Buyer’s

The 

Festival 

Buyer’s 

2016 

Guide 

Where Buyers meet Suppliers 

CDM 

The first 

12 months 

OK Computer 

Where will the next wave of 

technology take festivals? 

Safe 

From 

Harm 

Don’t 

have 

a cow 

What impact will ISIL’s 

latest attacks have 

on public/private 

events in 2016? 

How festival 

food control 

can benefit the 

environment 

Plus lots more!

Event Production Solutions 

Covering Every Flooring Option for Your Event 

EPS Europe Works with Cuffe 

& Taylor on Neil Diamond 

Blackpool Concert 

Fast becoming one of the UK’s foremost 

premium outdoor event organisers, Cuffe 

& Taylor once again called on the services 

of EPS Europe for Neil Diamond’s live 

concert at Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road 

stadium in summer 2015. 

The event was the second major outdoor concert to be staged at the seaside venue, following Cuffe & Taylor’s 

huge success in bringing Rod Stewart to the stadium in summer 2014. 

With the concert taking place just a few weeks before the start of the new football season, EPS Europe was 

tasked with protecting the playing surface using its specialist Temp-A-Path product. 

Installed by hand in just eight hours, the lightweight Temp-A-Path product featured small holes that allowed 

air and water to penetrate into the ground below, helping to maintain the standard of the natural turf beneath it. 

15,000 temporary chairs were then placed on top of the surface. 

EPS Europe Completes Second 

Successful Download Festival 

EPS Europe successfully completed its 

second Download Festival in summer 

2015. The rock music event takes place 

at Donington Park in Nottinghamshire, 

and EPS Europe once again installed its 

specialist Temp-A-Path product in order 

to create unhindered access to, from, 

and around public toilet areas. 

Following excellent feedback from customers at the 2014 event, over 4,500m 2 of the plastic product was laid 

at the site for the 2015 festival. The Temp-A-Path is used to protect the grass around the toilets as well as 

provide clear and safe access regardless of the weather. 

In addition to the public toilet areas, Temp-A-Path was also installed in the VIP bar areas and backstage 

access routes to ensure that the weather would have no impact on the hospitality experience. 

New Temp-A-Deck Now 

Available from EPS Europe 

EPS Temp-A-Deck is the simplest 

way to add high-quality wooden 

decking to your temporary event. 

Uniquely snapping together, the tiles are quick to 

install and you won't need a hammer, screwdriver or 

any glue. The only tool you may need could be a saw 

if you need to fit a tile around a post or a downpipe. 

EPS Temp-A-Deck is perfect for indoor or outdoor applications, allowing event organisers to build stunning 

outdoor areas for summer events or create amazing spaces within indoor venues or marquees. 

t: 01509 768 252 

e: sales@epseurope.co.uk 

w: www.epseurope.co.uk 

EUROPE 

• Pedestrian 

Access 

• Vehicular 

Access 

• Artificial 

Grass 

• Event 

Carpet 

• Temporary 

Decking 

PORTABLE 

FLOORING 

SPECIALISTS

圀攀挀愀渀猀甀瀀瀀氀礀琀栀攀昀漀氀氀漀眀椀渀最 

愀渀搀洀漀爀攀漀渀爀攀焀甀攀猀琀㨀 

∠ 䜀漀氀昀䈀甀最最椀攀猀 

∠ 䄀吀嘀匀 

∠ 吀爀愀椀氀攀爀猀 

∠ 㐀砀㐀猀 

∠ 吀爀愀挀琀漀爀猀 

∠ 刀攀昀爀椀最攀爀愀琀攀搀瘀攀栀椀挀氀攀猀 

∠ 匀椀琀攀䴀愀椀渀琀攀渀愀渀挀攀嘀攀栀椀挀氀攀猀 

∠ 䜀伀 ⴀ 䐀刀䤀嘀䔀䌀栀愀甀 û 攀甀爀猀 

∠ ㈀㐀⼀㜀䴀愀椀渀琀攀渀愀渀挀攀愀渀搀 

䈀爀攀愀欀搀漀眀渀匀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀 

圀攀猀甀瀀瀀氀礀琀漀 

䜀氀愀猀琀漀渀戀甀爀礀䘀攀猀琀椀瘀愀氀 

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椀搀攀愀氀瀀愀爀琀渀攀爀漀昀挀栀漀椀挀攀 

Welcome to the 

Festival Buyer’s Guide. 

Designed around mobile devices, as well as desktop and laptop 

computers, the Festival Buyer’s Guide is a qualified, quality focus on 

best practice and innovation. Through features, case studies and 

interviews across the organiser/supply chain, it’s a readable route 

around contemporary industry patterns. 

Articles in this issue include a look at the event policing puzzle 

post-Paris 2015, the CDM Regs revision (nearly) 12 months on, 

the growth in winter events, the technology for festivals’ market 

and much more. 

Designed for the 2016 pace of life, the Festival Buyer’s Guide, in 

common with the modern events world, has to be easy to navigate 

and interact with. And it is, the most dynamic, up-to-date media 

resource for the industry. 

If you would like to be featured in or contribute to future editions of the Festival 

Buyer’s Guide, please get in touch by email, phone, or via our website. 

W: www.eventindustrynews.co.uk E: editor@eventindustrynews.co.uk Head Office: 01777 802111 

最氀漀戀愀氀最愀琀栀攀爀椀渀最 

䈀攀猀琀椀瘀愀氀 

䐀漀眀渀氀漀愀搀䘀攀猀琀椀瘀愀氀 

嘀 ⴀ 䘀攀猀琀椀瘀愀氀 

䈀愀爀挀氀愀礀挀愀爀搀䈀爀椀琀椀猀栀 

匀甀洀洀攀爀吀椀洀攀 

愀渀搀洀愀渀礀 Ⰰ 洀愀渀礀洀漀爀攀 

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䄀甀琀栀漀爀椀琀礀昀漀爀挀爀攀搀椀琀 ⴀ 爀攀氀愀琀攀搀爀攀最甀氀愀琀攀搀愀挀挀瘀椀椀攀猀 

䔀洀愀椀氀㨀攀渀焀甀椀爀椀攀猀䀀猀栀戀 ⸀ 挀漀 ⸀ 甀欀 

嘀攀栀椀挀氀攀䠀椀爀攀愀渀搀䴀愀渀愀最攀洀攀渀琀 

吀攀氀攀瀀栀漀渀攀㨀㜀㤀㐀㔀㐀㔀㠀 

圀攀戀猀椀琀攀㨀眀眀眀 ⸀ 猀栀戀 ⸀ 挀漀 ⸀ 甀欀

“Budgets and priorities means the police can’t be present at events to the extent they used to be, 

but sites are safely run, and policed with a small p, by security teams like AP,” Andrew Stevens, 

Director of Strategic Development at the company, says. 

“The UK festival model is untested since Paris, but it’s built on fantastic communication and liaison. 

If there’s heightened risk anywhere, we all know about it. 

“The confidence of security/stewards at an event is paramount,” Stevens adds. “If we feel a 

genuine need for more staff or more resources, we can’t be shy about asking for it and organisers, 

in my experience, are always ready to listen.” 

Safe from harm 

The horrors of the Paris attacks last year will put the security model 

at live events under closer scrutiny than ever in season 2016. 

Event Industry News looks beyond the barricades. 

Whether this country remains a part of the European Union or not, experts believe threats and 

disruption to major events will be the ‘new normal’, across the continent. And there’s a bigger than 

ever onus on festival organisers to make their audiences feel safe. 

According to the National Police Chiefs Counsel (NPCC), pre-austerity, ‘The Police have no general 

duty to preserve public safety at any public event, except where there are imminent or likely threats 

to life’. So it costs organisers to have even the thinnest blue line. However, Operation Gothic, an 

intelligence-sharing initiative developed by the police and focused on festivals and events, has 

been a significant step towards rebalancing that equation since it was introduced in 2013. 

Gothic is a means to manage and maintain a structured contacts network for event facilitators, 

including police, partners and industry, through: 

• gathering, developing, actioning and analysing information and intelligence for sharing with each 

event host and key partners 

• activating early warning mechanisms in respect of high-risk emerging issues 

• producing regular bulletins and risk profiles (i.e. artist, fan base etc) for use by police, venues, 

security and event organisers. 

While counter terrorism guidance was already in the public domain, the police fielded a weight of 

enquiries from event organisers post-Paris. So the system and the tactics were revised, inviting 

organisers and venue managers to engagement sessions across the country in May, one telling 

example. 

“The decision to review was made very quickly after the attacks,” a spokesperson tells Event 

Industry News. “[Gothic] is not perfect yet. It’s a new, voluntary operation, managed by just a few 

enthusiastic officers, but it’s a channel for us to share information with event organisers. They get 

[the news] we get. It’s sanitised, for obvious reasons, but hopefully useful. If any specific information 

emerges, we would pass that on. Gothic is not about us plugging holes in [an organiser’s] plans.” 

Any real threat to the public, however, following all due consultation and consideration, would stop 

an event in its tracks. 

The force then is strong, but resolutely background, in the field of live events. So, post-Bataclan 

particularly, how much should organisers be doing/can they afford to be doing, to reassure 

ticketbuyers they are in safe(r) hands across the fenceline, proven in the face of real adversity? 

The police service will not advocate any direct alternatives to its own presence on site, but they do 

exist. Seventy five per cent of TSG Policing’s deployments are made up of experienced ex-cops, 

for example. Could that be a solution for season 2016 events? 

“All agencies need to understand their limitations and play to their strengths,” David Boswell, 

Founder/Managing Director of TSG, tells this magazine. “Event security companies provide the 

requisite resources to manage day to day security/crowd management requirements, controlling 

ingress and egress, for instance, manning check points, searching bags and conducting general 

observations.” The capacity to react to high-level incidents falls outside the remit and expectations 

of conventional security. That, Boswell insists, is where TSG fits in, with its well-trained, fully 

equipped officers, married to expert command and control teams. 

“Operation Gothic is a brilliant off-site intelligence sharing platform, so event organisers and 

security firms can better prepare, but neither can provide trained professionals with the experience, 

and the ability, to deal with higher level incidents,” Boswell says. “In my opinion, event organisers 

should ensure they have a specialist resource in place, be it the police, TSG, or both, to manage 

specific threats, risks and occurrences.” 

Cost is always a key driver for event organisers and crisis doesn’t spawn new cash streams. So, 

if you’re convinced by the pitch, how do you pay for team TSG without a brutal, Osborne-style 

budget review? 

“There will always be additional costs for additional services,” Boswell says. “What TSG can 

guarantee, is where SPS is currently paid for, we will generate significant savings. And, where TSG 

is brought in as an addition to the overall event safety plan, we keep costs to a minimum.” 

The event season proper starts at Cheltenham Festival, mid-March; then the gates begin to open 

to thousands of events, big and small, mainstream and boutique, across the country. Unaware 

perhaps of all the measures in place behind the scenes, festivalgoers in 2016, convinced by the 

lineup and managing the price, are sure to pay closer attention to the security effort they can see. 

6 

7

“Dynamic solutions for 

distinguished clients” 

Marquee & temporary 

structure hire 

‘Why Danco do festivals 

well, how to make 

marquees look the part’ 

Where? 

Danco Plc are an established 

marquee hire company that 

embody professionalism and we 

are proud to supply a variety of 

festivals across the length and 

breadth of the UK. Over the last 

few years you will have seen 

our structures at the likes of 

Glastonbury, Wireless Festival, 

Wilderness, Lovebox and 

Towersey Festival to name a few. 

What? 

Danco marquees are used for 

many purposes; most notably 

one of our 25m clear span 

frames, complete with bespoke 

clear gables, is used to house 

The Beat Hotel at Glastonbury. 

Our smaller frames, such as the 

6m or 9m clear span work well 

for long runs of bar or catering 

traders and will often have 

themed facades designed around 

them which make them very 

adaptable. The Danco black-out 

coloured festival covers (pictured 

opposite) also remain a popular 

alternative to the traditional 

white marquees. 

How? 

As temporary structures become 

bigger and more creative to 

support the festival organiser’s 

need to broaden the attendee’s 

experience, suppliers have to 

keep up with the demand and 

technological advances. Danco 

have recently purchased a new 

floor jacking system that allows 

us to provide perfectly level 

and increasingly stable flooring 

solutions on often undulating 

grass sites. 

We were very honoured to be 

mentioned at the ASAO annual 

conference as a shining example 

of how to adhere to current health 

& safety legislation correctly 

and apart from re-wording some 

paperwork as a result of CDM 

regulations, we have been able to 

continue working as efficiently 

as we already were. 

Unquestionably, the festival 

market is growing and with the 

emergence year on year of new 

grass roots festivals implies that 

losing yourself in a festival for a 

day or a whole weekend is still a 

popular ideology. 

Contact Danco on: T 01454 252 218 E info@danco.co.uk

New order for Henley Festival 

Thirty-four years in, Henley Festival takes the biggest step in its perennial 

evolution this summer, putting more venues in the mix, partnering with 

Ronnie Scott’s, increasing capacity by a third and breaking beyond its 

physical boundaries. 

To the ticketholders at least, Henley Festival has long 

been about much more than increasingly profile acts 

on the Floating Stage, Elton John, Elvis Costello and 

Shirley Bassey among them this year. It’s comedy, 

dance, street entertainers, fireworks, fine dining, and 

that’s just the middle of the menu. 

For 2016, the Thameside event, which follows Henley 

Regatta and inherits much of its infrastructure, will 

have a bigger footprint and a busier programme. 

New spaces allow for a comedy stage proper, The 

Salon Comedy Club, which comes bearing Al Murray, 

Reginald D Hunter, Nina Conti and other profile names, 

while a Big Top platform, ‘The Top’, for up and coming 

artists, stretches the event outside the Regatta’s 

Stewards’ Enclosure for the first time. 

“Being able to programme a wider variety of work 

enables us to grow our audience and I hope that we 

will reach a more diverse range of people as a result,” 

Chief Executive, Charlotte Geeves, says. “We have 

an excellent relationship with Wokingham district 

council and work closely with the team there, and the 

locals, which makes any [changes] to our licence an 

easier process. I do hope that we are now seen as a 

permanent fixture by the Henley community and that, 

in the most part, they attend.” 

Site for sore eyes 

In 2013, the Festival was caught between a 

river and a hard place, ramping up its budget to 

attract the likes of The Beach Boys and Madness, 

but falling far short financially. A move to Henley 

Business School, a cheaper site three miles up the 

road, was mooted, before an invigorating deal was 

floated by the Royal Regatta Committee and the 

Festival settled back into its natural berth, in the 

wake of the rowers. 

“We use all of the Regatta’s [Arena] structures, although we 

do change the functionality of quite a few of them,” Geeves says. 

The transition period between the two events pointedly wasn’t a part of the 2013 deal; it remains just 

66 hours, from 8:30pm on Sunday to Festival doors on Wednesday at 6:00pm. 

“We’re free to be venturesome, this year a particularly prime example,” Stewart Collins, Henley 

Festival’s Artistic Director for the last 25 years, tells Event Industry News, “but it’s an uphill task, as ever 

it was, to get everything done on time. Our fantastic team just makes it happen. 

“We have extended the site by half an acre this year and capacity will be up significantly as a result,” 

Collins explains. “We always had a mix of performance, but the extra venues will give jazz, comedy 

and new music their own spaces, making it easier for the audience to know where everything is and 

there’s so much going on, beyond the main stage. It will be very easy simply to spend a whole day in 

the Comedy Club.” 

The partnership with Ronnie Scott’s will see the world famous jazz club, satellite-style, in a Henley 

Festival temporary structure. The 1930 Spiegel tent, which has a permanent venue feel anyway, will be 

rife with rich reds and an onus on replicating the Frith Street club’s famously good sound. 

“Ronnie Scott’s is a recognisable brand, the ‘best you can get’ jazz venue and our audience is a 

perfect fit,” Collins continues. “It’s a little older than the typical festival crowd. Dining is a very important 

element and we will have early evening supper there, then a performance, in keeping with the London 

club’s model, the Ronnie Scott’s Story. After the headline concert on the Floating Stage, there will be 

a jazz jam and Ronnie Scott’s players are already in touch with bands from the main stage. We’ll have 

the finest jazz quintet anyway and they might just be joined by players from Elton John’s band, for 

instance.” I guess that’s why they call it ‘The UK’s Most Magical Summer Party’. 

Henley Festival 2016 runs from July 6-10. 

For more information see: www.henley-festival.co.uk 

Suppliers include: 

Lighting – Panalux (stages) 

Oakwood Events (site) 

Power/distribution – SSE 

Site maintenance – Henley Contracting 

Sound – RG Jones 

Staging – ESG 

Temporary structures – Arena Group 

Trackway - Eve 

10 

11

12 

13

The first question this prompts is ‘why don’t they know?’ In some respects, it’s obvious. The very 

fact that they are seeking to procure services is that they don’t have the means to deliver those 

services themselves. The client therefore needs to bring in an expert within that particular field. 

Many event organisers will testify to the fact that once they have engaged a particular service 

provider, they often allow that provider to lead the discussion as to what the event requires. 

In short, they tap into to that person’s expertise. 

So when it comes to the procurement process, why write a complicated tender document if 

you don’t fully understand what will need delivering? To put it another way, if your boiler broke 

down at home, would you try and research boiler engineering in order to create a written 

tender document, or would you simply phone up some specialists and ask them to come and 

diagnose the problem? In context, if you know nothing about how to light a main stage at a 

festival, why spend the time writing a tender document for lighting companies to fill in? 

Inevitably the words ‘local authority’ will creep into this whole discussion. Regardless 

of the nature of the service - be it roadworks, playground equipment, or a mobile 

stage for an event – if it’s being driven by a local authority then there are certain 

boxes that have to be ticked. That said, can the procurement process – even 

in local authorities - be changed? When asked the question during the podcast, 

Mike Richmond’s answer was simple. 

Procurement 

with the Event 

Industry – are 

we complicating a 

simple process? 

Procurement. The act of obtaining 

or buying goods and services. The 

process includes preparation and 

processing of a demand as well as the 

end receipt and approval of payment. It is 

also a word that strikes fear into the heart 

of many an event professional. Why? 

Well, because according to one expert, many 

people don’t actually know what they want. 

Last year the Talking Events podcast produced by Event Industry News 

published an episode featuring Mike Richmond, the well-known director 

of Richmond Events Management (REM). In the episode, he talked 

candidly about the whole process of procurement and his own experiences 

of the process. 

“REM has done thousands of tenders over the years”, said Mike. “We’ve 

completed them and we’ve set them. The difficulty with events is that it’s often 

difficult to say precisely what you want. You sometimes get the feeling that 

tender documents are written so [vaguely] that the client doesn’t really know 

what they need.” 

“I don’t think it can. Tenders are one of two things: very open minded 

because they (the client) don’t really know what they want, or very 

detailed because they’ve just used the specs from the guy that did 

the job before. There’s very little in between.” 

Mike also points out that he knows of several companies that 

won’t bother filling in tender documents anymore because of 

the amount of time it consumes and the fact that they often 

don’t get any form of response. This means that if you 

choose to issue a complicated, time-consuming tender 

document in order to source some toilets, then you 

are potentially missing out on the services of a 

better supplier. 

So, instead of a convoluted procurement 

process that could still leave you 

without knowing exactly what you 

want, why not just keep it 

simple? Pick up the phone 

to an expert and 

speak to them. 

14 

15

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can save you money, time, paperwork and stress. 

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LONDON · PINEWOOD · BIRMINGHAM · ExCel 

Not all Rigging is the same. 

In the event industry, the word Rigging can take on many meanings. Often used 

as a noun to describe the equipment and alternatively a verb when explaining 

the act of using the equipment itself. 

It is all too easy to assume that “all rigging is the same”. This is a totally wrong assumption, and an assumption 

that can carry an increased risk if the differences in the type of applications of equipment and the service 

conditions in which they are to be used are not fully understood. 

Rigging equipment and the act of “rigging” for festivals and other outdoor 

events is a case in point where the equipment often becomes a part of a 

temporary structure and is affected in different ways to instances when the 

same equipment is used in an indoor arena or venue. 

At Rigging Services we offer both a “dry hire” and “wet hire” service according 

to its clients needs. In both instances though we recognise the risks associated 

with the weather, ground conditions, performers, the general public and the 

time constraints for load ins and outs plus the duration of the event itself. 

Some structures are created for an event with an incredibly short duration and 

yet they still warrant our full diligence. 

One of our specialist areas of activity is what we 

internally refer to as “boutique rigging” in other words, 

one offs and non-standard structures. These are 

becoming all the more common as promoters and 

performers alike try to be different. 

To ensure that safety always comes first, any deviation 

from a standard system is backed up by structural 

calculations and designs approved by our preferred 

chartered engineers. 

Each individual item of equipment has a unique ID and is serviced, maintained and examined to comply with 

the LOLER regulations. With the final rigged system checked, it is not uncommon for a temporary structure to 

contains thousands of items which will have been individually deemed fit for purpose. 

It would be a mistake to take a less detailed approach to structures which are quite complex. 

Offices: 

Pinewood, Birmingham, Manchester, ExCeL 

www.riggingservices.co.uk 0845 5 55 65 75 

T: 0208 215 1240 

W: www.riggingservices.co.uk 

E: london@riggingservices.co.uk

OK Computer – where will 

the next wave of technology 

take festivals? 

Serge Grimaux, CEO and Head Pilot 

of Intellitix identifies the benefits that its 

innovative RFID technology brings to the 

evolving nature of festivals and live events. 

Serge explains “Last year we almost doubled the number 

of events we work with, adding festivals like Snowbombing, 

Garorock, Electrobeach, and Hellfest to our clientele. As 

predicted, we are already seeing a significant shift in attitudes 

towards Cashless Payment, Brand Amplification and Access 

Control technology in this industry, reflecting the trends 

already present in our daily lives. I expect to see the number 

of festivals in Europe implementing our RFID solutions and 

embracing a fully Cashless culture increase significantly 

in the near future. Intellitix’s system benefits organisers by 

increasing on-site revenue, delivering unparalleled audience 

insight, and creating key commercial opportunities to connect 

brands to their target markets.” 

“Access Control: This allows event organisers to secure 

ticket gross, eliminate fraud and passbacks and dramatically 

cut queues into events. With real-time capacity counts, 

organisers can best allocate their staff resources to peak 

areas immediately to manage patron flow. Access Control 

also provides insightful post-event analysis, enabling 

organisers to optimise site planning and entry processes for 

future events. 

“Cashless Payments: RFID technology enables festivals to 

benefit from a Cashless Payment system that is accessible to 

100% of the audience – enabling increased on-site spending 

of up to 30% more than traditional payment methods. 

Customers no longer have to carry around cash or risk 

losing their wallets on the dance floor or in mosh pits, adding 

convenience and security benefits. There is huge potential 

in leveraging the Big Data obtained in our real-time reporting 

capabilities to grow future revenue streams, which the live 

event industry will see more of this year, stay tuned! 

“Brand Amplification: Through the introduction of branded 

opportunities on-site, sponsors are able to elevate their brand 

experience and generate strong connections with fans and 

their social media networks. Brand activation deployments 

such as social media ‘check in zones’, gamification, custom 

playlists, exclusive content and photo booth stations 

encourage patrons to engage with brands in a fun, creative 

and meaningful way.” 

20 

21

Supporting Your Event at Every Stage 

We specialise in providing competitive Event Production packages including Staging, Roof Structures, 

Pit barrier and Production Management for events, festivals and concerts of any size. 

Stage hire Event Pit Barrier Hire Event Production Management Audio 

t: 01726 817380 

e: hire@sps-productions.co.uk w: www.sps-productions.co.uk

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TITAN are a privately owned container leasing company, who specialise in providing high quality 

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pharmaceutical products. With smart technology machines, low power consumption makes them 

very cost effective to operate. 

Our client list ranges from the major Supermarkets, leading manufacturers, privately owned butchers 

and growers. No company too big, no company too small. 

With a UK and European network of depots and our own transport company, we can offer a 

complete service to meet our client’s needs. 

TITAN Containers, 

a name you can trust with your products. 

For contact details 

see www.TITANContainers.com 

or call 01375 396456 

25

In 2016 I Really Need… 

With so many products and services now 

available, festival organisers can be forgiven 

for getting lost in a minefield of websites, 

samples and printed information. 

The Festival Buyer’s Guide decided to highlight 

half a dozen services that it thinks could help 

make life just that little bit easier. 

Ticketsource 

Ticketsource provides organisers with a simple to access selfservice 

box office. The system allows customers to purchase event 

tickets online and access them in a variety of ways, via Apple’s 

Passbook app, text message or even a good old fashioned printat-home 

ticket. The tickets can be fully branded with your event 

details, and you can easily add information, terms & conditions, 

and accept donations with gift aid support for registered charities. 

General admission and allocated seating options are available, 

giving even greater scope to the type of event that could make use 

of this well-designed and intuitive system. 

Event Wine Solutions 

They say the best ideas are the simplest, and this one 

is bang in that category. As tastes and knowledge have 

developed, consumers have become more and more 

picky about the quality of wine that they drink. With 

Blue Nun a thing of the distant past, festivals need 

to address the issue of safely serving good wine on 

a glass-free site. The solution? Quality wine in plastic 

bottles. Shaped exactly the same as the standard bottles we see on the supermarket shelves, Event Wine 

Solutions pride themselves on selecting high-quality wines and packaging them in a way that makes them safe 

and accessible to outdoor event organisers. The bottles are made from lightweight recycled plastic, making 

them extremely eco-friendly. The reduced weight also means more bottles per pallet, which means more pallets 

per truck, which means less fuel used getting them to your festival. Cheers! 

EPS Temp-A-Deck 

Festival Monitor 

For festival organisers wanting to create high-class VIP bar 

areas - or just add a bit of flair to a seating area – EPS Europe 

has launched its new Temp-A-Deck temporary decking 

system. Each 30cm x 30cm section features a durable plastic 

frame overlaid with acacia hardwood strips. The plastic frame is 

designed to clip together with the adjacent tile, allowing for quick, 

hassle-free installation with no tools required. The system also 

comes with specialist edging strips that allow it to be laid in open 

areas with a presentable finish and no unsafe edges. 

We work in a world dominated by data and information, so getting 

an insight into the behaviour, activities and thoughts of festival 

customers is a key way for events to develop their operations. 

Festival Monitor is tailored to your event, offering a way to collect 

useful information via pre-determined survey questions and 

then analyse the results using a simple dashboard admin panel. 

It’s the 21st century solution to the clipboard, pen and paper 

questionnaire, giving users instant access to the results. 

Coliseum Class from 

The Theatre Tent Co 

The industry has given huge amounts of media coverage to 

the subject of CDM, so a temporary venue claiming to be the 

first CDM compliant tensile structure could be a great addition 

to any festival’s infrastructure. Produced by The Theatre Tent 

Co, the structure is packed full of innovative features that aim 

to save an event time and money. The system can be erected 

in just five hours and taken down in three hours, with both 

process requiring that the roof never touch the ground. Great 

sightlines and loads of rigging capacity make this a structure 

you’re likely to see around this summer. 

Evolution Dome 

Inflatable Bar & Kiosk 

Quite simply, an inflatable bar and kiosk! This stylish 

addition to the ever-growing Evolution Dome range 

gives organisers a stylish way to create an eyecatching 

customer facing service area. The sealed air 

design allows for a quick install, and means that once 

it’s up it doesn’t need a pump constantly running to 

remain inflated. The tough fabric is fully waterproof 

and resistant to damage as well as fire retardant. The structure can also be installed on grass or hard-standing, 

both outdoors and indoors. It looks great, and the white fabric means that the structure can be externally lit or 

projected on, giving festivals great scope to make it a real feature of the site. 

26 

27

HSE would like to thank everyone who has been involved 

in the process of developing this guidance. 

Visiting event sites since CDM Regs 2015 was introduced, has the HSE found the ‘client’, 

‘principal designer’ and ‘principal contractor’ to be sufficiently aware of their new responsibilities? 

From our contact with duty holders, awareness of CDM 2015 and HSE’s new guidance appears 

to be good. However, we realise there is always work to do to improve awareness and compliance 

amongst some organisers and production teams. HSE is committed to working with the industry 

to ensure that the application of the law to building stages and other temporary structures remains 

both proportionate and effective. 

Why did the HSE take so long to publish 

its guidance? 

The new guidance maps CDM to existing common management arrangements in four main 

industry sub-sectors, to show how the law can be consistently applied in different situations. 

This required a considerable amount of collaborative work between HSE and the industry to get 

right, while maintaining pace with our other priorities. Industry representatives took time out from 

their busy day jobs to provide HSE with feedback on the draft guidance, which has been reflected 

in the published material. 

How many event sites does the HSE aim to visit during 

season 2016? 

Similar to the current 2015/16 work year, around 40 proactive visits are planned for 2016/17. 

HSE talks CDM Regs 2015 

The rethought Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 

(CDM Regs 2015), impacting directly on the event industry, were 

introduced last April. Nearly 12 months on, there has been plenty of 

reaction from organisers and the supply chain, so we put questions 

directly to the HSE. 

Did the event industry get sufficiently involved with 

the revision during the consultation period? 

HSE worked with stakeholders across the entertainment industry, including the event sector, to 

arrive at a common understanding of what compliance with CDM 2015 would look like in practice. 

This common understanding is reflected in HSE’s new sector-specific CDM guidance, which 

provides duty holders with tools and information to assist in their compliance with the law: 

http://www.hse.gov.uk/entertainment/cdm-2015/index.htm 

Is there a danger that the new look regulations can 

simply mean more paperwork/more cost for companies 

already operating to the requisite standard, while those 

cutting corners simply continue to duck under the tape? 

CDM 2015 is not about creating unnecessary bureaucracy and increasing costs. It is about 

securing the health, safety and welfare of those carrying out construction work and protecting 

others who the work may affect, from harm. 

HSE’s strategic aims are to: 

• Maintain high standards of health and safety by encouraging strong health and safety leadership 

in the management of events and productions 

• Implement CDM 2015 proportionately in this sector and avoid imposing unnecessary additional 

burdens on business 

• Ensure event organisers and production companies are sufficiently competent to identify and 

proactively manage their construction risks. 

HSE’s new guidance demonstrates how the legislation could be applied in the context of the 

entertainment industry. The material will help duty holders assign CDM roles and functions to 

existing roles and responsibilities within the industry. To allay fears about unnecessary bureaucracy, 

HSE has collaborated with industry representatives to provide examples of typical construction 

projects to show what proportionate compliance with the law might look like in practice. HSE’s 

proportionate, risk based enforcement policy continues. 

28 

29

Creative - Inspiring - Events & Structures 

Specialising in inflatable 

structures, we have a huge 

range ideal for both indoor 

and outdoor festivals and 

events. 

All structures are fully 

waterproof and can be 

installed on grass and 

hardstading. 

evolutiondome 

Award Winning Temporary Inflatable Structures 

2016 is upon us and with that comes the beginning of festival 

planning time! With just a few short months until we are out of the 

dark dreary days of winter and back into long summer evenings, it’s 

time to get ideas on the table! 

Our huge range of inflatable structures is quickly becoming a firm favourite among festival and 

event organisers. The contemporary look as well as the practical aspects of the structures, such 

as being waterproof, 50mph wind rated and having great acoustic properties, is converting 

organisers from traditional tents and marquees to inflatables. 

For more information on our specialist festival and outdoor structures you can visit our blog here. 

• Fully waterproof 

• Quick install and de-rig 

- less than a day! 

• Modular 

• Great acoustic properties 

• Noise insulation - outside 

noise pollution can be 

reduced by up to 22db 

• Unique and contemporary 

design 

Unit 17 High Lode Industrial Estate, Stocking Fen Rd, Ramsey, PE26 2RB 

evolutiondome.com 

info@evolutiondome.com 

+44 (0)1487 640640 

facebook.com/evodome 

@evolutiondome 

31

New order – the growth in winter events 

Ian Moynes, general manager of Arena Ice, Arena Group’s 

temporary ice rink division, discusses the growth in winter 

events and how to bring extra festive magic to customers. 

“Ice rinks and festive attractions are some of the most eye-catching and highly 

lucrative enterprises for the events industry and we expect to see an increase 

in numbers in years to come, particularly with the high-end LED technology we 

recently launched at the Van Hage rink. There has been a noticeable shift with 

venues across the UK looking at creative ways of further engaging their regular 

customer base during the winter months, particularly through the use of 

temporary infrastructure to enhance events over the festive season. 

“At Arena Ice, we work closely with retail and garden centres, leisure destinations, museums and 

theme parks looking to further enhance their customer experience. Arena Ice works with 

destination venues to create bespoke temporary ice rinks like the Ski Zillertal at Hyde Park’s Winter 

Wonderland. All equipment, including rental skates of all sizes and colourful skate aids, customer 

lockers, re-surfacing and maintenance machines, plus staff training, can be provided so that you 

can focus on delivering the event entertainment – we take care of the rest. 

“With the success of outdoor winter events often being heavily dependent upon the unpredictable 

English weather, we can help drive footfall to festive events with the addition of our temporary 

structures, allowing skating to continue regardless of the elements, under stunning clear or peaked 

roofs. Within spacious structures, revenue driving facilities can be installed such as restaurants, 

children’s party zones and comfortable reception areas. Working with Arena Group’s Spaceworks 

Furniture Hire and Well Dressed Tables divisions, we can also help align the temporary interiors to 

your event’s branding or sponsor’s requirements, helping to fully immerse your customers into an 

alpine lodge, festive grotto or icy winter wonderland.” 

32 

33

MAXIMISE SECURITY 

LET THE PEOPLE ID EXPERTS SHOW YOU HOW IT’S DONE! 

• Unleash the power of your brand 

and maximise security at your event 

• Reduce counterfeits and pass backs 

with our new no-twist wristbands 

• Increase revenue by promoting 

sponsors logo’s 

• Engage your audience and increase 

social media activity with RFID 

technology 

34 

NEW 

NO TWIST CLOSURE 

Talk to the experts on 020 3056 8985 or email info@pdc-big.co.uk 

or visit www.pdc-big.co.uk/festivals 

Wristbands Event badges Lanyards ID Accessories 

PDC BIG bringing innovative 

people ID to the events and 

festival market 

PDC BIG are market leaders in people ID 

products, connecting people, products, and 

technology through innovative ID solutions that 

deliver superior customer experiences worldwide. 

Having worked with some of the leading events and festivals 

in Europe, PDC BIG have earnt their enviable reputation as a 

market leader. As people ID experts they are continuously setting 

international standards in customer service, and in developing and 

implementing innovative badging and wristband solutions which 

maximise security and increases brand awareness at events. 

PDC BIG are passionate about innovation and are committed to bringing the latest technology to the events 

market. More than just the latest buzzword, wearable technology is an enabler and a connector – it provides 

data, reporting, control to numerous applications, enables connectivity and engagement, and ultimately 

enhances brand reach and loyalty. 

Within the events and festival market, wearable technology is still in its infancy although it is beginning to play a 

larger role in security, access control and data gathering. 

During 2015, large-scale international festivals demonstrated their early adoption of the trend, the ease of use 

of RFID wristbands and the public’s eagerness to adopt them. Similarly in the UK, popular summer festivals 

and events used RFID enabled wristbands to manage and control access, cashless payment, reporting and 

marketing, before, during and after the events. 

PDC BIG have incorporated both technologies in to their ID products for events. As Jofroi Dangoisse, Marketing 

Manager EMEA explains, “We are not new to this mobile technology. Our name badges and wristbands both 

incorporate solutions that can integrate RFID and QR Codes. Over the years, our customer feedback and 

surveys have indicated that event organisers were looking for solutions that provided them with the means to 

collect data and get better insights into their customer journey. They also wanted products that were equipped 

with technological features and applications that could be used during events, such as interactions through 

websites and social media, or even simply opening a door by scanning the ID product.” 

He continued, “Our R&D team took this on board and as part of the international PDC BIG innovation 

programme, consolidated and launched the current event range of ID products that provide affordable 

solutions for the UK market. The range focuses on maximising security at events, reducing counterfeits, 

providing access control, increasing social media engagement and reducing queue times at festivals and 

events. Using this technology event organisers are now able to run real time reports, download detailed 

event data and report on ROI.” 

A decade or so ago, wearable technology sounded unattainable but today it is here to stay. 

As businesses look for loyalty building, cost effective and time saving solutions, PDC BIG continues to push 

forward and introduce innovative solutions. 

To find out more visit www.pdc-big.co.uk 

Contact Details 

Mauro Cannata 

Marcom Manager 

E: mcannata@pdcorp.com 

T: +44 (0) 208 614 8800 

E: sales@pdc-big.co.uk 

35

How we can help promoters with the 

organisation of music festivals. 

There's always something to be done, (sorting the venue, 

backline, caring for the artists, selling tickets, various 

licensing agreements…) and things can get even more 

complicated when you have various concerts in a matter of 

days. This is why we love making life easier for those who 

organise music festivals with ticketea. 

During the music festival 

Before the music festival 

Ticketea provides support to organisers with all things related to 

advanced ticket sales. Music festival organisers get their own page on 

our portal and can use our iframe to sell tickets directly from their own 

webpage.The platform is flexible and allows for users to cross-sell with 

other products. 

Our platform is also self-managed and anyone can create and manage 

their events without us intervening. Ticketea’s team of marketing 

professionals is always on hand to help promoters with any pre-concert 

issues. We provide the necessary tools to promote the festival, too. 

All our events have a share button, that way, the ticket buyer can be a 

prescriber within their own circle of friends to encourage further sales. 

We can advise you on your digital marketing, this means we can 

propose different types of marketing campaigns to boost sales, specific 

to you (social media promotions, newsletters, ticketea cover pages…) 

Finally, festival organisers have access to a full sales report: how many 

tickets have been sold (real time), how the buyer accessed the event’s 

page, results on promotional efforts, etc. 

There are three characteristics on our validation system that 

are crucial for music festival organisers: 

• Speed. Our system enabled the validation of 12,000 tickets 

in three hours! 

• Security. Duplicated tickets get detected in seconds, so it is 

impossible to reuse or falsify a ticket. 

• Close attention. There is always a member of our team on 

hand to deal with any issues and help with access control. 

After the music festival 

At ticketea, we understand that your data is your data. If music festival ticket buyers have 

consented to share their information, as an organiser you can then use an email tool to carry 

out promotional campaigns! 

t: +44 (0)20 3239 2732 

w: www.ticketea.co.uk 

e: hello@ticketea.com

Julian Spear, director at Symphotech, has 

experienced the incoming CDM regulations 

first hand in his professional role spanning 

production director and health and safety 

consultant. In 2014 / 2015 Julian was also 

part of an industry collective which produced 

a temporary guidance to CDM regulations 

for demountable structures. 

What spurred your interest in CDM? 

We had worked to CDM standards for several years on certain events and, like any new 

legislation, it was open to varied interpretation. With the lack of a guidance document 

from the HSE at the time the new regulations came into force it was important that the 

industry itself stepped up to the plate to discuss and agree how best to interpret CDM for 

clients and suppliers. The document was concise, informative, produced in consultation 

with the HSE and was very well received. It is free to download and the PSA are currently 

coordinating some updates from what we’ve learned in year one. 

What has been your experience of 

the introduction of CDM regulations? 

I have witnessed a large amount of uncertainty surrounding the terminology of ‘principal 

designer’ and ‘principal contractor’. They seem to be confusing people and I don’t think 

the HSE should still be using them. Appointing people to these roles is still not happening 

properly and I hear simple misconceptions – the Principal Contractor is not the biggest 

contractor on site! 

CDM is all about an effective management 

structure, which I’m all in favour of and a 

simpler labelling of roles would help – the 

production manager on most event site will be 

undertaking these roles. 

Enforcement is being phased in very slowly, 

so there are still discrepancies as a significant 

proportion of event sites have not yet applied 

CDM rigorously. In a lot of places suppliers and 

clients still aren’t being asked for appropriate 

sign-off sheets, so we are seeing a lot of large 

demountable structures or pieces of technical 

production equipment being installed and 

then audiences entering events without any 

sign off to say they have been installed as per 

the approved plan, which clearly presents a 

potentially dangerous situation. 

We build in a contingency in our planning 

that some things will differ once you get on site, so maybe allow for a small (say a small 

variation in the weight of lights / set / video deployed in a stage roof across a festival 

weekend). Anything outside of the accepted variation and the principal contractor 

(production manager in the real world) responsible will have the information and 

jurisdiction to decline that change with evidence. 

Do you think CDM will improve safety at events? 

Yes, once everyone understands it and gets used to employing the management systems 

that create a clear audit trail. In a nutshell something has been designed properly, 

checked to be safe, installed properly and then signed off to confirm that installation as 

take place as per the approved plan. 

38 

39

The Ideal Company for 

all Event Vehicle Needs! 

SHB has been providing vehicle hire and management for nearly 

50-years. We have a diverse fleet of over 14,500 vehicles ranging 

from cars, standard and specialist LCVs and HGVs, plant and 

buggies and ATVs. We also have the largest 4x4 hire fleet in 

Europe and the biggest hire fleet of buggies in the UK. 

Supplying nationally and to parts of Europe, we have become one of the largest golf buggy 

hire and utility vehicle rental companies in the UK with over 1,200 buggies. We are the ideal 

company for all event vehicle hire needs supplying everything from golf buggies, ATVs and 

UTVs, 4x4s, refrigerated vehicles, cage tippers and many more. 

We offer flexible solutions tailored to suit all requirements. Our fleet ranges from 2,4,6,8 seater 

passenger buggies, ATVs and specialist units such as road legal, medical, catering, accessible, 

dog cage, if we don’t have the buggy, we’ll work with you on the design and build as we’ve 

done for airshows, events, TV and film. 

Specialising in a variety of utility vehicles we continuously provide our clients with the latest in 

buggy hire whilst delivering unparalleled levels of customer services. We have provided our 

customers with a multitude of vehicles for a variety of purposes including events, festivals, 

sporting events, concerts and shows, golf tournaments, disability, agricultural shows etc. Our 

golf buggies are both economical and reliable whether you hire petrol, electric or diesel power. 

We can implement project plans and can even provide a dedicated team to manage the show, 

from contacting the exhibitors and taking bookings to having an onsite Project Manager that 

understands the location, activity and technical support required. 

We also offer a buggy chauffer service offering the option of bilingual drivers and 

personalised uniforms. 

SHB Hire Ltd, 18 Premier Way, Abbey Park Industrial Estate, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 9DQ 

t: 01794 511 458 · e: enquiries@shb.co.uk · w: www.shb.co.uk 

Fisher Hires have been supplying lighting to the festival and events industry 

for over 30 years and stock a wide selection of lighting, AV, rigging and power 

distribution equipment to hire. 

Lighting: 

The ever popular Mythos and K10’s, wireless uplighters and transmission, MA lighting consoles, 

LED moving lights and show battens. 

Stocking high profile brands such as; Clay Paky, ETC, MA lighting, Core, SGM, Miltec and Prolight. 

Power Distro: 

Fisher Hires stock a multitude of power distribution options from 16A 1P to 400A 3P. 

All supplied in IP rated enclosures. 

Rigging: 

Litec truss including self-climb option, CM Prostar chain blocks and a host of rigging essentials. 

AV: 

A wide range of video and sound equipment; including microphones, speakers, monitors and projectors. 

Plus; 

Fisher Hires also stock a range of essential items including; wireless lit music stands, DJ booths 

and staging blocks. 

Safety & Expertise: 

All items are PAT tested, regularly serviced and prepped ready for use. 

Kit is available to hire on a daily or weekly basis to collect from the Fisher Hires warehouse in 

South West London, a delivery & collection service is also available. 

Visit fisherhires.co.uk to find out more 

or call the Fisher Hires team on 

020 8875 7878 to ask for a ratecard. 

41

Gusto develops unique crew catering experience 

Gusto Catering are joining forces with CP Foods in a move that 

creates a new Festival Events company that provides a unique crew 

catering experience. 

Managing Director Antony Horton-Tilley said “the venture creates a significant strategic opportunity 

for both businesses by sharing complementary strengths. CP Foods are able to provide proven 

concession brands like Chozen Noodle while Gusto have a great level of expertise in the Festival 

events business. The result is the creation of a new venture that will enable us to combine a standard 

canteen style food operation with a food court experience. This will provide greater choice for the 

customer while also speeding up service times, reducing queues and providing greater choice”. 

The company will be introducing multiple food stations, which will provide a range of traditional fayre 

with new exciting offerings from around the world. 

Part of this will be the added Asian focused Chozen Noodle operation which CP invested in last year. 

That means we can offer a great range of products like Katsu, Chicken Teriyaki together with Thai 

classics like Red Thai Curry which have been developed by CP’s own Thai chef team. 

The other key area where CP can help is in terms of manpower and logistics as they already have a 

national presence with a management team and crew who have both Hospitality and Event based 

experience from running 4 operations at the Excel centre along with various external events. That 

means we can really scale the business as we have multiple crews able to do extra events. 

“It’s a Win/Win as the customer gets more choice while 

we are able to serve more customers at peak times” 

www.gustocatering.co.uk 

34 Meadow Walk, Harpenden, Herts AL5 5TG · T: 07581 375388

Steak out… 

In step with its conviction environmentalism more than Morrissey’s 

‘meat is murder’ mandate, boutique Northamptonshire festival 

Shambala has announced its 2016 edition will be vegetarian. 

Event Industry News talks to festival co-founder Chris Johnson. 

From line-up to makeup, festivals reflect the wants of their target ticketbuyers, the broader 

the stretch, arguably, the greater the potential return. Shambala, however, has three other, 

equally core, ingredients: education, education, education. Once you stop learning, you 

start dying, after all, and a lesson in the broad arc of environmental best practice is a 

laudable legacy from music festivals’ alternative roots. 

According to the Shambala website http://www.shambalafestival.org/meat-and-fishfree-for-2016/ 

the meat industry is responsible for more greenhouse emissions than the 

combined exhaust fumes from all global transportation. ‘It’s also becoming more widely 

accepted that it is unhealthy to consume meat in the way that we are’. 

Launched in 1999, the now 10,000-capacity Shambala has been described as ‘hippyish’ 

by the Guardian, thanks to its green commitment rather than any propensity for flares 

and slippers. In step with that lazy stereotype, this year the festival has been productively 

stealing the headlines by taking meat and fish off the menu, entirely. Its audience, typically 

20/30-somethings, are used to the leftfield and reaction has 

been broadly positive, so far at least. 

“There was a bit of chat on Facebook and we had to refund 

three people, but it’s four days of your life and you can 

choose to come or not,” Chris Johnson tells Event Industry 

News. “Shambala has always been about exploring ethics 

and this is a principled look at how we’re living and the 

impact of the industrial food system. 

“It’s too easy to say we’re taking our audience with us, or 

anything glib like that. It’s a real challenge to persuade them, 

even about something like recycling. They’re at the festival 

to have a good time, pure and simple. So it’s up to us as 

the organisers to make it as easy as possible to take the 

right decision in terms of our festival’s principles.” 

Green fingers 

The vegetarian step comes on the back of 

a run of successes with slightly less radical 

initiatives. Johnson and company have worked 

their way through the event’s impact and now 

use 100 per cent renewables for energy, by 

way of example. As a result, Shambala costs 

significantly less to run than when it started. 

“Our generators are on for a fraction of the 

time of most festivals this size because we’ve 

reached out to the end user and found out 

exactly what power they need,” Johnson says. 

“We’ve always been determined to keep on 

moving forwards with our ideals, and that has 

provoked a lot of debate. We had the highest 

reach in terms of social media when we 

announced the vegetarian step, which shows 

these risks can be worth taking.” 

Johnson, to his credit, is acutely aware that removing Shambala-goers’ right to choose what they eat could 

be the ultimate political faux pas, but there’s no compromise, just a quality commitment. 

“The pressure now is on us,” he says. “Can we provide a delicious, affordable vegetarian menu? That’s what 

we have to do to make this idea pay real dividend. 

“We have always had stringent standards about food sold on site, using specific wholesalers with an onus 

on organic procurement,” Johnson adds. “It’s difficult to monitor the complete supply chain, to be 100 per 

cent confident about the food on a festival site, but I’m quite open, in the future, to reintroducing meat to the 

Shambala equation, if it’s of the very highest order. A standard, which will be reflected in the price. That, I 

think, is the way to open people’s eyes to the real impact of the meat process and the cost of making it fit a 

sustainable model.” 

44 

45

Your Business In Safe Hands 

Specialized Security is a leading provider of security, stewarding and 

crowd management and consultancy services, providing high quality 

tailored solutions to a diverse market including venue, exhibitions, 

conferences, events, agricultural, community, sporting and live music events. 

The senior management team individually have more 

than 25 years experience working within the security, 

stewarding and crowd management industry, 

providing a complete range of services including 

consultancy and on-site crowd management at 

resource intensive events. 

The company has earned an enviable reputation 

through its service delivery at numerous events 

throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, thus 

becoming a trusted provider to many promoters, 

festivals, events, one-off concerts and local 

authorities. 

With the knowledge that the company’s reputation 

relies mainly on the quality and professionalism of 

the people the company recruits and employs, the 

company adheres to a strict recruitment process 

and provides a progressive working environment and 

nationally recognised industry training tailored to suit 

the needs of our customers. 

The company continually strives to evolve its 

solutions, developing robust and professional 

procedures to ensure the delivery of safe, secure 

and enjoyable events, and promotes them as best 

practice standards within the industry. 

The company was contacted and asked to review 

the crowd management operation at the Party at 

the Palace event as customer feedback relating to 

security and crowd management was very negative. 

Party at the Palace is a 2 day event with a 

10,000 capacity, a main stage, VIP area, bars, 

and concessions. 

The company’s unique approach to crowd 

management convinced the promoters to change 

suppliers. We had to convince both local authority 

and police who were now very sceptical on security 

providers. Throughout the planning process we set 

about suggesting ways to improve processes and 

site layout to enhance the customer experience 

through reduction of queues, better crowd dynamics 

etc, whilst keeping in mind that we had to be cost 

effective to match the budget constraints of the 

event. This level of expertise seemed to convince the 

police that we were competent and capable but they 

were still reserved and would only slightly reduce the 

police presence at the event. 

The event itself went extremely well with us 

providing the high level of customer service that we 

promised. The event required very little interaction 

from the police. 

Post event the client carried out a survey with 

Security and Crowd Management scoring 4.47 

out of 5 a score that reiterated other positive 

feedback they had received. Also the police and 

local authority were extremely happy, so much so 

that they will consider making next year’s event 

Police free – making the client very happy due to 

the high police costs. 

47

In the market of technical textiles, Mehler Texnologies is one of the 

leading international companies. More than 50 million square metres 

of coated fabrics are manufactured and supplied under the brands 

VALMEX ® , POLYMAR ® and AIRTEX ® . 

Membranes by Mehler Texnologies are favoured for structure, interior design and 

event applications. Depending on the event, coated fabrics for indoor and outdoor 

applications are available, also print fabrics for stage and set design, decoration or 

advertising. 

The technical textiles and membranes for structure, weather protection and print are 

antimicrobial treated, UV stabilized and flame retardant. This enables the fabrics to 

maintain their unique appearance for longer even under extreme climatic conditions. 

The technology for the finished membranes comes from over 60 years of experience 

in development and production. Continuous research and development further 

enhances existing composite materials, and opens up new ranges of applications. 

To ensure the consistent high quality of products, Mehler Texnologies continually 

keeps up to date with the latest state-of-the-art technology. 

Behind all technical textiles, are fabrics woven in company-owned weaving mills. In 

addition to this, a variety of precision coatings, according to the particular application, 

gives a wide range of high performance fabrics. 

For more than 20 years architects, interior designers and event planners have put 

their trust in membranes by Mehler Texnologies. 

Mehler Texnologies Ltd. 

info-uk@mehler-texnologies.com 

www.mehler-texnologies.com 

49

BARS 

THE 

BARS 

BARS 

19 &20 OCTOBER 

The UK’s original and most 

comprehensive exhibition of . . . 

products, services and entertainment 

for the outdoor event industry . . . 

The Outdoor Event Services Exhibition 

Newbury Showground 

Berkshire RG18 9QZ 

BARS 

SHOWMAN’S SHOW 2016 

For exhibitor & visitor information contact: 

Lance Show & Publications Limited, Courtyard Office, 

The Courtyard, Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8AP 

Tel: 01747 854099 Fax: 01747 854634 

Email: info@showmans-directory.co.uk 

www.showmans-directory.co.uk 

Event Hire Association (EHA) Supporting Members 

in the Events Industry Since 2008 

EHA assists businesses from sole traders to larger independent and 

privately owned organisations by providing various resources to support 

members in their industry sectors. 

Services include legal advice, training, publicity, 

safety checks, leaflets, lobbying and finance 

advice; necessary documentation and information 

that will hold organisations in better stead in the 

long run. In addition, safeguarding can also be 

made easier for members, who have access 

to EHA’s essential range of health & safety, 

economical and credit control services. 

As a member you have access to products and 

services covering all aspects of your business. 

You will receive invaluable information regarding 

terms & conditions, safety checks, publicity, 

equipment, responsibilities and general day-today 

requirements, all of which will prove incredibly 

beneficial to your company. 

All members are invited to become part of a 

board; sitting on a technical panel to review and 

To join EHA please contact 

membership team on 0121 380 4606 

or visit www.eha.org.uk 

develop new practices which will impact the 

industry and subsequently, their own business. 

Members can be from small, local independent 

businesses to big name companies, you can reap 

the benefits of endless opportunities with EHA. 

People come to us because of our reputation 

for setting out clear terms and conditions 

and industry standards; we are a non-profit 

organisation, so any money we make is put 

back into the industry. 

Additional membership benefits include prime 

opportunities for business evolvement (through 

training and certification with courses and 

qualifications), guidance in relation to codes of 

practice, financial planning and insurance and the 

chance to keep updated with industry-appropriate 

news and happenings through exclusive events 

and multimedia and printing strategies. 

51

LIGHTING 

SOUND 

VIDEO 

POWER 

RIGGING 

STAGING 

Proud supplier to the Festival Supplier Awards and of full-‐service, technical production and 

AV solutions to some of the UK’s most prestigious festivals and sporting events. 

www.onebigstar.com 0845 009 9449 @onebigstar info@onebigstar.com

Mash Machine 

turns music lovers 

into performers 

Mash Machine, a beats-infused 

game for up to four, is the next 

tech step for keeping people 

engaged at events. 

A virtual DJ platform, Mash Machine players 

interact with each other to make music by mixing 

and moving blocks of drums, bass, vocals and 

melody across the ’smart’ surface of a square 

table. Crucially, it takes less than a minute to start 

using, and enjoying, the system productively. 

Communication and entertainment entrepreneurs 

Ottavio Cambieri, Mathieu Hingant and Andrius 

Ziuraitis came up with the concept, having seen 

how demand for event staples, such as photo 

booths, continued to grow while little else was on 

offer. Together, they developed and delivered Mash 

Machine, a simple, engaging musical activity that 

triggers tuneful connections. 

“Mash Machine helps people understand how 

music is made from its very basic building blocks, 

quite literally,” Cambieri says. “It teaches the 

players how to coordinate different elements of 

music, like a conductor working with an orchestra.” 

It is also a great instrument for cooperation and 

has already put a significant soundtrack behind a 

number of team building days. 

“This plug and play device has been a part of 

more than 500 events across the world since 

we launched it at the beginning of 2015 and the 

feedback has been phenomenal,” Cambieri says. 

Controlled via the web browser on a smartphone 

or tablet, Mash Machine can be customised for 

any occasion. Its look, its controllers and its 

content can be tailored for any occasion. 

New rhythms and software updates come at 

the click of a mouse and the system is simple to 

transport, set up and manage. 

http://www.mashmachines.com 

54 

55

Event Vehicles 

PROVIDING ALL EVENT TRANSPORT 

Event Build Up and Clear Up Security Patrols People Movement 

Trade Goods Movement Waste/Recycling Collection 

2, 4, 6 & 8 seater personnel carriers, golf buggies, utility vehicles, 

4x4 vehicles, trailer hire and special vehicles including ambulances 

Take a look at our full product range on our website 

enquiries@eventvehicles.co.uk 

www.eventvehicles.co.uk 

01780 782621 

@Bradshaw_EV

Festival Supplier Awards 2016 

hailed a huge success 

Almost 350 guests from the festival and outdoor event 

industry celebrated the second outing of the Festival 

Supplier Awards when they were held on 28th January, 

at stunning London venue, The Hurlingham Club. 

Awards were presented for a host of industry staples 

including staging, crowd management, temporary 

structures, crew catering, crowd barriers and toilets, 

along with accolades for Best Green Supplier and Best 

Production Team. 

The full list of awards presented was:- 

Best Concession / Bar 

Peppermint Bars, 

British Summer Time 

Best Crew / Artist Catering 

Beau Nosh Catering, 

T in the Park 

Best Crewing Company 

Showforce, Creamfields 

Best Crowd / Pit Barrier 

Mojo Barriers, BoomTown Fair 

Best Crowd Management 

Specialized Security, 

Party at the Palace 

Best Event Branding 

Imaginators, Glastonbury 

Best Fencing / Hoarding 

GAP Hire Solutions, 

Rugby World Cup 

Best Festival & Event 

Accommodation 

Hotel Bell Tent, 

Glastonbury Festival 

Best Festival Engineering / 

Bespoke Structure 

Actavo, T in the Park 

Best Festival Experience 

Bearded Kitten 

Best Festival PR Company 

Plaster Creative 

Communications, 

Grillstock Festival 

Best Power 

Power Logistics, 

British Summer Time 

Best Screen Supplier 

iMAG Displays Ltd, 

Big Gig Jersey 

Best Sound 

SSE Audio Group, 

Reading Festival 

Best Stage 

Star Events Ltd, 

Nocturne Live 

Best Temporary Roadway / 

Walkway 

LION Trackhire Ltd, Latitude 

Best Temporary Structure 

Ascot Structures, 

BBC Proms in the Park & 

Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park 

Best Temporary Water Supply 

MTD (UK and Ireland) Ltd, 

Boomtown Fair 

Best Toilets 

Loos for Do’s Ltd, 

On Blackheath 

Best Visual Spectacular 

Quantum Special Effects, 

Reading & Leeds Festival 

Best Waste Management 

Company 

Grundon Waste 

Management Ltd, 

Towersey Festival 

Green Festival Supplier Award 

Big Green Coach Ltd, 

The Secret Garden Party 

Best Festival Production Team 

Ground Control, 

Parklife Weekender 

Best Festival Support Service 

Bronze – Winner Events, 

Goodwood Festival of Speed 

Silver – SHB Hire Ltd, 

Glastonbury 

Gold – Nipperbout, 

Newham Mayor’s Festival 

and Cambridge Folk Festival 

Paul Allott, co-founder of the Festival Supplier Awards commented: 

“Moving the awards to the start of the year and changing the location to London, in only their 

second year, was a bit of a risk. However, given the success of the evening and the amazingly 

positive feedback we’ve received, it was definitely the right decision. It was great to see people 

networking, celebrating and clearly cheering each other on – it really was a fantastic evening. 

We are incredibly grateful to all our judges, sponsors, supporters and everyone who put 

themselves forward for an award. Plans for 2017 are already underway.” 

58 

59

Festival Directory 


Admission Control 

Audio Visual 

Buggy Hire 

Buggy Hire 

Name 

Ticketea 

Enquiry telephone number 

+34 902 044 226 

Postal address 

Calle Zurbano, 

76, 28010, Madrid 

Name 

OneBigStar Ltd 


0845 0099449 


Units 16 & 17 Newark Business Park, 

3 Brunel Drive, Newark, NG24 2EG 

Name 

Bradshaw 


01451 250 222 


New Lane, Stibbington, 

Peterborough, PE8 6LW 

Name 

SHB Hire Ltd 


01794 511 458 


18 Premier Way, Abbey Park Industrial Estate, 

Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 9DQ 

W: www.ticketea.co.uk 

E: info@ticketea.com 

W: www.onebigstar.com 

E: info@onebigstar.com 

W: www.eventvehicles.co.uk 

E: rentals@bradshawelectricvehicles.co.uk 

W: www.shb.co.uk 

E: enquiries@shb.co.uk 

Barriers 

Bars & Catering 

Cash Machines/PDQ 

Crewing 

Name 

Temporary Fencing Limited 


01202 573311 


Canford Park Arena, Magna Road, 

Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 3AP 

Name 

Gusto 


07581 375388 


34 Meadow Walk, 

Harpenden, Herts AL5 5TG 

Name 

123Hire 


0800 54 23 123 


120 Leman Street, 

London, E1 8EU 

Name 

Upstaging Ltd 


07748186540 


Langar Road, Barnstone, 

Nottingham, NG13 9GH 

W: www.temporaryfencingltd.com 

E: temporaryfencing@btconnect.com 

W: www.gustocatering.co.uk 

E: info@gustocatering.co.uk 

W: www.123send.net 

E: sales@123hire.net 

W: www.upstaging.co.uk 

E: tom@upstaging.co.uk 

60 

61



Entertainment 

Entertainment 

Event Production 

Event Security 

Name 

The Mo’Joes OÜ 


+370 (614) 97 594 


Rävala puiestee 7, 

10143 Tallinn 

Name 

Simply the Best Events 


0800 019 3908 


2 Lane End Villas, Shinfield Road, 

Reading RG2 9BS 

Name 

SPS Productions 


01726 817380 


Unit 1Latham Park, St Blazey Road, 

Par, Cornwall, PL24 2JA 

Name 

Specialized Security 


01506 411231 


4 Rosebank Road, Rosebank Park, 

Livingston, EH54 7EJ 

W: www.mashmachines.com 

E: andrius@mashmachines.com 

W: www.simplythebestevents.co.uk 

E: sales@simplythebestevents.co.uk 

W: www.sps-productions.co.uk 

E: hire@sps-productions.co.uk 

W: www.specializedsecurity.co.uk 

E: info@specializedsecurity.co.uk 

Event Management 

Event Production 

Event Technology 

Fencing 

Name 

2Can Productions 


07968 340270 


PO Box 668, 

Cardiff, CF11 1EZ 

Name 



0845 0099449 




Name 

Ticketea 


+34 902 044 226 



76, 28010, Madrid 

Name 

Temporary Fencing Limited 


01202 573311 


Canford Park Arena, Magna Road, 

Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 3AP 

W: www.2CanProductions.com 

E: info@2CanProductions.com 





W: www.temporaryfencingltd.com 

E: temporaryfencing@btconnect.com 

62 

63



Fridge & Freezer Hire 

Inflatable Structures 

Lanyards 

Lighting 

Name 

TITAN Containers A/S 


01375396456 


Europa Trading Centre, London Road, 

Grays, Essex, RM20 4DB 

Name 

Evolution Dome Ltd 


01487 640640 


Unit 17 High Lode Industrial Estate, 

Stocking Fen Rd, Ramsey, PE26 2RB 

Name 

PDC Big 


020 8614 8980 


5 Hampton Hill Business Park, 

High Street, Hampton Hill, TW12 1NP 

Name 

Fisher Hires 


0208 875 7878 


118 Garratt Lane, London, 

SW18 4DJ 

W: www.TITANContainers.com 

E: PM@TCmail.eu 

W: www.evolutiondome.com 

E: info@evolutiondome.com 

W: www.big.co.uk 


W: www.fisherhires.co.uk 

E: hires@fisherproductions.co.uk 

Inflatables 

Insurance 

Manned Guarding 

Marquee Accessories 

Name 

Simply the Best Events 


0800 019 3908 


2 Lane End Villas, Shinfield Road, 

Reading RG2 9BS 

W: www.simplythebestevents.co.uk 

E: sales@simplythebestevents.co.uk 

Name 

Robertson Taylor - an Integro Company 


0207 510 1234 


America House, 2 America Square, 

London EC3N 2LU 

W: www.rtworldwide.com / 

www.integrogroup.com 

E: festivaluk@integrogroup.com 

Name 



01506 411231 






Name 

Ansell Handtools (Sheffield) Ltd 


0114 244 8098 


72 Catley Road, Darnall, 

Sheffield, S9 5Jf 

W: www.ansellhandtools.co.uk 

E: ansellhandtools@aol.com 

64 

65



Marquees 

Payment Solutions 

Pyrotechnics 

Rigging 

Name 

Danco Plc 


01451 250 222 


The Pavilion Centre, Frog Lane, 

Coalpit Heath, Bristol, BS36 2NW 

Name 

123Hire 


0800 54 23 123 




Name 

Pyrotastic Fireworks 


07810 858415 


46 Lynch Hill Park, Whitchurch, 

Hampshire, RG28 7NF 

Name 

Fisher Hires 


0208 875 7878 


118 Garratt Lane, London, 

SW18 4DJ 

W: www.danco.co.uk 

E: info@danco.co.uk 



W: www.pyrotastic.co.uk 

E: info@pyrotastic.co.uk 

W: www.fisherhires.co.uk 

E: hires@fisherproductions.co.uk 

Plant Hire 

Production Companies 

Rigging 

Screen Hire 

Name 

TITAN Containers A/S 


01375396456 


Europa Trading Centre, London Road, 

Grays, Essex, RM20 4DB 

Name 

Hawthorn 


01664 821111 


Crown Business Park, Old Dalby, 

Leicestershire, LE14 3NQ 

Name 

Rigging Services 


0208 215 1240 


3 Mills Studios, Three Mill Lane, London, E3 3DU 

Offices: Pinewood, Birmingham, Manchester, ExCeL 

Name 

YSLV 


0208 317 7775 


London, York, Birmingham 

W: www.TITANContainers.com 

E: PM@TCmail.eu 

W: www.hawthorn.biz 

E: info@hawthorn.biz 

W: www.riggingservices.co.uk 

E: london@riggingservices.co.uk 

W: www.yslv.co.uk 

E: festival@yslv.co.uk 

66 

67



Security 

Sound & Lighting 

Staging 

Staging 

Name 

Security Force Management Ltd 


07986 371 850 


The Annexe, Fort Pitt Business Centre, 

New Road, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1DX 

Name 

Hire Frequencies Ltd 


0203 3026947 


Unit 15-16 High Cross Business Centre, 

Fountayne Road, London, N15 4QN 

Name 

The Revolving Stage Company Ltd 


0247 668 7055 


Crondal Road, Bayton Road Industrial Estate, 

Coventry, CV7 9NH 

Name 

SPS Productions 


01726 817380 


Unit 1Latham Park, St Blazey Road, 

Par, Cornwall, PL24 2JA 

W: www.sfmsecurityconsultants.com 

E: admin@sfmsecurityconsultants.com 

W: www.hirefrequencies.co.uk 

E: enquiries@hirefrequencies.co.uk 

W: www.therevolvingstagecompany.co.uk 

E: enquiries@therevolvingstagecompany.co.uk 

W: www.sps-productions.co.uk 

E: hire@sps-productions.co.uk 

Sports Security 

Staging 

Staging 

Temporary Structures 

Name 



01506 411231 




Name 



0845 0099449 




Name 

Upstaging Ltd 


07748186540 


Langar Road, Barnstone, 

Nottingham, NG13 9GH 

Name 

Danco Plc 


01451 250 222 


The Pavilion Centre, Frog Lane, 

Coalpit Heath, Bristol, BS36 2NW 





W: www.upstaging.co.uk 

E: tom@upstaging.co.uk 

W: www.danco.co.uk 

E: info@danco.co.uk 

68 

69





Ticketing 

Toilets 

Name 

Evolution Dome Ltd 


01487 640640 


Unit 17 High Lode Industrial Estate, 

Stocking Fen Rd, Ramsey, PE26 2RB 

Name 

Losberger UK Ltd 


01949 845070 


Unit 14 Roseland Business Park, 

Long Bennington, Notts, NG23 5FF 

Name 

Ticketea 


+34 902 044 226 



76, 28010, Madrid 

Name 

Loos for Do’s 


0845 123 2901 


5 Farringdon Business Park, Lower Farringdon, 

Nr Alton, Hampshire, GU34 3DZ 

W: www.evolutiondome.com 

E: info@evolutiondome.com 

W: www.losberger.co.uk 

E: losbergeruk@losberger.com 



W: www.loos.co.uk 

E: info@loos.co.uk 


Terminal Hire 

Toilets & Showers 

Trackway 

EUROPE 

PORTABLE 

FLOORING 

SPECIALISTS 

Name 

Mehler Texnologies GmbH 


+44 (0) 161 684 2310 


Unit 1.7, Hollinwood Business Centre, 

Albert Street, Oldham, Lancs, OL8 3QL 

Name 

123Hire 


0800 54 23 123 




Name 

Gigloo 


0330 333 8778 


25 Westfield Road, Guildford, 

Surrey, GU1 1RR 

Name 

EPS Europe 


01509 768252 


10 Lazarus Court, Rothley 

Leicestershire LE7 7NR 

W: www.mehler-texnologies.com/en 

E: info-uk@mehler-texnologies.com 



W: www.getgigloo.com 

E: sales@getgigloo.com 

W: www.epseurope.co.uk 

E: sales@epseurope.co.uk 

70 

71


Vehicle Hire 

Vehicle Hire 

Name 

Bradshaw 


01451 250 222 


New Lane, Stibbington, 

Peterborough, PE8 6LW 

W: www.eventvehicles.co.uk 

E: rentals@bradshawelectricvehicles.co.uk 

Name 

FESTAXI 


01223 459836 


21 Dandby Close, 

Little Paxton, PE19 6FA 

W: www.festaxi.com 

E: info@festaxi.com 

Vehicle Hire 

Wristbands 

Name 

SHB Hire Ltd 


01794 511 458 


18 Premier Way, Abbey Park Industrial Estate, 

Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 9DQ 

W: www.shb.co.uk 

E: enquiries@shb.co.uk 

Name 

PDC Big 


020 8614 8980 


5 Hampton Hill Business Park, 

High Street, Hampton Hill, TW12 1NP 

W: www.big.co.uk 


72

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