

According to McConachie, smaller multiples of generators coupled with battery units, improved power management and a sensible electrical distribution network will ensure the most efficient method of power generation at the lowest possible operating cost base. He continued: “There is still a big reliance on diesel power generation as the traditional go-to technology. However, more opportunities are appearing to introduce battery storage to areas of events and festivals traditionally powered by diesel generators.

“For instance, we worked closely with the power technical team from SLX on the recent Moonwalk event to introduce batteries for the first time and we’ve been able to capture all of the power demand across the various locations so we can deliver more areas of the event by battery in future years.”

ENERGY STORAGE

Summit Power is supporting GL events at Lost Village, Festival Power is providing Love Trails festival with a solar hybrid system that will power the campsite (showers, festoon, lighting and water pumps), Festival Power powered Glastonbury’s newest off-site glamping site at Holt Farm, and Instagrid and Lifos’ Fort were in use at Glastonbury, powering the stage and surrounding area within Green Fields.

Fresh from a spin at Glastonbury Festivals, Octopus Energy’s wind turbine will be at Ally Pally this July to help power Kaleidoscope Festival and its Summer Season of outdoor gigs. “Gusty Spinfield” will enable the venue and organiser to explore how it can embed renewable energy into its events and it is one of many steps being taken to reduce the venue’s environmental impact.

Furthermore, Chromatic recently contracted Power Logistics – which has secured new three-year contracts with BST Hyde Park and Boomtown – to deliver temporary power to D-Day 80, comprised of two televised commemorative events to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Data gathered at the King’s Coronation Concert and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Concert – both televised by the BBC –enabled Power Logistics to design a power management solution for Chromatic.

Ian Peniston, head of projects, at Power Logistics, explained: “Utilising the information from the power monitoring, we knew what we needed to power catering,

BIG CHURCH FESTIVAL

Wide range of HVO Generators available for nationwide hire, and suitable for various applications across all sectors. Progen Power’s fleet of rental generators range from 18kva, ideal for providing power to smaller sites, up to 500kva appropriate for powering a large main stage, data centre or major construction equipment. We also stock various distribution boards, festoon lighting, and cable available for hire.

Progen Power is built around a team of power experts who support our diverse clientele with dependable Turnkey Temporary Power Solutions.

dressing rooms and the production area. We were also able to significantly reduce the number of generators by utilising grid power boosted by battery storage for the Portsmouth event.”

In total, 832kWh of battery energy storage was deployed by Power Logistics – 422kWh of energy storage was in use with a small grid supply available. To save energy during the five-week build period, lighting was fitted with dusk till dawn sensors and lights in temporary structures were fitted with light switches.

According to Steve Nolan, event production director at Chromatic, working on behalf of BBC Studios, using the energy storage to “boost” the grid supply during busy periods saved the production at least 10,000 litres of fuel and he also believes it’s only a matter of a couple of years before the industry sees bigger, more substantial battery systems that can take a show load.

CLEANER ENERGY SOURCE

“Innovation and investment into renewable energy solutions continue,” continued Peniston. “This year we’ve been deploying methanol fuelled, hydrogen fuel cells. Hydrogen normally comes as a gas which is volatile and requires large tankers. With the methanol fuel cells, the hydrogen is created within the unit. So far, the units have been deployed at Radio 1’s Big Weekend and during the build period for BST Hyde Park.”

Radio 1’s Big Weekend and BST Hyde Park are not the first events to use hydrogen this year. Big Church Festival, the Christian and gospel music event, powered its main stage with green hydrogen for the first time and the Isle of Wight Festival integrated hydrogen-powered generators into its power infrastructure too.

Both festivals used GeoPura’s hydrogenpowered units (HPUs). At Isle of Wight, the HPUs replaced traditional diesel fuel to

power crew and artist catering and part of the guest village; supplying zero-emission electricity from hydrogen for the first time at the festival and at Big Church Festival, diesel generators were exchanged for green hydrogen power, as the 30,000-capacity event took proactive steps towards mitigating climate change and cutting air pollution.

Pearce Hire engaged with GeoPura at Big Church Festival to investigate the option of powering the main stage and surrounding services entirely from hydrogen. Working in collaboration with Pearce Hire, GeoPura provided sustainable electricity, using green hydrogen, throughout the weekend-long festival resulting in a saving of approx. 5.8 tonnes of CO2 compared to previous events.

Steve Hicks, project manager at Pearce Hire, commented on the project: “Diesel generators have long been a staple in event power generation, but their environmental impact cannot be ignored.

“In years past, we have been implementing strategies such as power logging, HVO fuel and battery storage units to improve our sustainability plan, but this year we wanted to go one step further,” Hicks continued. “By adopting GeoPura’s green hydrogen technology, we’re not only transitioning to delivering reliable electricity more sustainably but also providing unforgettable experiences for attendees.”

“The introduction of green hydrogen power at Big Church Festival represents a significant milestone in our commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability. By partnering with GeoPura and Pearce Hire, we demonstrated that large-scale events can transition to cleaner energy sources without compromising on reliability or performance. We understand how important sustainability and environmental stewardship is, and we want to get even better.”

Caroline Giddings, director of Isle of Wight Festival, concurred with Thomson. She said: “By introducing hydrogenpowered generators, we are taking a proactive step towards our goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2030. This initiative is just one part of our plan to aim to make the Isle of Wight Festival the most sustainable in the country.”

In collaboration with the Isle of Wight Council, the Isle of Wight festival team is also exploring the installation of a new electricity sub-station near the site. This infrastructure would enable the festival to draw power from the grid, further reducing reliance on generators and cutting emissions significantly.

Robbie Thomson, production manager Big Church Festival, explained further:

POWER LOGISTICS AT D-DAY 80

INSTAGRID LINK

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STAGE V EQUIPMENT

Elevate your events to a new standard of excellence with our EU Stage V emission compliant fleet of generators – Where power meets precision, and every moment is electrifying.

Our stock of Cables, Distribution Boards and Ancillary equipment plays a crucial role in ensuring seamless power management and connectivity throughout.

Answer our call

Event Buyers Live is looking for speakers. Have you got what it takes to inspire others? If you would like to host a content session at EBL 2024, read on…

L ast month, StandOut magazine exclusively revealed that Event Buyers Live (EBL) will take place at Carden Park, Chester, until 2027. StandOut Multimedia, the organising team behind the leading industry event, signed a three-year partnership with the luxury estate, rubberstamping its commitment to organising a high-end and productive event for live event professionals. We have our venue. But now we need you. First and foremost, EBL is a hosted buyer event that has been described as the “place to do business” and the “Rolls Royce” of industry events. The three-day event (November 11-13) arranges pre-qualified face-to-face meetings between 100 of the most respected event organisers and 45 of the most respected suppliers and venues, enabling organisers to discuss their event procurement plans with suppliers before the 2025 season. But that’s not all.

The event boasts a relatable education programme comprised of intimate roundtable discussions, inquisitive panel sessions and informative workshops on event operations, event management and event delivery. And that’s where you come in.

NO

EXPERIENCE NEEDED

This year, StandOut Multimedia is inviting event professionals to put themselves forward as a speaker. You don’t need to have had any public speaking experience but you do need

to be knowledgeable about your chosen field, passionate about the industry and above all else, be happy to share your thoughts and real-life event experiences with others.

We already have experts lined up to talk about family-friendly events, sponsorship and activation delivery, SAGs, and mass participation sporting events but we want to hear from you – or can you recommend someone – who is a real geek about queuing systems on-site or have you had experience of dealing with protestors?

We want to drill down on sustainability, event production, site and operations management, and what you do when shit goes wrong. So has something not quite gone to plan on one of your event sites this year and would you like to share your learnings with others? We know that what we’re looking for is quite specific but we have a good understanding of what our guests want to discover. So, if you have been through the mill because you have had to cancel your event or if your business has been badly impacted by a festival cancellation, get in touch.

RELATABLE

Janine Walmsley, delegate manager at Event Buyers Live, said: “I had some wonderful conversations with our guests at EBL 2023. They had a fab time and made some amazing connections but they also went home learning more than they expected to. The content

sessions had given them something to think about and put into practice.

“That’s why it’s so important to find the right speakers,” Walmsley continued. “We want our guests to be able to feel comfortable enough to engage in conversation and relate to everything that is being said.

“Event Buyers Live is a respected event where guests can genuinely exchange ideas and opinions with others, inspired by the conversations and sparks that are flying in the room. Our guests feel comfortable speaking openly about issues on-site, knowing they won’t be judged, and even ‘competitors’ feel comfortable sharing best practices for the good of the sector as a whole.

“What our education sessions are not, are an opportunity to pitch your company or product. They are an opportunity to meaningfully educate guests and share stories from your time on-site. So if you think that’s you, get in touch with our education manager Caroline Clift on the details below and if you’ve got what our guests have told us they want, we’ll see you in November.”

If you would like to be a speaker or would like to nominate someone, please email caroline@standoutmagazine.co.uk

To register your interest in attending Event Buyers Live 2024, call 01795 509113 or visit www.eventbuyerslive.com

EVENT BUYERS LIVE

Image: © Jonathan “JT” Taylor/Aniseed Photo

Endless event solutions

From high profile sporting events, exhibitions and trade shows to conferences, local festivals and everything in between, GL events UK has the infrastructure you need for the perfect experience

Temporary Structures | Marquees | Seating | Complete Event Solutions

Raising your game

Sporting event organisers are going above and beyond to enhance the customer experience at their live events. Read on, as event professionals discuss the operational moves being made to ensure fans, participants, and spectators have a memorable time

The UEFA Champions League Final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid took place at Wembley Stadium on June 1 and formed the centrepiece of a fourday, family-friendly UEFA Champions Festival, which was held across five busy, central London locations.

In August 2023, LS Events was appointed by the Greater London Authority (GLA) to produce, programme and manage the UEFA Champions League Final’s city operations in London. As part of its remit, LS Events delivered two fan meeting points with an attendance of up to 35,000 and supported the delivery of the UEFA Champions Festival simultaneously across Trafalgar Square, Regent Street, Somerset House, South Bank and Potters Field Park.

The fan zones hosted concerts, a giant trophy activation, the Ultimate Champions tournament and a wide range of partner activations; each activity was designed to engage football fans looking to support their favourite football team.

But whilst two teams of 11 fought hard on the pitch at Wembley Stadium, and thousands of sporting fans visited the festival villages, it took more than 180 people and 100 suppliers working extensive shifts to deliver these seven venues spread across the capital.

GOOD VIBES

Losberger De Boer, ADI, Acorn, PTL, GAP Group, Pearce Hire, Power Logistics, The Technical Department, Entertee, Adlib, Location Medical Services, A Greener Festival, Number 8, National Radio Bank, NOBA, Pylon One, Nu-group, Site and Stage and Alpha Crew were just some of the suppliers contracted to work on the meeting points and festival villages.

Steve Reynolds, co-CEO of LS Events, was project director and assisted on site by a mammoth team, including Jess Noakes, operations director, Lis Moon, assistant operations director, Beth Smith, permits and licensing director, Izzy Sturrock, project manager, and Nick Earp, technical director.

Reynolds explained: “We set clear and detailed scopes for our suppliers and worked with them to ensure the efficient use of the GLA’s public funds in delivering this high-quality event.

“We have a long-standing and trusted relationship with the GLA, having now delivered a number of complex and major events with them over the last six years. This project required us to work closely with our key contacts in the GLA team including Laura Pierce, Sophie Scowen, Tom Potter and Luke Brew to ensure that the objectives of the

project were met along with the stringent safety objectives that came about as a result of The Baroness Casey Review.”

LS Events had multiple clients on this project including the GLA, The FA, UEFA and their partners – as well as the two finalist clubs.

Reynolds continued: “Once the finalists were known, we had a matter of weeks to work with them to design, brand and curate each of the respective fan meeting points that reflected the club colours and identity. We worked with them to source engaging and fun content to set their fans in the best possible vibes before they headed off up to Wembley with our bi-lingual stewards on hand to support a positive fan experience.”

AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE

More than 80,000 respective Dortmund and Real Madrid fans were welcomed through the two fan meeting points, a figure that demonstrates the relevance and importance of fan zones in sporting events.

Reynolds added: “We are passionate about creating positive fan zone experiences across the world on behalf of our sports clients. Experiences that encourage fans to engage more deeply with the sport.”

Fan zones promote a sense of shared identity and belonging yet the UEFA

ARENA AT CINCH CHAMPIONSHIPS

Champions Festival was not the only fan takeover that London experienced this summer. Major League Baseball (MLB) also rolled into the capital as the New York Mets faced the Philadelphia Phillies at the London Stadium on June 8 and 9.

Alongside the action out on the field, the event provided gamegoers with an authentic American fan experience, thanks to a bespoke all-American food and drink menu created by London Stadium’s food and drink partners, Freemans Event Partners and Delaware North.

The menu featured dishes synonymous with both Philadelphia and New York – including Philly Cheese Steak Subs and Loaded Hot Dogs – and again, demonstrated the lengths that organisers will go to create an authentic customer experience at live events.

ELECTRIFYING MOMENTS

Ross Robertson, managing director of Arena UK and Europe, agreed. Sporting events engage all the emotions. Hence, organisers and contractors are striving to increase the quality of what is delivered and produced.

Robertson said: “Sporting events are so often the most electrifying and memorable events because sport is unpredictable, and people have so much invested in it emotionally. For me, the best sporting events are where we, as contractors, are fully integrated into the clients’ delivery and working closely with their stakeholders – making everything as seamless and efficient as possible. This is how you deliver the incredible moments that keep people coming back every year.”

Like Freemans Event Partners, Arena provided services to MLB and as StandOut writes it is working with the organisers of Wimbledon, The Open and Formula E, supplying infrastructure and overlay advice.

Robertson continued: “A lot of the major sporting events we help deliver are repeat clients with whom we have forged an excellent understanding over the years. Every year does come with its new challenges though, and we find both us as the contractor and the event itself are continually striving to increase the quality of what we do. We’re supporting them in delivering their stakeholders’ ambitions by delivering the highest quality products – and understanding these unique requirements have never been more important.”

GL events UK is also working on The Open at Royal Troon, providing temporary grandstands and platforms to the golf tournament. The temporary overlay specialist says that spectators are “consuming” golf differently and want smaller, more intimate viewing spaces, rather than larger grandstands. Therefore, organisers are having to adapt their plans and make changes to event infrastructure to meet these customer demands.

COMMUNICATING EXPECTATIONS

Jen Motet, head of event operations at the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is responsible for delivering the cinch Championships, which this year re-contracted Arena to deliver the tennis tournament’s centre court and court one, increasing seating capacity.

BHF LONDON TO BRIGHTON BIKE RIDE

FREEMANS EVENT PARTNERS

This is not the only development to feature at the tennis event. Motet explained: “We opened our event up this year so people could watch the qualifying. Last year, we opened the grounds on the Sunday for an exhibition match and it went down really well. But this year, we opened the grounds on Saturday [June 15] for 1,000 people and on Sunday [June 16] for 4,000 to 5,000 people so they could watch training sessions too.

“The only thing we had to be conscious of was our tight build so I was a little worried about being ready. We had to be clear with our suppliers from the start and be clear on build schedules.”

EVOLVE AND IMPROVE

In 2025, a women’s tournament will return to The Queen’s Club for the first time in more than 50 years, following discussions with the ATP about the impact on the men’s tournament a week later. The build for the tournament is expected to start one week earlier but it’s not yet confirmed whether all hospitality units will be open, as it depends on the appetite for the women’s competition.

Right now, Motet is looking at the operational demands that a further week’s competition will have on the organising team and the grounds. Plus, she is working with the Wimbledon team to develop more of a grass court season and raise the women’s game.

Like Motet, Michelle Dite, operations director at All England Lawn Tennis Club, organiser of The Championships, Wimbledon,

is constantly looking at how she and her team can evolve and improve the experience for players and spectators.

“We have three destinations within the grounds at Wimbledon – the Tea Lawn, our Southern Village with its big deck space and The Hill, which is on everyone’s bucket list,” commented Dite. “We have a couple of new spaces on The Hill and we’ve opened up spaces to let people sit and dwell.

“Shade has been a big thing for us, giving more people somewhere to sit when it’s raining and when the sun is shining too.

“We’ve also introduced virtual queuing for our ticket resale so when people leave the grounds, they can scan out and their ticket becomes available to those in the queue. Anyone waiting then gets a message to say you can go and buy your ticket, which means that people aren’t physically queuing.”

BETTER EXPERIENCE

The virtual queuing solution was trialled in 2023. It’s designed to give customers a better experience, which is also the reason why a lot of work has been done to improve the event experience for people waiting in the tournament’s famous queue too. This sees hundreds of people “queue under canvas” to get the opportunity to purchase tickets for Centre Court, Court One and Court Two.

For example, this year’s tournament has seen the introduction of a Welcome Zone and Queue Village, comprised of more welfare facilities, toilets, concessions, a big

screen, more seating and partner activations and sustainability is on the agenda too. For instance, no diesel generators are being used outside of the grounds, all food containers serving Wimbledon’s famous strawberries and cream are made from Notpla seaweed serveware, and the Wimbledon kitchens are being “degassed” as in switched to electric.

GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

Again, it’s demonstrative of the lengths and measures being taken to improve event sustainability and event experiences.

This year, Suzi Cumberland, director of Taurus Events and race director of Britain’s Ocean City Running Festival, Plymouth, made some slight tweaks to the festival’s timings with a view that these changes would encourage more people to support the event.

Her moves worked and this year’s festival – comprised of a 5k, 10k, half marathon and primary schools challenge – experienced a 220 per cent increase in participation numbers and larger crowds. For 2025, Cumberland and her team are looking at the introduction of race waves and might extend the festival from a one-day event to two days.

“I am working with David Hart from The Finish Line Consultancy to look at growth opportunities,” explained Cumberland.

“Half marathons don’t have huge numbers of returning participants. Only 20 per cent return so every year, we have to find new participants [80 per cent]. But we want to grow our numbers too.”

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EFFECTIVE

In January, Taurus Events acquired the Torbay Half Marathon and will deliver the first event in September. Cumberland describes this year as a “transitional” year for Torbay and she is just pleased that the event has not disappeared from the race calendar.

“The route and timings have stayed the same but we expect to tweak them as the numbers grow,” Cumberland added. “As an organisation, we just want to be the best we can be and as effective as we can be.”

Taurus Events works with JHAV, The Event Depot, Devon Marquees and South West Security Management and is working hard to move away from calling its events races, to be more inclusive.

LONG-TERM ASPIRATIONS

On June 16, Threshold Sports delivered the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) London to Brighton Bike Ride, a contract the sports event agency won in June 2023.

Threshold Sports was able to observe the 2023 event and from that experience, suggested improvements to be more inclusive too. For instance, by removing barriers to participation and increasing participant numbers.

Tariq El Kashef, chief operating officer at Threshold Sports, explained: “The London to Brighton Bike Ride (L2B) is not

just any event; it’s Europe’s oldest charity cycle ride.

“Despite its long history, recent years had seen a decline in numbers and escalating operational costs, partly due to the postpandemic environment. I believe our pitch tackled these challenges head-on with a comprehensive strategy to balance short-term cost savings with long-term aspirations.”

Threshold Sports analysed post-event feedback and budgetary constraints. It identified what to stop, start, and continue for future events and held workshops with the supply chain, during which KPIs were set, including increasing NPS scores and reducing costs.

For example, to reduce costs, refreshment points were reduced from ten to five because their locations and frequency didn’t align with rider needs and to remove participation barriers, it reviewed and broadened the range of bikes permitted, making the event more inclusive.

El Kashef added: “To enhance the experience, we focused on moments that participants remember most. When we work on our own events, we talk about something called ‘Peak-End Theory’. The theory is that the most impactful moments of any experience are the ‘Peak’, the most intense moment which on L2B would be Ditchling Beacon, and the ‘End’, which is Brighton. We introduced the

‘Beat the Beacon’ feature with branding and motivational signage and reinstated a costeffective beachside finish zone with music, concessions, and a DJ, but without costly infrastructure. We opened up the finish line, repositioned marquees to make the whole zone feel more open and spectator-friendly and created better footfall for charity partners.”

Jenni Thompson oversaw the project for Threshold and reported to Roisin Atkinson, senior product manager at BHF, who praised Threshold Sports for supporting the charity with robust growth strategy that focused on maximising the event’s value through additional revenue streams, proposition development and efficient operational delivery.

El Kashef concluded: “There’s always heaps of learnings the first time you deliver a new event. Although it’s early to pinpoint specific lessons, our preliminary observations suggest the event was well-received, with positive feedback on the day. We are really happy with the route changes, and the beach finish, for example. We also already know we hit the savings targets we had identified too.

“As part of our preparation for 2025, we will conduct a detailed post-event review and workshops and see how we performed against our KPIs. We aim to build on the successful elements and address any areas for improvement, ensuring the event continues to grow and evolve. So, watch this space.”

TAURUS EVENTS

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HPeople power

The right event staff can have a monumental impact on a customer’s event experience. Here, temporary staffing experts reveal their best practice staffing advice and share their views on the current market

ow your guests are greeted and treated when they arrive at your chosen venue or site can have a tremendous effect on the way they react to the rest of your event. Their initial event experience and that first impression are paramount so what attention are you paying to the staff you employ?

From stewards and security professionals to the people scanning tickets and running your box office, who you choose to staff your event should be a carefully considered decision. So why do some organisers continue to leave their event staffing requirements to the last minute?

“With 50 festivals cancelling this year, you can understand why people are booking staff later and later,” explains Josh Heyburn, managing director of The Occasionall Group, the temporary staffing provider. “We now work on a minimum level booking that people can add to and I say to people, let’s just get your event on the system.”

The Occasionall Group is the new name for Festivall Services, which was rebranded in February. In April, the organisation also launched Occasionall Staff to service corporate events and stadium shows, as well as festive events and festivals.

Heyburn is passionate about people and understands why organisers are reluctant to book staff early; he knows they are analysing ticket sales and understands that staffing costs are a big commitment.

Tom Mylchreest, production manager at CM Production Management, concurs. His organisation provides lighting technicians, artist liaison, sound technicians and stage managers for live events. With lots of events cancelling and organisers trying to keep costs to a minimum, he is working with clients to fit within the scope of their budget.

“Our rates are between £20 and £35 an hour, depending on the project and based on a 10-hour call,” Mylchreest says.

This falls in line with data recently published by LIVE. Its Powered by Freelancers research found that the average day rate for a production coordinator/assistant and a sound technician were £277 and £267 respectively.

According to the survey, which featured the responses of more than 1,200 freelance professionals working in the UK live music sector, 59 per cent of respondents agreed that enough freelance jobs were available, but 56 per cent said that they found it difficult to access or secure those roles.

Throughout the report, varying factors around age and gender point towards an imbalance that demonstrates the need to nurture opportunity and diversity to ensure that the event industry attracts a wide range of new talent and is a secure and positive place to work.

However, this is hard when you are operating in a sector that is openly talking about financial struggles. Promoters and

organisers are constantly watching ticket sales and analysing the bottom line.

The Occasionall Group is a living wage employer. Heyburn adds: “We don’t dictate the minimum wage and we’ve always been transparent and open in our conversations with clients and potential clients.

“The biggest barrier we have is London. Some people will work with us outside of London [£12 an hour] but not in London [£13.15 an hour].”

He continues: “You have to remember, you’re not hiring fencing that will sit in a warehouse with no emotions. It’s people you’re booking and you can’t keep cancelling their work.”

Kieran Porter, operations director of HAP Solutions, concurs. He says: “It’s important to remember we’re dealing with human beings, and not just ordering ‘tables and chairs’. We have to treat staff members with respect and the professionalism for them to plan their lives around the work too.”

DEMAND

The Occasionall Group has recently signed a new three-year contract with Boardmasters to supply the festival’s gates and wristbanding staff. This year, that contract extends to include accreditation staff.

Plus, it is working with Brighton Pride and Kilimanjaro Live at Belladrum. HAP Solutions is working at BST Hyde Park, Kendal Calling

BRADSHAW

and Creamfields and Event People is working with London Marathon Events, Motiv Sports, Spartan Events and Tough Mudder.

“We are seeing that some organisers are trying to recruit temporary event staffing teams in-house and are finding it challenging to recruit themselves as the demand for event staff expands,” explains Charlie Dryden, commercial and partnerships manager at Event People. “We have had so many staffing requests for the next day or week which we just simply can’t cater for. With so many events at this time of year, staff get booked up. If you want the best and most consistent team, don’t leave it until the last minute.”

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

“We’ve been talking about changing our staffing requirements for a while now,” explains Jen Motet, head of event operations at the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).

Motet looks after the cinch Championships at The Queen’s Club. This year, the sporting event decided to switch up its stewarding provision, moving from 100 per cent of stewards being paid roles to 50 per cent paid and 50 per cent filled by volunteers.

“A number of us in the organisation have a major events background and are used to working with a huge volunteer workforce,” Motet adds. “We’re comfortable working with volunteers because we’ve seen them in action. At our events in Nottingham and Birmingham, 100 per cent of our stewarding roles are volunteers and we have learned a lot from those events.”

The LTA appointed Power of People to help with its volunteer and workforce management programme. Any role that involves directing people to a seat or restricting access, for example, is carried out by a paid steward but volunteers are engaged in ticket checking and they are the “friendly face” of the event, he says.

Tom Bowkett, Power of People’s director and head of projects, has worked closely with Motet and the LTA’s Sam Herd, head of event planning and delivery. Events such as the cinch Championships are an opportunity to allow an engaged group of volunteers to be involved in an event.

Bowkett comments: “More and more organisers are asking for volunteers. It’s not so much to do with costs but to do with visibility on-site and creating an uplifting experience. By engaging volunteers, you also allow security staff and stewards to focus on the role that they are being paid for.”

Dryden agrees. He says: “We are also seeing the demand for interactive staffing roles, particularly for human wayfinding, which is also on the rise. These roles traditionally filled by stewards are now being looked at by some clients, most recently by London Marathon on Tower Bridge.”

Both Dryden and Porter describe the market as competitive with Dryden stating that competition on rates is “fierce”.

Event People has increased its rates in line with wage rises with clients appreciating the value of experienced and reliable event staff.

But what advice would Porter and Dryden give to any event or festival organiser looking at their staffing provision? Dryden believes that organisers and event agencies should think about long-term goals to grow, retain, and develop teams and Porter suggests that organisers should focus on how staffing providers recruit, brief, train deploy and look after staff.

“Look at value and not cost alone,” Porter concludes. “Also, give your staffing provider as much time to plan and prepare – it’s incredibly hard to do well on any last-minute bookings. Time and planning always lead to good results.”

EVENT PEOPLE IN ACTION

HAP SOLUTIONS

Full of Pride

Pride in London 2024 featured several operational changes. LS Events’ Meg John, senior project manager, walked StandOut through the event developments

eg John’s laugh is just wonderful. It’s infectious and just the noise you want to hear as you wander through London’s dirty streets on a Monday afternoon.

John is a senior project manager at LS Events, the event production agency, and sits on the project team responsible for delivering this year’s Pride in London.

She walks StandOut through the intricacies of the event’s operational and delivery plans as we chat and share a joke along the vast route. She’s the right person for the job – thorough, knowledgeable, open and funny – but also modest, displaying a sense of awareness as she stops and nervously poses for a photo.

No one ever likes having their photo taken, especially in central London, where everyone stops to look at what’s going on. Is it someone famous? No. But in the events world, John is a rock star amongst colleagues and event professionals and an all-round good egg.

CROSS-PROJECT MANAGEMENT

In October, LS Events won the competitive tender to deliver Pride in London. Or to be more specific, the event management delivery of the one-day event, and as the contract has developed, perhaps a little more than LS Events was anticipating. Volunteer management, community and business engagement and parade management are all managed by London LGBTQ+ Community Pride CIC, the organisation behind Pride in London. LS

Events – working in collaboration with many event suppliers – is responsible for all the other bits, including site infrastructure, security, road closures, and operations.

However, with LS Events also delivering American Express presents BST Hyde Park, you can imagine the planning that has to go into running both sites, especially as there are pinch points where the site footprints run parallel. It requires a lot of cross-project management and systematic planning from a tight-knit team.

John nods in agreement as StandOut raises this point. Some organisations would be daunted by running two large-scale events in a city centre simultaneously but there are advantages.

“I think it’s been pretty straightforward,” John says. “Steve [Reynolds] and Laura [Pearson] run BST with Dave [Grindle], and then me and Grace [Noest] run Pride in London. As a five, we’re super tight. We’ve had regular calls to go through everything and make sure we’re on the same page.”

SPECIFIC AND SHARED CONCERNS

Together, they have overlaid both external site plan drawings, scenario-tested readiness exercises and table-topped the hell out of event management plans. “We’ve had some super meetings and have laid it out clearly so that everyone knows what their actions are,” John explains. “It’s been really important to me that everyone feels comfortable and heard because if you get everyone on board with the same plan, then it’s going to work.”

John and Noest have made several changes to the event management delivery plan. There is a new start area, additional security measures at the parade access area, more crossing points, one central event control, a protest response team and the addition of wayfinding. For the first time.

“When we’re starting a new event, whether it’s never been done before, or it’s pre-existing, and we’re taking the reins, we always take a month to six weeks to fully understand what the event is and if it’s had issues in the past,” John continues. “We’ll have one-to-ones with all of the different agencies, discuss all the debrief points and any concerns anyone’s got.”

John says when LS Events is working on central London events, and there are multiple stakeholders involved, you have to consider different people’s concerns. Therefore, the biggest challenge for the event production agency is to know which of those are a specific concern for that agency or if it’s a shared concern across the board.

COHESION AND COMMUNITY

John, Emma Pearson, project coordinator, and Johanna Westling, project assistant, have spent more than 93 hours in stakeholder meetings, ensuring everyone’s concerns and thoughts have been listened to and everyone is happy with the event management plans.

“Collaborative working only works if we’ve got all of the agencies or the emergency

services on board and we cannot run central London events without the support of the emergency services, stakeholders and all the landowners. It’s just not possible,” John says.

Some of the changes to this year’s event have been based on debrief points and some have been made because LS Events wishes to ensure “consistency of standards” across the events it organises.

For Pride in London 2024, John and her team – which also includes Suzy Hansen, site management leader – have consulted with Select Security and Stewarding on the positioning of new pedestrian crossing points, which have been added following a debrief with Transport for London and Westminster City Council.

Massive is responsible for all the crossing point signage and public-facing maps, which are also another first, and the stages have branding too.

“The stages have not had any specific branding before,” John adds. “They’ve had sponsor branding but nothing that brings the event together. That creative element is super important to Pride and I think when you look across other events that’s the one thing that ties everything together and makes people excited.

“Pride has many different stages and spaces for different parts of the community, such as a family area, women’s area, a trans space, so it’s important that each of those community groups feel like they belong.”

SITE IMPROVEMENTS

LS Events has adopted a cohesive approach to the organisation of Pride in London, which includes more than 1,500 stewards and security personnel and 800 volunteers. The event production agency, which has recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, won the tender to organise the high-profile event and suggested some improvements. Pride in London listened and its recommendations were fully adopted.

For example, the decision was taken to move the start area of the Pride in London parade and to create a sterile area. Plus, at Hyde Park Corner, where there are five lanes of traffic, three are closed for the parade. However, historically, this area has had issues with crowds wanting to stand in live traffic and watch the parade. For John, her team, and LS Events, this was not acceptable.

“Suzy has worked hard with our suppliers to get them to put in the infrastructure we need at the start area and sterile area and install and derig it in the time we have. This is another thing that is quite tricky, especially on Park Lane, because BST Hyde Park has its egress just hours after the last parade float goes through so there’s a lot of scheduling work,” John explains.

“Making sure that this event runs well from within is super, super important, otherwise, we’re going have the BST team shouting at us,” laughs John, as she explains the complexities that surround ingress and egress. For instance, where the Pride in London and BST Hyde Park sites meet,

TEAM WORK

NEW CROSSING POINTS

considerable attention has been given to the placement of HVM, stewards and wayfinding.

PLANNING REGIME

When we chat, on a warm and sunny Monday afternoon, LS Events is on version six of the site plan. The low number is thanks to strict site plan planning regimes, with revisions made once a month.

“If you let people run wild with site plans, they’ll just go nuts,” says John, chuckling. “We work on a process where we issue the site plan on week one, people have one week to review and collate all the comments, then everyone has a site plan review meeting at the same time, and then the following week, they all get updated and re-issued. That works really well.”

This process is adopted by LS Events and is an efficient way of working. It negates hundreds of tiny changes and enables the event production agency to work towards common goals and more pressing matters.

MANAGING RELATIONSHIPS

“This year, we’re operating one central event control with Chrissie Gilbert as our fabulous event controller,” continues John. “Previously, event control always operated in silos. So Pride in London would have theirs and then the event production agency would have theirs. For us, it’s important that this comes together and is a cohesive event control so we have one event control room where all agencies will be represented.

“What’s really important is that everyone feels they can go to event control with any issues and I think, from the feedback we’ve had, that has been previously discouraged. This doesn’t work because if you’re an event control, as you’ll know, the only information you have is from what’s coming in via the radio but we’re like, tell us everything.”

LS Events has done a lot of work with Pride in London on the event’s command and control structure and has taken the time to ensure Pride in London, as a not-for-profit organisation, feels supported.

John explains: “We’ve had to adapt a lot of the ways that we work to produce the event to the standard it should be produced to and get the information we need and give them [Pride in London] the information they need. This has included working evenings, doing evening briefings and briefings on a Saturday, internal table tops on a Saturday and adjusting working hours to suit, and that has been super important and it’s worked well so far.

“Pride has reacted well to all the suggestions that we’ve made,” John continues. “It’s always been important to us that we don’t come in like a big London agency, and say we’ve done Operation London Bridge so we can do this no probs. I think the most important thing for this entire event has been managing relationships and not to be big-headed but myself and Grace excel at that.

“Stakeholder management and relationship management are really

important. Our team has been brilliant and the Pride in London team has been great to work with as well. We’ve had to adapt how we do things to make sure that everyone feels comfortable and Pride in London has embraced what we feel like we need to do. We’ve also been able to reassure them if they’ve needed anything and that immediately builds a rapport.”

As we chat with a pot of tea, there are less than four weeks until John and her team deliver Pride in London. So far, they have spent more than 4,000 hours working on the project. But it’s necessary to deliver an event that is to be remembered.

John concludes: “The things we’re putting in place will make it a better experience for everybody. Not just the participants and the teams and the contractors that we work with, but also all of the agencies, businesses, attendees, residents and people attending BST Hyde Park.

“The LGBTQ+ community is super important to me, and as a member of that community, I think it’s really important that those kinds of events can run smoothly and as large-scale events should.

“It’s really important to us that we’re able to take this event from where it has been and move it forward to where the Pride team want to go and I hope we can learn things this year to take things forward.”

MEG JOHN ( she/her)

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GLOUCESTER TALL SHIPS

Navigating a new course

Gloucester City Council’s culture team took over the management of Gloucester Tall Ships and changed the format of the previously free event to ticketed. Read on, as they discuss ticket sales, target audiences and takeaways

n December, Jack Fayter and Poppy Handy got the nod to start making plans for Gloucester Tall Ships 2024. Previously, the bi-ennial event has been organised by an event management company but this year, the organisation of the three-day event was taken in-house.

Fayter, tourism and destination marketing manager for Gloucester City Council, and Handy, the local authority’s senior festival events officer, got straight to work. They had mere months to put a programme together that would entice people to buy tickets. In January. But they did it.

Twenty-thousand landlubbers purchased a ticket to the family-friendly event. “When I started my role last July [2023], I had a clear directive,” explained Handy. “The council wanted to bring the organisation of Tall Ships back into council management.

“We knew we couldn’t change the event’s name and we knew there would be lots of challenges but we wanted to use the event to shape a national and international profile for Gloucester. We wanted the city to be seen as a place to visit, work and invest and we wanted the event to propel us forward to 2027 when the city will celebrate the 200th

anniversary of Gloucester’s historic docks. This is when Tall Ships returns, which is why it has been so important to engage different communities and audiences and create an event that pulls people in.”

CREATING AN OFFER

Gloucester Tall Ships is produced by Gloucester City Council and Gloucester BID, in partnership with Canal and River Trust and Gloucester Quays. Previously, the event had been run as a free event and visitors were able to purchase a ticket to step onboard one of the visiting ships. However, visitor feedback highlighted that the public was fed up with queuing to get on the ships. They questioned what else was on offer and whether there was “enough of an event”.

Handy continued: “One of the challenges for the docks is that the space hosts a food festival and a Christmas market so people want to see more. That was one of the things that we tried to focus on. How could we make our event more culturally interesting and exciting so we had something to talk about and create more of a marketing offer?”

Handy and her team created a programme comprised of lots of entertainment and music.

It featured 300 artists and performers. Yet when you build on an event, it costs money.

PATCHY DATA

The council opted to turn the previously free event into a ticketed one. However, several years ago, the council suffered a bad cyberattack, meaning Handy and Fayter did not have a lot of data to draw upon. The pair were “in the dark” about a lot of things. Years ago, the event had charged visitors a nominal fee of £10. The council took that figure and used it as a precedent. But ticketed events require gates and gate management. Customers were charged £14 to get in and £19 if they wanted to board a ship.

Fayter had to run a tactical multi-channel marketing campaign with a direct return on investment. The data he had was “patchy” and he had only limited information from the 2022 event’s ticket sales.

“We conducted an experiment,” explained Fayter. “We needed to drive up the amount of intelligence we had about running a large-scale event in this area and we wanted to understand the types of people coming through our gates and what about our event appealed to them.”

Fayter continued: “We had three target audiences and these were reflected in the way that we approached the programming. We had younger festivalgoers, so people between the ages of 25 and 40, who want to attend a music festival in an unusual location then we had people who are interested in heritage, maritime and storytelling and then we had families.

“With our target markets, we wanted to be in a position where they – in no uncertain terms – knew what the event was, where it was, and when it was. We knew that they might not buy a ticket until right on the day, so our campaign was about repeatedly getting in front of people at multiple touchpoints. By the time they got to the event weekend, they would make the right choice and buy a ticket.”

TICKET SALES

The event sold 1,000 tickets on its first day and 150 tickets were sold in the first ten minutes. Like a classic sales graph, there was a spike at the beginning and in the final two weeks before the event, sales went “crazy”.

“In the past, this sort of event has focused a lot on heritage where your audience tends to be 50 plus and male-heavy,” added Fayter. “ It’s not that that’s a bad audience, it’s just that you have to then appeal to a significant percentage of that quite small niche. We wanted to appeal to a smaller percentage of a much wider set of audiences.

“Families was the big one. Roughly 25 per cent of all tickets sold were child tickets, then you have another 25 per cent for their parents. That means that 50 per cent of the audience were families and young people and that’s a huge shift from previous events.”

BUILDING A BIGGER VISION

According to Handy, introducing a ticketed system was “always going to be challenging” but now that the council team has done it once, they can “work with it” and look at creating more “accessible” ticket options.

Handy continued: “Gloucester Docks is a great flagship space for Gloucester. It’s a very unique event space. There is some way for us all [key stakeholders] to go but I think we started this project with so little information and we have achieved so much already.”

Handy conceded that the local authority needs to improve its tender processes and that key target markets need to be grown.

However, she also recognised that the event is part of a “bigger vision for Gloucester” that fits with the council’s extensive goals for 2027 and beyond.

Fayter concurred: “Historically, people in Gloucester have been given things for free. The difficulty we face now is that we’re in a period where local authority funding is being stretched over more statutory services and statutory services are more expensive. Also, we’re operating in a world where we don’t have any kind of long-term customer loyalty. Yet. But what I have found is that people are prepared to pay if the offer is good.”

So what’s next, other than intense debriefs? Tall Ships will return to Gloucester in 2027 when the city’s docks will celebrate 200 years of history and heritage.

“People have a very fixed idea about what Tall Ships should be,” concluded Fayter. “We needed to do this event to learn what all our different audiences really want. Now we have three years to do a much more expansive programme and build up a community.”

SUPPLIERS LIST

CREATING MORE OF AN “OFFER”

Care, costs and consultation

Event organisers should prepare for possible changes in event medical cover. Read on, as industry experts discuss guidance and regulation

Anyone watching this year’s Gemini Boat Race would have seen Matt Edge, Cambridge’s pacesetter, visibly suffering from the demands of the Cambridge v Oxford Men’s Boat Race.

For the last four minutes of the race, the rower’s blade was barely going in the water. It was evident that he would need medical attention. Edge’s condition was being monitored by the professionals situated in event control and watched by viewers as BBC camera crews beamed live race footage into millions of homes.

As Edge slumped forward in the boat, the event’s organising team were able to put their plans into action and a medical team were ready to meet Edge as he hit dry land.

Thankfully, following a big review of the sporting event’s medical cover, this year’s race featured new provisions for athlete welfare and a new medical director. It meant everyone watching the situation unfold in event control remained calm, and confident they were well-prepared.

This incident perfectly demonstrates the detailed planning required to provide high standards of care and medical cover at live events. But despite the hard work of many

responsible organisers and medical providers to improve medical care provision at events, many event professionals think that others could do more.

IMPROVE STANDARDS

Robert Shelswell is an emergency nurse practitioner and the founder of the National Event Medicine Observatory (NEMO), which aims to change the way event medical services are governed nationally, challenge the existing standards of event medicine planning and operational practice, and develop safer models of “spectator care” in conjunction with event safety partners.

“All event clinicians have had ‘not so good’ experiences,” explained Shelswell. “Once, I phoned the crew of a private ambulance company to find out where they were, as they were late, only to be told they had stopped at ASDA to stock up on dressings. I never used the company again and sadly, there have been plenty of other bad experiences.”

Shelswell continued: “Event medicine providers’ operational practice is currently based on either the Purple Guide or the Green Guide, both of which are fundamentally similar in content, with minor

variations based either on outdoor festival or stadium crowd dynamics. This ‘guidance’ has served the industry well for a number of years, but this needs to change to ensure improved standards and established governance frameworks.”

In May 2023, Chapter Five of The Purple Guide was updated, replacing the previous Medical Chapter’s risk assessment matrix with a “tiered” approach to event medical risk assessment and resourcing. The chapter featured several key changes, including wording around minimum staffing levels and more fixed numbers of staffing particularly around nurses.

Guy Crofts, clinical lead and director of First Aid Cover, and Lloyd Wells, operations director of Trident Medical, concur that the revised guidance confuses organisers and Dr Chris Howes, CEO of Festival Medical and co-founder of the Event Medical Association, believes that the new chapter continues to be misused by licensing authorities and organisers as a substitute for regulation rather than advice and guidance as intended.

“The new medical chapter in the Purple Guide has been a significant step forward in standardising event medical provisions,”

Wells explained. “However, there is some confusion among clients about specific requirements, particularly around the scale of medical support needed for different event sizes.”

Like Howes, Crofts is keen to remind organisers that the Purple Guide is a guide and the advice contained within it, is not set in stone. He says that organisers are concerned that staffing levels – outlined in the guidance – are disproportionate to budget allowances. Hence, Crofts – and providers like Met Medical – are working with event organisers to reach sensible and safe levels of cover in line with the guide.

Dave Hawkins, CEO of Met Medical, said: “It is important to remember that every event is different, and each event should have a risk assessment completed by a competent and experienced medical provider.”

NEW SERVICES

Trident Medical is offering free medical risk assessments to organisers and First Aid Cover has recently put all of its senior team through NHS emergency surgical skills training and major incident training, meaning the team is informed to respond to rarer situations. Festival Medical says that the risks posed by synthetic opioids are of particular concern. In mitigation, it has increased the quantities of naloxone antagonists issued to its paramedics and planned for First Response Emergency Care (FREC) responders to be trained in its use and have their own supplies.

Furthermore, Met Medical is now offering an e-prescription service to event attendees that can be used at all major pharmacies and 24/7 access to private GP appointments on a payper-use basis for artists and crew.

Hawkins and his team have seen drops in medical provision due to slow ticket sales across the live music sector. Therefore, Met Medical is working closely with organisers to support them with last-minute changes so they can match their medical cover to audience size.

REMOVAL OF EXEMPTIONS

Event medical data is of prime importance in ensuring the right cover is arranged.

Shelswell continued, offering the following advice: “I would always ask the event organiser to provide the medical statistics from the previous three years, what the weather conditions were (as this significantly affects medical referrals), what attendee access to alcohol/drugs might be; and then I would research local NHS providers linked to the sorts of medical referrals that have been treated at the event previously.”

According to Shelswell, the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has commenced a piece of work that is looking at the development of a standard – which the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will look at –for the provision of healthcare at events.

This piece of work is separate from a recent DHSC consultation – asking for views on the “removal of exceptions” from current

regulations, enabling the CQC to regulate health and medical care delivered in sports grounds and at cultural events (first aid will remain an exception) – which closed on June 21.

The industry has already started to assume that the exceptions will be lifted, which will have an impact on event medicine.

Hawkins commented: “The Purple Guide has championed the need to use CQCregulated organisations when choosing a medical provider, but this is not a legal requirement unless the provider is transporting patients to hospital (which they should be on all but the smallest events).

This is due to an exemption from registering with the CQC for organisations providing treatment by a nurse, paramedic, or doctor at an event or sports stadium.

“The current consultation proposes removing the exemption, meaning any medical provider, except those only providing basic first aid, will need to be registered and meet the standards set out in the Health and Social Care Act.”

Hawkins added: “We believe this is much overdue, as there have been numerous patient safety incidents in the unregulated sector. This will impact event organisers, as costs will undoubtedly rise.”

According to Shelswell, the industry should assume that event medicine is moving from “guidance-based” practice, to “regulated” practice, with possibly “statutory” standards. All we can do is watch and wait.

ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSION

Eventwell

T: 0800 470 0958

E: bookings@eventwell.org

W: EventWell.org

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

AV, SOUND & LIGHTING

Event Production Services

The Pack House, Drayton St. Leonard, Oxford, OX10 7BG

T: 01844 278446

E: info@epsoxford.com

Hire Frequencies

T: 0203 3026947

E: enquiries@hirefrequencies.co.uk

W: www.hirefrequencies.co.uk

Press Red Rentals Limited Unit H11, Halesfield 19, Telford, TF7 4QT

T: +44 (0) 1952 587049

W: www.pressred.biz

BALLOONS, BUNTING & FLAGS

B-Loony Ltd

Cape House, 105 Bellingdon Road, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 2HQ

T: 01494 774376

E: sales@b-loony.co.uk

W: www.b-loony.co.uk

BAR

Bar Live Events

Unit D215, Parkhall Studios, London, SE21 8DE

T: 0208 761 8424

E: nick@barlive.co.uk

W: www.barlive.co.uk

Cambridge Event Bars

T: 01223 785401

M: 07837 707057

E: Info@cambridgeeventbars.co.uk

W: www.cambridgeeventbars.co.uk

Pop-up-Pubs

T: +44(0)1993 832155

E: info@pop-up-pubs.com

W: www.pop-up-pubs.com

Symonds Event Bars

Drakewell, Stoke Lacy, Bromyard, Herefordshire, HR7 4HG

T: 01885 490267

E: info@eventbars.co.uk

W: www.eventbars.co.uk

BRAND ACTIVATION & EXPERIENTIAL

Instant Marquees

T: 01840 213063

www.instantmarquees.co.uk

BUGGY HIRE

Bradshaw Event Vehicles

New Lane, Stibbington, Peterborough, PE8 6LW

T: 01780 782621

E: enquiries@eventvehicles.co.uk

W: www.eventvehicles.co.uk

Twitter: @Bradshaw_EV

Electric Wheels Ltd

Units B & C Neaton Business Park, Watton, Norfolk, IP25 6JB

T: 0333 3582175

E: enquiries@electric-wheels.co.uk

W: www.electric-wheels.co.uk

CABINS

Event Buggy Hire

T: 0113 393 4100

E: info@eventbuggyhire.co.uk

W: www.eventbuggyhire.co.uk

Hopkins Machinery

T: 01633 680754

E: hire@hopkinsmachinery.co.uk

W: www.hopkinsmachinery.co.uk

Qdos Event Hire Ltd

Fernside Place, 179 Queens Road, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0AH

T: 0845 862 0952

E: enquiries@qdoseventhire.co.uk

W: www.qdoseventhire.co.uk

Twitter: @QdosEventHire

: www.facebook.com/pages/Qdos-Event-Hire/ : @qdoseventhire

Wernick Events

Joseph House, Northgate Way, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 8ST

T: 01922 472 900

E: events@wernick.co.uk

W: www.wernick.co.uk/events

: @WernickEvents

: @WernickEvents

Event Traffic Control Limited

Baldersby Gardens, Ripon Road, Baldersby, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 4PS

T: 08000 246 800

E: info@eventtc.com

W: www.eventtc.com

CATERING

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

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

CREW SERVICES

BTN Crew LTD

T: 07780 621 860

E: info@btncrew.com

W: www.BTNCrew.com www.facebook.com/BTNCREWltd/ www.instagram.com/btncrewltd/

Falcon Festival Services

The Falcon Nest, Unit 10 & 11, Lower Gower Road, Royston SG8 5EA

E: info@falconteam.co.uk

W: www.falconteam.co.uk

Optimal Events Group Ltd / Trading as Optimal Crew

Marsh Mill Village, 5A, Fleetwood Rd N, Thornton-Cleveleys FY5 4JZ

T: 07375 843976

E: jordan@optimalcrew.co.uk

W: https://optimalcrew.co.uk

S3K Group

The Old Mill Building, Rookery Farm, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO22 6EP

T: 0845 299 7991

E: office@s3kgroup.com

W: www.s3kgroup.com : @s3kgroup

Trojan Crewing Solutions Ltd

57 Eastbourne Avenue, Acton, London W3 6JS

T: 07341 922974

E: chris@trojancrew.com

W: www.TrojanCrew.com

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

DRONE DISPLAYS

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

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

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 CONTROL, RADIO & WI-FI SERVICES

Controlled Events

T: 0203 286 6392

E: info@controlledevents.com

W: www.controlledevents.com

First class Resilience, Readiness, Communication & Control for incidents or pre-planned events.

EVENT MANAGEMENT

2Can Productions

T: 029 20 100256

E: info@2canproductions.com

W: www.2canproductions.com

CM Production Management Ltd

T: 020 8056465

E: hello@cmpm.co.uk

W: www.cmpm.co.uk : facebook.com/cmpmlive : @cmpmlive

Crow Leisure Group

T: 07500 592692

E: info@crowleisuregroup.co.uk

W: https://crowleisuregroup.co.uk/

LFX Events

Unit 10 Merchants House, Market Place, Stockport, SK1 1EU

E: enquiries@lfxevents.co.uk

W: www.lfxevents.co.uk

Victorious Events

T: 07869 701 616

E: info@victoriousevents.co.uk

W: victoriousevents.co.uk

EVENT PASS PRINTING

EVENT SAFETY

Eyecatchers

T: 01772 681000

E: sales@eyecatchers.co.uk

W: www.eyecatchers.co.uk / www.myeventpass.co.uk

EVENT STAFFING SOFTWARE

uTRAC

24A Lower Abbey St, Dublin 1, Ireland

T: 0808 189 0334

E: hello@utraconline.com

W: www.utraconline.com

EXHIBITION TRAILERS & MOBILE UNITS

DWT Exhibitions

FESTIVAL GAS

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 STAFF

The Occasionall Group:

Festivall Staff | Occasionall Staff

The Circle, 33 Rockingham Lane, Sheffield S1 4FW

T: 01144 055 044

E: hello@theoccasionall.group

W: www.theoccasionall.group

Moorepeople Event Staffing Agency

1st & 2nd Floor, 169 A High Road, Loughton, Essex, IG10 4LF

T: 0208 508 0555

E: bettina@moorepeople.co.uk

W: www.moorepeople.co.uk

Trailer Hire, Sales & Management

Jubilee Park, Honeypot Lane, Colsterworth, Lincolnshire, NG33 5LZ

T: 01476 860833

E: pip@dwt-exhibitions.co.uk

W: www.dwt-exhibitions.co.uk

Inchmere Event Design Ltd

Swan Close Studios, Swan Close Road, Banbury, OX16 5TE

T: 01295 661000

E: alastair@inchmere.co.uk

W: www.inchmere.co.uk

TCM Trailers Ltd

Watery Lane, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 7SE

E: emily@tcmtrailers.co.uk

W: www.tcmtrailers.co.uk

Festival Gas

Priors Revel, Church lane, Middleton, Nr Tamworth, B78 2AL

T: 07930 758893

E: simon@festivalgas.co.uk

W: www.festivalgas.co.uk

FLAGPOLE HIRE

Aero Fire & Rescue Ltd

27 Old Gloucester Street

London WC1N 3AX

T: 0330 111 3635

E: contact@aerofireandrescue.co.uk

W: www.aerofireandrescue.co.uk

Red Rose Fire Solutions Ltd

6 Brissenden Close

New Romney

Kent

TN28 8JD

T: 01995 503504

E: info@redrosefiresolutions.co.uk

Fuchsia Exhibition Services Ltd

13 Oak Park Industrial Estate, Chelmsford Road, Great Dunmow, Essex, CM6 1XN

T: 01371 644800

E: info@fuchsiaevents.co.uk

W: www.fuchsia-exhibition-services.com

FIRE COVER

FLAGS

Instant Marquees

T: 01840 213063 www.instantmarquees.co.uk

FLOORING & FLOOR COVERINGS

Coir Store

E: andy@coirstore.co.uk

T: 07884303082

W: www.coirstore.co.uk

Event Flooring Solutions Ltd

T: 01509 768 252

E: sales@efseurope.co.uk

W: www.efseurope.co.uk

Gigtent UK

Sonas House, Button End Harston

Cambridge, CB22 7NX

T: 01223 870935

E: info@gigtent.co.uk

W: www.gigtent.co.uk

FURNITURE 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

GBJ Event Hire

Graham Jones

T: Office. 0207 205 4226

E: hire@gbjeventhire.co.uk

W: www.gbjeventhire.co.uk

Innovative Hire

Unit N, Lion Works Estate, 543 Wallisdown Road

Bournemouth BH12 5AD

T: 01202 941 068

W: http://innovativehire.co.uk

HEATING & COOLING SYSTEMS

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, Nottinghamshire NG17 6AF

Dawsongroup | tcs

T: 01623 518538

E: info@dgtcs.co.uk

W: https://dgtcs.co.uk/inflatable-cold-rooms/

INSURANCE

Arc International

St. Clare House, 30-33 Minories, London, EC3N 1PE

T: 0207 977 7637

W: www.arc-int.co.uk/

Tysers Insurance Brokers

71 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 4BS

T: 0203 037 8000

E: tim.rudland@tysers.com

W: www.tysers.com

Vento

LASER & FX

Event Insurance by Event People

107 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 5JF

T: 0333 090 7589

E: freddie@ventoinsurance.com

W: www.ventoinsurance.com

Laser Grafix

Unit 4A Stratton Park, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8QS

E: info@lgfx.co.uk

W: www.lgfx.co.uk

UK office: 01767 315948

Dubai office: +971 4887 9808

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

LIGHTING

Tech AV Ltd

London, Essex, Birmingham

T: 0345 257 9969

E: lee@techav.events

W: www.techav.events

YSLV

London & York

T: 0800 080 3310

E: hire@yslv.co.uk

W: www.yslv.co.uk

Illumin8

Nick: 07593437891

E: sales@illumin8lights.co.uk

W: www.illumin8lights.co.uk

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

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

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

Alliance Pioneer Group

Event Medical, Frontline Ambulance & Patient Transport Services

Hawthorne House, 2nd Floor 25 Darklake View, Estover, Plymouth, PL6 7TL

T: 01752717720

E: mail@alliance-pioneer.co.uk

W: https://alliance-pioneer.co.uk/ : @alliancepioneergroup : @AlliancePGUK

: https://www.facebook.com/Alliance.Pioneer : https://uk.linkedin.com/company/alliancepioneer-group

Canopy Medical Services Ltd

T: 07514 780025

E: jules@canopymedicalservices.co.uk

W: www.canopymedicalservices.co.uk

Enhanced Care Services

Unit H9, Adanac Park, Adanac Dr, Nursling, Southampton SO16 0BT

T: 02380 201561

E: admin@enhancedcareservices.co.uk

W: www.enhancedcareservices.co.uk

First Aid Cover Ltd

T: 020 8875 5758

E: enquiries@firstaidcover.co.uk

W: www.firstaidcover.co.uk

Location Medical Services Ltd

The Medical Centre, Shepperton Studios, Studio Road, Shepperton, Middx, TW17 0QD

T: 0870 750 9898

E: mail@locationmedical.com

W: www.locationmedical.com

Medirek

8 Primrose Place, Portsmouth Road, Godalming Surrey, GU7 2JW

T: 07776 128 409

safety and medical

E: ryan.soper@medirek.co.uk

W: www.medirek.co.uk

MET Medical Ltd

T: 0203 627 9042

E: info@met-medical.co.uk

W: www.met-medical.co.uk

Trident Medical Limited

Based in Essex, cover events all over the UK

T: 01268 438899

M: 07379 244718

E: events@tridentmedical.co.uk

W: www.tridentmedical.co.uk

Hopkins Machinery

T: 01633 680754

E: hire@hopkinsmachinery.co.uk

W: www.hopkinsmachinery.co.uk

PLANT HIRE

Four Jays Group

Barling Farm, East Sutton, Maidstone, Kent ME17 3DX

T: 01622 843135

E: enquiries@fourjays. co.uk

W: www.fourjays.co.uk

LOOS FOR DOs Ltd

Bakers Court, Forge Road, Kingsley, Hampshire GU35 9NZ

T: 01420 588 355

E: info@loos.co.uk

W: www.loos.co.uk

Just Loos

Paddock Barn, Manor Farm, Itchen Stoke, Hampshire, SO24 0QT

T: 01962 867808

E: office@justloos.com

W: www.JustLoos.com

Ontrax Rentals

Elmwood Farm, Bampton OX18 2PL, England

E: hello@ontraxrentals.com

W: www.ontraxrentals.com

Site Event

The Depot, The Avenue, Lasham, Hampshire GU34 5SU

T: 01256 384 134

E: event@site-equip.co.uk

W: www.site-equip.co.uk

Vacant Event Hire

Unit C White Oak Technology Park, London Road, Swanley, Kent BR8 7AG

T: 01322 761 117

M: 07960 301178

E: info@vacant.events

W: https://vacant.events/

Zoo Events Group Ltd

Stockton Dairy, Stockton, Warminster, BA12 OSQ

T: 01258 840233

E: info@zooeventsgroup.co.uk

W: www.zooeventsgroup.co.uk

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

Fourth Generation Ltd

220 Cricklewood Lane, London, NW2 2PU

T: 020 8450 2943

M: 07741 052565

E: tweed@fourthgenerationltd.com

W: www.fourthgenerationltd.com

Gofer Ltd

Unit 7 Arkwright Road, Hadleigh Road Ind. Est, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP2 0UB

T: 01473 282530

E: info@gofer.co.uk

W: www.gofer.co.uk

IDE Systems

T: 01543 574 111

E: enquiries@idesystems.co.uk

W: www.idesystems.co.uk

Head Office & Manufacturing Centre

Unit 3, Swaffield Park Hyssop Close, Cannock Staffordshire, WS11 7FU United Kingdom

Lifos Advanced Battery Technology Ltd

Stafford Park 5, Telford, TF3 3AS

T: 01952 200198

E: hello@lifos.co.uk

W: www.lifos.co.uk

Midas Productions (UK) Ltd

Unit 1, Uplandside, Manor Road, Clopton, Suffolk, IP13 6SH

T: 0333 772 0772

M: 07949 007 603

E: info@midas-uk.co.uk

Newburn Power Rental Limited

Unit 36 Lidgate Crescent, Langthwaite Business Park, South Kirkby, Pontefract, WF9 3NR

T: 0845 077 6693

E: info@npr-uk.com

Power Events

T: 01277 424800

E: enquiries@powerevents.co.uk

W: www.powerevents.co.uk

Power Revolution

23C Shepherds Grove Ind Est, Stanton Bury St Edmunds, IP31 2AR

T: 01359 256 265

E: info@power-revolution.co.uk

W: www.power-revolution.co.uk

Progen Power Ltd

Belvedere House, Pynes Hill, Exeter,Devon, EX2 5WS

T: 0330 165 5720

E: info@progenpower.co.uk

W: www.progenpower.co.uk

Stuart Power Ltd

Stuart House, Hargham Road, Shropham, Norfolk, NR17 1DT

T: 01953 454540

E: enquiries@stuartpower.co.uk

W: www.stuartpower.co.uk

Summit Power

T: 0333 0349433

E: enquiries@summitpower.co.uk

W: https://summitpower.co.uk/

Wernick Power Solutions

Joseph House, Northgate Way, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 8ST

T: 03334 001 247

E: power@wernick.co.uk

W: www.wernick.co.uk/power : twitter.com/WernickGroup : www.linkedin.com/company/wernickgroup

PRINTERS

UK Flyers

Suite 210, Victory House, Somers Road, North Portsmouth, HampshirePO1 1PJ

T: 023 9229 3050

E: sales@ukflyers.com

W: www.ukflyers.com

PRODUCTION AND PROJECT SUPPORT

Smartrad Creative Ltd

5 George Street, Snaith, DN14 9HY smartradcreativeprojects@gmail.com www.smartrad.org

T: 07711469787

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

DCRS

Edison Road, St.Ives, Cambs, PE27 3LH

T: 0800 043 2688

E: sales@dcrs.co.uk

W: www.dcrs.co.uk

SFL Mobile Radio

6 Woodway Court, Thursby Road Bromsborough, CH62 3PR

T: 0151 334 9160

E: sales@sflmobileradio.co.uk

W: www.sflmobileradio.co.uk/

REFRIGERATED STRUCTURES

Dawsongroup tcs

Export Drive, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire NG17 6AF

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

SEATING

Ace Seating Hire

T: 01832 279333

E: info@aceseating.co.uk

W: www.aceseating.co.uk

SECURITY

DBD Group Services

T: 01934 286000 and 07955314124

E: info@dbdgroupservices.co.uk

W: www.dbdgroupservices.co.uk

Newman Event Services Ltd

Crowd Management, Festival & Event Security/Stewarding.

Bloxham Mill, Barford Road, Bloxham, Oxfordshire, OX15 4FF

T: 01295 722844

E: enquiries@newmanevents.co.uk

W: www.newmanevents.co.uk

Right Guard Security

Experts in Crowd Management and Event Security

T: 01227 464588

E: info@rightguard.co.uk

W: www.rightguard.co.uk

Trojan Security

Unit B7 Loughton Seedbed Centre

Langston Road

Loughton IG10 3TQ

T: 0330 113 9966

E: info@trojansecurityuk.co.uk

W: www.trojansecurityuk.co.uk

: @trojan-security-uk-ltd : @TrojanLondon :@trojan_security_UK

SET & SCENERY CONSTRUCTION

Staged Events Ltd

Meadow View, Newnham Lane, Old Basing, Hampshire, RG24 7AU

T: 01256578055

E: info@stagedevents.com

W: www.stagedevents.com

Dawsongroup | tcs

T: 01623 518538

E: info@dgtcs.co.uk

W: https://dgtcs.co.uk/inflatable-cold-rooms/

SHOWERS

Zoo Events Group Ltd

Stockton Dairy, Stockton, Warminster, BA12 OSQ

T: 01258 840233

E: info@zooeventsgroup.co.uk

W: www.zooeventsgroup.co.uk

SITE SUPPLIES

Concept Products Ltd

10 Cary Court, Somerton Business Park, Somerton, TA11 6SB

T: 01458 274020

E: ben@conceptproductsltd.co.uk

W: www.conceptproductsltd.co.uk

STAGING & RIGGING

IPS (Impact Production Services)

29 Mount Avenue, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LS

T: 01908 657950

E: enquiries@ips.co.uk

W: www.ips.co.uk

The Stage Bus

19 Prestwood Road, Birmingham, B29 5EB

T: 0121 585 9264

E: info@thestagebus.com

W: www.thestagebus.com

Steeldeck Rentals

Unit 58, T. Marchant Estate, 42 - 72 Verney Rd, London SE16 3DH

T: +44 (0)207 833 2031

E: rentals@steeldeck.co.uk

W: www.steeldeck.co.uk

TEMPORARY ROADWAYS

Cap Trac Limited

The Stables, Loke Farm, Weston Longville, Norwich, NR9 5LG

T: 01603 880448

E: info@captrac.co.uk

W: www.captrac.co.uk

TEMPORARY STRUCTURES

Fews Marquees

Chessgrove Park, Ditchford Bank Road, Hanbury, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 4HS

T: 01527 821789

E: info@fews.co.uk

W: www.fewsmarquees.co.uk

Gigtent UK

Sonas House, Button End Harston, Cambridge, CB22 7NX

E: info@gigtent.co.uk

W: www.gigtent.co.uk

LH Woodhouse

Wolds Farm, The Fosse, Cotgrave, Nottingham, NG12 3HG

Delivering successful events

T: 01159 899 899

E: sales@lhwoodhouse.co.uk

W: www.lhwoodhouse.co.uk

Losberger De Boer

Castle Park, Boundary Road, Brackley, Northamptonshire, NN13 7ES

T: 01280 846500

E: sales.uk@losbergerdeboer.com

W: www.losbergerdeboer.com/uk

Mehler Texnologies UK Ltd.

Hollinwood Business Centre

Albert Street, Oldham, Lancs. OL8 3QL

E: info-uk@freudenberg-pm.com

W: www.mehler-texnologies.com

NEPTUNUS Ltd

Cob Drive, Swan Valley, Northampton NN4 9BB

T: 01604 593820

E: sales@neptunus.co.uk

W: www.neptunus.co.uk

Stunning Tents

Creative House, Station Road, Theale RG7 4PD

T: 0118 380 5590

E: team@stunningtents.co.uk

W: www.Stunningtents.co.uk

Tentickle Stretch Tents UK Ltd

Langley Brook Business Park, Unit 3B London Rd, Tamworth, B78 2BP

T: 0121 7401385

M: 07826 843099

E: jorg@tentickle-stretchtents.co.uk

W: www.tentickle-stretchtents.co.uk

The Dome Company

T: 07876673354

E: info@thedomecompany.co.uk

W: www.thedomecompany.co.uk

TT Tents Ltd

North Waltham Business Centre, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG25 2DJ

T: 01256 397 551

E: sales@tttents.co.uk

W: www.tttents.co.uk

Worldwide Structures Ltd

Ayrshire Farm, Sharcott, Pewsey, SN9 5PA

T: 01672 565 060 / +44 (0) 7875 027369

E: enquiries@w-sl.com

W: www.worldwidestructures.com

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

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

Right Guard Traffic Management

Event Traffic Management

VEHICLE HIRE

CSAS Accredited Traffic Officers

Car Parking

Event Signage

T: 01227 464588

E: info@rightguard.co.uk

W: www.rightguard.co.uk

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

Water Direct

T: 0345 345 1725

E: enquiries@water-direct.co.uk

W: www.water-direct.co.uk

Bradshaw Event Vehicles

New Lane, Stibbington, Peterborough, PE8 6LW

T: 01780 782621

E: enquiries@eventvehicles.co.uk

W: www.eventvehicles.co.uk

Twitter: @Bradshaw_EV

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

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

D C Site Services Ltd

Fenland District Industrial Estate Station Road, Whittlesey Peterborough PE7 2EY

T: 01733 200 713

E: info@dcsiteservices.com

W: www.dcsiteservices.com

Falcon Cleaning

The Falcon Nest, Unit 10 & 11, Lower Gower Road, Royston SG8 5EA

E: admin@falconteam.co.uk

W: www.falconteam.co.uk

Wicked Event Water Services

Kevin: 07909 771996

E: info@wickedeventwaterservices.com

W: www.wews.biz

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

WIFI,

Editor Caroline Clift caroline@standoutmagazine.co.uk

Publication manager

Sarah Bourne sarah@standoutmagazine.co.uk

Account executives

Jen Crisp jen@standoutmagazine.co.uk

Holley Wilkinson holley@standoutmagazine.co.uk

Marketing executive

Katie Goldsmith marketing@standoutmagazine.co.uk

Design and production

Jonathan Graham

Colin Swaffer

Neil Hepden

Jemma Heslop studio@standoutmagazine.co.uk

Digital and web developer

Matthew Coppard

Credit control

Janine Walmsley creditcontrol@standoutmagazine.co.uk

Managing director

Neil Fagg neil@standoutmagazine.co.uk T: 01795 509101

CEO John Denning

StandOut Multimedia Limited, 3 The Metford, Evegate Business Park, Smeeth, Ashford, Kent, TN25 6SX T: 01795 509113 www.standoutmagazine.co.uk

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FLYING HIGH

StandOut heads to Farnborough International Airshow and the Royal International Air Tattoo to look at significant operational changes and event developments.

NEED FOR SPEED

Jessica Harmes, Goodwood Festival of Speed’s operations manager, walks StandOut through this year’s site changes and sustainability projects.

SEA CHANGE

Proud Events and Swans Events will curate, produce and deliver Bristol Harbour Festival for the first time. We go behind the scenes to talk with the teams about changes for 2024.

© Drew Gibson