Jeff Burke Lee Dalton Ross Robertson
The Star Live temporary structures outside Buckingham Palace the rest of the sector , Arena suffered from the mass cancellation of events , and its team of event professionals had to utilise their skills in delivering non-event projects .
During the pandemic its non-event work included warehousing and providing workplace extensions and extended canteens , in order to better enable companies to respond to demands such as increased space for staff social distancing .
Arena was fortunate to be one of the first temporary structures suppliers to return to working on major event projects via its involvement in the Government ’ s Events Research Programme sporting test events last summer .
There has not just been investment in new people at Arena . As well as financing new structures , Robertson says the most significant development this year at the company has been a major focus on creativity and design : “ We are supporting clients ’ delivery of innovative event environments , particularly with the level of designled structures and interiors we can give them .”
At Cambridgeshire-based Roder , the team is focused on four large events this year – RHS Chelsea Flower Show , Suffolk Show , RHS Flower Show Tatton Park and Seawork 2022 . The company is supplying a variety of tents with floors , doors and solid sides for each of them .
Roder sales director Lee Dalton says that during the pandemic the company saw a maintained , and in some cases bolstered , demand on the manufacturing and sales side of the business , while its event rental division suffered .
Having provided sales and dry hire services to the events industry for the past 20 years , the company has seen strong demand from large event projects this year , but with the demand comes the same challenges that face almost all operators in the events industry supply chain .
“ The biggest challenge for us this year has been recruitment and availability of staff , both on site and in our premises ,” says Dalton .
With a view to attracting and retaining the best staff , Dalton says the company has focused on improving conditions and benefits for existing staff , meaning that the overall package offered to potential new recruits looks more appealing than ever .
“ We recognise that money is only one part of the decision-making process when people are looking for new jobs , and the overall balance of work / life , stress levels , and employment benefits , all go towards encouraging people to work for you .”
In order to cope with the high demand this year , Roder has created a new operations position to manage its delivery processes for events , and added more tents , floors and accessories to the offering .
Royal engagement With 100,000 people expected to physically attend the event and many millions more watching on TV and online , the Platinum Party At The Palace concert to mark the Queen ’ s Platinum Jubilee is one of the standout events of the year . Among those to perform at the 4 June show include Queen + Adam Lambert , Alicia Keys , Hans Zimmer , Celeste and Nile Rodgers .
Star Live was contracted to deliver temporary structures throughout the site immediately outside Buckingham Palace . As well as three bespoke stages , the company was behind the creation of four grandstands , the Royal Box and 14 temporary media studios to accommodate the world ’ s media .
“ This project utilises all of our combined skillet ; it is stages , seating , a big design element , working with broadcasters , working with the Palace , the BBC and DCMS – it is quite a statement piece for us in terms of the direction of travel for Star Live ,” says its chief commercial officer Simon Broyd .
The fact that many huge events are successfully being supplied and taking place across the country is a statement about the direction of the wider temporary structures sector . The pandemic demonstrated its ingenuity and resilience , and now with staff training and retention at the top of the agenda along with investment in new products , the temporary structures sector really is building back better .
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