Corporate Events Plus

Hola,

I am writing this in Spain from Mobile World Congress 2014

This is good work to be involved with, the Exhibition Stands here are incredible. Many have been building for several weeks to provide a befitting environment for blue chip companies to do serious business.

This is the second year we have been Technically Directing at this show at the Fira Gran Via in Barcelona.

My Spanish lessons are paying dividends with the local contractors and service providers, the more time I spend with my Spanish colleagues the more I am understanding the language and I am enjoying the learning.

We have Spanish and German teams working onsite to construct the booth. LED lighting is being used to create a bright environment. We are using 66 rigging points with motors to fly the roof of the Exhibition Booth, to watch a large structure float to the sky effortlessly still amazes me.

Is the economy improving at last, or are we just following work abroad where it seems work is buoyant?

Over the last 15 years it has always amazed me how in a new calendar year usually there is only one or two projects confirmed for the New Year before the diary begins to fill up with enquiries turning into confirmed projects.

This year it is different, 6 projects confirmed before January but the real interest in this confirmed work is that 5 out of the 6 projects are abroad in Barcelona, Berlin, Moscow, Paris and Geneva and in 3 different market sectors.

Announced by the Government last week was the lowest level of UK unemployment for 17 years, now all we need is the press to start to spin some of this positive news so it keeps the momentum going.

2014 could be a springboard for a return to good times of trading.

Working in London on an event where exposure to potential investors and funding opportunities for start-up business’ was of utmost importance I came across a tool for accessing social media with a multiple message to create what is known as a ‘Thunderclap’ Read More

This month I have been involved with Production Managing a multi nation Government Summit event in London. The Festival area was an exhibition that required bright but clearly defined areas for visitors and exhibitors.

Read More

Some good news arrived in the post this month, a certificate for passing the IOSH Managing Safely exam earlier in the year, I must get round to putting it up on the office wall.

This has been a full on month of pre event planning, organising multiple agency and end customers for an exhibition in London. It has been a bit like that program ‘one man and his dog’ only as a team we have been trying to steer the agency’s into our way of thinking with providing the right health and safety paperwork and plans so we know what to expect when they arrive to fill their allotted space.

It appears work is still being confirmed late, organised late and instructed late, the end client is at fault here. The trouble is the longer the delay on making a call on an event the more difficult it is for suppliers to arrange their own diaries and submit the required details to aid a smooth running project. I am not sure it has been any different in some circumstances but a return to some good old fashioned forward planning would be welcome.

An interesting month working on exhibitions in the UK and in Germany.

The 02 venue in London is a large venue and Production Managing the build of an exhibition stand in the cavernous space reminded me how chilly it can get when working in the exhibition halls, this meant extra jumpers for the build were packed for Frankfurt for the Press Launch of a new car for Infinity.

Once we were in show mode and all the stands had their lights on and the heating was regulated it was short sleeves as usual.

In The Congress Centre Messe Frankfurt we were using Read More

August calm before the storm!

Quoting on projects and pitching on events along with picking our way through Exhibitor manual details to ensure the correct trucks arrive at the right entrance gates for the next project at the 02 venue in London next weekend. August is a bit of a funny month. Time to catch up with the end of year business paperwork too as we head into year 16, clear the office of accumulated clutter and plan the next tranche of training before the Conference season starts again.

I am looking forward to working at the Frankfurt Motorshow early next Month, the next round of automotive technology to inspire project thinking. It is valuable going to these Exhibitions. Particularly when you get to appraise other countries work at International events. This can be a great source of leaning new communication methods.

But for now, after shocking bank holiday weekend weather, the sun is streaming in through the office windows while we are busy doing paperwork, typical!

This month has been varied for work with projects in exhibition taking up most of our time.

Always something new to learn Read More

Do you consider the environmental impact on your event?

If you use this systematic approach it could help you consider the environmental impact you may be having when Producing an event.

Plan ahead

Change the way you do things to reduce and prevent waste

Do

Implement your plan, Reduce by using less packaging or by improving efficiency

Check

Measure your waste methods and performance, can you reuse products?

Act

Review what you are doing and measure your methods against competitors. Are you acting responsibly?

IOSH, The Institution of Occupational Safety & Health is a British organisation recognized internationally for Health and Safety Professionals. I am glad to have passed the Managing Safely exam.

The course was very interesting, detailed with 8 modules, an Introduction to Managing Safely, Assessing risks, Controlling Risks, Understanding your responsibilities and the law, Identifying Hazards, Investigating accidents and incidents, Measuring Performance and Protecting the Environment.

A very thorough course worth going on.