Access All Areas June 2022 | Page 45

JUNE | SECTOR FOCUS

Building back better

Access explores how leading temporary structure suppliers are working to provide new services and products while addressing financial pressures and staff shortages
ES Global has developed a new staging system for Boardmasters
Words : Joe Gallop

Temporary structure suppliers expanding their reach beyond events was rife during the pandemic , but as events return in their thousands , tents , marquees and other structures are needed now more than ever . While operators work their way around rising costs and staff shortages , many are now offering new innovative services and products .

London-based ES Global is working on around 60 events across the year including three systems of staging for The Killers ’ UK tour and the construction of the new 3,000-capacity ABBA Arena at London ’ s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park , which was designed by Stufish Entertainment Architects .
The company also produced an inflated bulbous dome for Alexander McQueen , which sat on top of a London car park rooftop in Tobacco Dock .
Among its non-event , pandemicrelated , work this year has been an intensive period of helping the NHS to deliver eight surge hubs across the UK in January .
“ We were impacted by the pandemic the same as everyone else in the events business – our events order book collapsed but we were able to pivot and were asked to get involved with the delivery of The Dragon ’ s Heart Hospital in Cardiff at the Principality Stadium ,” says ES Global joint-CEO Jeff Burke .
“ We are proud to say we employed people and companies who would normally work in the events sector . It was an amazing and awardwinning experience . Working on The Dragon ’ s Heart Hospital has led to us now working with HMRC and DEFRA .”
With a focus on its more traditional work , ES Global has developed a new medium-sized staging system that is to be used at Vision Nine ’ s Boardmasters festival ( cap . 53,000 ), DF Concerts ’ TRNSMT festival ( 50,000 ) and Harry Styles ’ June concert at Ibrox Stadium ( 50,000 ) in Glasgow .
Burke says the biggest challenge this year has been finding and training crew : “ It has been a challenge for everyone in the industry and we are no exception .”
Like everyone else , the company has also been impacted
45