Corporate Events Plus

Fantastic, we have a project in London in November, 4 days in the centre of town, back to Conferencing at last – quoting – scheduling – client changes bring it all on – I am really looking forward to seeing some familiar faces on site again.

Outdoor events have been gathering pace and now I hope the indoor events will start to return again. I have been to Peterborough and Balldock to two festivals delivering and installing fridges for bars this month for the Anglian Trailer Centre.

This month working at Anglian trailers I have been delivering and collecting freezer and fridge trailers for some EVENTS !!!!!!

Out door events in the form of the Cambridge food festival and the Airshow at Duxford.

It was great to be on site with alot of familiar work going on, fork lifts moving barriers and an out door stage being set up – I can not almost remember the last time I saw a pile of flight cases, it made me think, ”God I miss our industry”

The Government have announced today that International travel can take place from America and Europe to England with vaccinated travellers not requiring to quarantine on arrival to the UK, another step towards being able to gather international audiences, fingers crossed the return to live events for business is on the horizon.

Another month goes by without a live business event, sporting events are on the rise, festivals are being confirmed and yet conference and exhibitions are slow to return. International travel is still uncertain due to the ever changing traffic light listings by the government. The government guidelines are not helping our industry regarding meeting indoors for business so it is frustrating to see crowds of football fans gathering in close groups.

This month I have been working in a different industry and was involved with repossessing a hire lorry where the payments had not been met for sometime so the vehicle had to be taken back. Waiting for the vehicle to be cleaned out before driving it away back to the company who owned the vehicle was awkward but necessary. So many people affected by the pandemic.

I am concerned for our industry – each week another name in the industry has retired, left for pastures new or just plain given up – tough times indeed.

The government roll out of the vaccinations is helping, I have had my second jab now, the over 30’s are having their first jabs and the strain on the NHS is reduced – let’s get back to work – every other industry seems to be trading it is our turn to get back to work – fingers crossed we can make a start soon, it’s been a long time coming.

We have been able to help with the promotion of a new part of business for Anglian Trailer Centre who have invested in some Motorhomes. Arranging print for signage to advertise the product and the preparation of images for social media.

Unfortunately with the cancellation of Mobile World Congress for 2021 all eyes are on 2022 for the next Mobile World Congress Exhibition. There are murmurings of events re starting but until the rest of the world catches up with inoculations to stem the spread of the Covid virus we are still going to struggle to hold international events anytime soon.

Well, it is a rollercoaster for sure our new world – MWC2021 in Barcelona in June moved from February 2021 after the cancellation during the build in February 2020.

So many individuals and companies are willing this event to happen, the local authorities, the Fira venue and the GSMA event organisers are all being positive but are the Exhibitors?

Some big customers have pulled out but not all – let’s hope the event progresses face to face along with the new virtual platforms being used and this years event kicks off the new world of events for our industry. Someone has to be the first to break the ice.

Ever hopeful – are we seeing the green shoots of recovery for the future – we could be working again in our industry by the summer – fingers crossed

Well, it is a bit ‘tongue in cheek’ as they say but the enthusiasm is there to get back to doing what we do best which is to deliver first class business meetings and exhibitions. Virtual is filling a gap but the hunger for face to face is not going away just yet, we just need to be allowed to get back to work like everyone else as soon as the infection numbers fall and the virus is under control – please don’t leave us hanging too long Boris.

Unfortunately we are still seeing some events being pushed back – there is doubt over travel between countries with the UK Government talking about visitors to England having to self isolate in a hotel if they wish to visit the country – this has a big knock on effect to European travellers for business.

Give it a go – try some Banter

The word is believed to have originated in London as street slang and has evolved to its current form, defined by the Oxford dictionary as “the playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks”.

I have missed the banter on projects. Some banter can be really witty and this is the level of banter we enjoy.

This week I was diversifying in a workshop building up new trailers to customer specifications while a staff member was on holiday some additional help was required at a local business.

I collected trailers from a manufacturer and then helped to build the add on parts customers had ordered to their own specifications, additional ramps or tailgates, lighting and suspension. Interesting work.

But what I enjoyed most was the workshop banter and it made me realize how much I miss working on site with my usual team of guys and gals.

An example of the banter this week,

I said

‘’Hey David it is my last day this week, you only have today to tell me all you know – I don’t know what we are going to do after lunch though’’

To which he replied

‘’I already told you everything I knew could be written on a matchstick’’

Playfull Banter with words helps the working day pass jovially if used in the right way it can also bring a bit of light relief to a strained situation, it can induce laughter and if you are smiling you are winning.

How are you doing ???

Are we asking our work colleagues how they are doing during this pandemic?

The quiet ones……..

The noisy gregarious ones who may have gone quiet.

We are in an extended period of reduced work or no work – not everyone can be involved with ‘virtual’ events that are happening at the moment.

I have been researching online what is available in the events industry in terms of Mental Wellbeing.

There is an organization called Event Well which have some really interesting links to help with mental health tools  https://eventwell.org/

As part of the course I completed with Nebosh National General Certificate in Health and Safety one of the modules discussed Physical and Psychological effects in the workplace.

We covered noise, radiation, mental health, violence at work and drug abuse in work.

Under the Mental Health subsection we looked at Anxiety, Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Work Related Stress.

The HSE have produced a guide for employees which may be helpful to read

https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg424.pdf

Another source of information is from IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety & Health)

https://iosh.com/resources-and-research/our-resources/mental-health/

Also this month

At last I have received my certificate for completing the Nebosh National General Certificate in Health and Safety