Feature
without the build, where will
the follow-on suppliers work?
“The contracting sector
has been in decline for far
too long. The companies
have no meat on their
financial bones, we have
been servicing our cash flow
from show to show on very
low margins for far too long.
There are now just to many
agencies, companies and
people all taking their living
from the organisers pot.
“I think it is going to take
its course and we can only
run with it. Everybody is
suffering from the large
to the small, it has been a
buyers’ market for the last
20 years. There is definitely
going to be a shortage of
stock as the third quarter
was an issue in normal years.
Are we expecting contractors
to put large amounts of
capital expenditure into
their business for one
quarter, I think not! This
will be issue in every country
in the world. Can the larger
contracting company’s
put large investments into
stock and buy all the larger
contracts (that they do not
already have) for the next
few years, not at present
margins.”
Jason Stead, MD, GES
“Any industry problem
won’t be supply driven
as I believe demand will
return gradually. It’ll be
economically and socially
informed - government
action/rules/support and
through the public feeling
comfortable at mass
gatherings again. We can
deliver the demand however
it returns using the approach
of creative pragmatism. We
Mark Jones
actually have a brilliant
opportunity to rewire how
we deliver events as industry
– let’s not waste it.
“The concept of the
socially distanced show
is at odds as to what we
deliver – socially connected
shows. The concept however
does need building into
everyone’s thinking. We can
do this effectively but also
with a degree of subtlety.
Reinventing the show floor
is something we should all
look at – normally we run at
pace - now we have a window
to reset.
“GES is also considering
how to use this window to
accelerate our sustainability
programs. Virtual events are
still in their infancy and will
be a useful tool to augment
physical events and it will be
interesting to see the take
up, client response to them
and how they develop over
the longer term.”
Mark Jones, CEO, Giant iTab
Pretty much all of our
suppliers have agreed a 50
percent now and a 50 percent
later plan. This gives us
significant breathing space
and enhanced short term
cashflow while we undertake
to secure a small business
grant fund allowance (SBGF)
Miriam Sigler
as a business rates rebate.
Sadly, it seems our industry
sector is only eligible for
the £10,000 Grant and not
the larger figures up to
£25,000 available for the
retail, hospitality and leisure
sectors who have a dedicated
SIC code.
One positive thing we can
do is to share knowledge,
ask questions and plan for
the future. This could start
with the sharing of different
lists of events that are being
rescheduled to give supply
chain members the heads
up of those events that are
potentially going to happen
so they can align themselves
accordingly. It was suggested
by Andrew Harrison that
they will be collating and
posting such a schedule on
the ESSA members board.
The scale and impact of
that crisis is yet to be known
but with due diligence and
hard work, which the events
industry is known for, most
of us should be able to pull
through and meet together
on the other side at events
across the UK, Europe and
worldwide once the summer
starts to come to a close.
Miriam Sigler, director,
Ways& means Events
“Like many other suppliers
we are playing the constant
game of Tetris scenario
planning both for ourselves
and our clients. With the
uncertainty of what lies
ahead in terms of tenancies,
stock levels and staffing. We
all known that this industry
will do whatever it takes to
make it happen and everyone
is raring to go as soon as we
are let of the leash.
“However, one of the
biggest issues I think the
industry is going to face is
the gap between the end
of government support
and the events/cash flow
recommencing. Many
suppliers have been burnt
badly by not being paid out
for events they did just prior
to the shut down or events
that were cancelled with
little notice, but work had
been done.
“This will have the
knock on effect of staffing
shortages as people look
for other work, meaning
we lose some of our best
people, shorter lead times if
contractors are not able to
purchase supplies and build
until they have had payment
and with more events
cramming into the shorter
season there are some major
safety concerns with build
times, mental health
May — 31