Exhibition News July 2019 | Page 48

Profile SUPPLIER FOCUS The Barista ALTERNATIVE VENUE The sunshine coast Director Sam Fletcher on organic growth, scaling a business without losing sight of quality, and event waste frustrations What’s one thing you would change about the events industry? If I had a magic wand, I would eliminate all the waste that’s generated from events. If everyone plays their part, significant waste reductions can be made within the events industry. Through more efficient processes and educating people on sustainable choices, I think there is definitely scope for a very positive change. What issue most affects your working life? I would have to say that it’s the seasonality of the exhibition calendar. This is something we have no control over, but it affects the direction and intensity of my working life massively. Certain times of the year represent particularly hectic patches for us and our clients. It would be nicer to have more of a consistent balance. However, saying that, we always manage to get the job done, so maybe an element of time pressure helps! How has your business changed over the past five years? Our business has changed enormously over the past five years as we’ve seen exponential organic growth. We have really started to use technology to make our business more efficient and organised, as well as adding value to the services we provide clients. Since day one, we’ve benefitted from a strong team of really enthusiastic employees. In the events world, having a team you truly trust and can rely upon is so important. This is ultimately what has enabled us to scale up our services without ever losing sight of quality. What do you enjoy most about working in events? I enjoy how challenging and fast-paced it is. Every event is different and even when you’re at a familiar venue, you can face completely fresh challenges. EN 48 — July EN takes a trip to the heart of Eastbourne’s Devonshire Quarter – a recently completed state-of-the-art conference facility Can you tell us about the venue? A £54m transformation into Eastbourne’s Devonshire Quarter, the heart of Eastbourne’s conference, cultural and sporting district, offers new and enhanced conference, event and sportings facilities to Sussex. This investment by Eastbourne Borough Council has been created to reinforce the town’s reputation as a premier conference destination alongside its top flight cultural and sporting facilities for both residents and visitors. The 1,655-seated Congress Theatre reopened in March 2019 having been completely refurbished with new seating, technical and temperature provisions. This venue seamlessly sits alongside the brand-new Welcome Building, home to two large exhibition halls. The development of Devonshire Quarter is almost complete with work starting later this year on the Grade II listed Winter Garden, marking the final stage of the project. Funding for Devonshire Quarter has included £5m from the Government’s Local Growth Fund through the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP). The versatility of the site means it can host a wide mix of events, often alongside each other. These include the pre-Wimbledon Nature Valley International Lawn Tennis Tournament within the meticulously maintained lawn grounds, an array of conferences including association, medical, not-for-profit and political, exhibition-only led events plus award ceremonies and weddings. With over 1,000sqm available in two new exhibition halls, plus mezzanine, terraces and foyer spaces for exhibition across the auditorium venues, the DQ offers new and refurbished facilities in a unique setting. Eastbourne – such a unique and newly enhanced environment cannot be found elsewhere on the South Coast!