of negotiation .”
Looking ahead , 2018 looks promising . Cochrane says : “ We can cope with many large and complex projects simultaneously . What we never do , however , is trying to take on ‘ just one more job ’ – this only compromises everything we are trying to achieve .”
Pop-up solutions
In 2017 Neptunus supplied temporary structures to more than 70 events and businesses and was also able to attract some new regular events into its portfolio , including ‘ Glamour Women of the Year Awards ’. At the same time , the company has been developing relationships with existing clients including the Royal Horticultural Society and the Harrogate Flower Show .
“ We have a wide range of temporary structures for every occasion but one of our most popular , and probably most versatile , is our Evolution structure ,” says Neptunus MD April Trasler .
The Evolution boasts the look and feel of a high-quality permanent building but with the flexibility to provide space for a multitude of uses .
“ In the events world , the Evolution is used to create a bespoke exhibition space for the Masterpiece Art Fair ,” Trasler says adding that it also can be transformed into a 2,000-seat capacity performance theatre .
Indeed , the company supplied the Evolution to the National Eisteddfod of Wales and it was also used the pop-up Pantodrome for the star-sudded Jack and the Beanstalk in Newcastle ’ s city centre .
“ The Evolution accommodates hospitality facilities at major sports events and exhibitions and is also very popular for semi-permanent uses such as sports halls , car showrooms supermarkets , warehouses and temporary airport terminals . It really is an immensely versatile structure ,” Trasler comments .
“ We have great structures , but so do our competitors . However , no other company has our team of people ”
John Cochrane , Losberger De Boer UK
The Neptunus boss points out that customers are frequently looking for something bespoke for their event but to try and start to develop something from scratch . “ That is exciting and different , but can be out of reach because of the cost implications ,” she says . “ At Neptunus , we have been able to offer our clients bespoke solutions thanks to our in-house design team cleverly adapting existing models with unique add-ons , transforming a standard structure into something exceptional . Our latest addition , the circular Salacia , was created by exactly this method . It means we can come up with really cutting-edge solutions that are affordable ,.”
Neptunus is confident in 2018 , and Trasler says the team is looking forward to the spectacular Dinosaurs in the Wild event , which comes to London in February . “ We are supplying the venue for its eight-month long run in Greenwich . It really is a jaw-dropping event .”
Continuing growth
GL events reported another year of growth in 2017 . David Tunnicliffe , commercial director , GL events UK , says the company ’ s performance is in keeping with its long-term growth strategy . “ What has been particularly pleasing though is the long-term contracts that we have
WORLD CLASS STRUCTURES
Work by Neptunus , GL events , Losberger De Boer UK and Acorn Event Structures secured with some of the best events in the world ,” he says .
Tunnicliffe explains : We ’ ve really shown our specialism across horse racing , golf , tennis and Formula 1 – as well as Formula E , for that matter . We ’ ve also secured long-term relationships across the outdoor exhibition market , which is really pleasing .”
The portfolio of GL events features multideck temporary structures , traditional and contemporary marquees and tiered seating . Tunnicliffe is quick to point out the move by many of its customers towards premium products , which has pushed the company to make key investments .
“ We ’ ve made two major capital expenditure investments . The first was more than £ 500,000 , the second just a little less – so we invest a lot !” Tunnicliffe says .
Beyond the continual upkeep of the materials we use . GL events investment aimed to meet the demand for premium features and fixtures . “ As clients commit to longer partnerships with GL events , we ’ re keen to ensure that their investment goes right back into the product itself ,” Tunnicliffe explains .
This increased investment in comfort and bespoke factors can be seen in new offerings such as automatic doors , designer interiors , branding , and bespoke event overlay .
“ In the area of seating , clients including Lancashire County Cricket Club are increasingly opting for the most generous seating products available . Tunnicliffe says these details make a massive difference to visitors ’ experience .
The GL events boss admits that organisers need to source the best possible event infrastructure and to source the specification that suits their budget . They also want , Tunnicliffe , a supplier who can be trusted to get things right the first time .
“ We ’ ve been working proactively with the National Outdoor Events Association , as part of its Futures Supporter initiative , to develop better conversations between buyers and suppliers across the outdoor events industry . We believe this conversation has been key to a large amount of our success as a business , and we ’ re keen to share our experience with others in the industry ,” Tunnicliffe concludes . AAA
42 FEBRUARY 2018 ACCESSAA . Co . UK