Covid hit events firm set to bounce back with bumper year An events company is looking forward to a bumper year after suffering heavy financial losses during the pandemic. ACF Teambuilding and Events was on track for a record million-pound turnover in 2019 before the outbreak of Covid. But the firm lost hundreds of thousands of pounds due to lockdown and cancelled events. Mark Fanning, who has headed the business for 10 years, said: “It’s been a tough couple of years. I’ve seen competitors go under and had to continually adapt to survive.
The company also took the decision to pivot during the pandemic – holding up to 30 professionally-run virtual events each week during the lockdown periods – from game shows to live music quizzes. Wellbeing focus. Now the team is focusing on wellbeing in nature and team engagement - with activities ranging from axe throwing to ‘forest bathing,’ an immersive therapy developed in Japan. Mark said: “I know first-hand the importance of getting out, exercising and socialising for wellbeing. It helped me get me through tough times and brought our team closer.”
“But I couldn’t imagine doing anything else and it’s great to be able to host events in The Lancet has reported Covid-19 has person again. We have lots of bookings highlighted the importance of work in shaping lined-up and are looking forward to a bumper population health and wellbeing. year.” Pandemics and an end to quarantine Covid challenges. throughout history has often led to people wanting to preserve their health and celebrate The events industry, estimated at £70 billion life. pre-pandemic, has taken a huge financial hit and around 126,000 job losses. Mark said: “I think it’s in people’s nature to want to get out, socialise and do things again. Mark had to furlough his team and all bar one, who took voluntary redundancy, has returned to work for ACF.
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