Tag: coronavirus

News

Our 2020 reflection and predictions for 2021

Wow-what a year 2020 has been! It certainly wasn’t the year that we were expecting as we were looking forward to the many events, we had booked in for the year ahead.

The pandemic has certainly hit the hospitality and events industries hard and we will definitely see noticeable changes when things get back to normal. For us the focus was on survival – we wanted to make sure that we could ride out the storm and ensure we were fully prepared when the lockdown was over.

We have been focusing on providing support for the rise in the number of virtual events, especially until things are back to normal. This support has been in the form of hosting briefings, speaker rehearsals, and briefings for virtual conferences.

It is hard for us to predict what 2021 holds for us. As soon as the events industry starts to move again, we believe there will be a boom in face-to-face events as many people are missing the interaction.

We recently read that an event in Liverpool introduced COVID-19 Systematic Meaningful Asymptomatic Repeated Testing (SMART) to delegates attending the Liverpool Conference 2020. The rapid testing technology was used to increase the COVID-19 safety measures at the event. Guests who attended the conference were required to present evidence of a negative test result taken within a 24-hour window prior to the event to gain entry. We think this is a great way to increase safety at live events but it relies heavily on the government getting mass testing working reliably and quickly. We are hoping that we see more of this in 2021.

Many of the events that were due to happen in the first half of next year have decided to stay virtual until the following year, however, we are hoping that we will be able to support these events in some way.

We miss our staff and clients terribly but we are keeping everything crossed that things change soon. In the meantime, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year.

If you would like to discuss how we can provide assistance with your online event and/or live event post-COVID-19, then please get in touch today.

News

Events post COVID-19 – the statistics

It is no secret that the COVID-19 health crisis has dramatically impacted the events industry worldwide.

Here are just some statistics that show the changes, trends and possible outcomes for the events industry post COVID-19:

Event personnel are being reduced in numbers

Recent research carried out by Bizzabo, has indicated that nearly half of event marketers report that their companies have made changes to personnel in response to events post COVID-19 and that budgets are tightening. Although budgets might be reducing, we have positivity around this statistic because at Pinnacle Event Staff we are able to provide knowledgeable, experienced event staff for events throughout the UK. This will enable event organisers to focus on being creative, efficient and flexible to maximise their event experience for delegates.

Virtual Events are growing in popularity

During the pandemic, it was clear that many event organisers opted to switch upcoming events to virtual events in order to avoid refunding tickets and still delivering the events to delegates albeit in a different format. While online events are currently popular, we believe there is nothing better than face-to-face interaction at events and that live, in-person events will be coming back soon. The UK government has just announced the that conference venues can host small events with no more than 30 attendees (link to other blog about conference events).

Virtual and In-person – the best of both worlds

More than 95% of event marketers agree that in-person events will be back (according to Bizzabo research). The need to connect, meet and build relationships can only really happen in-person and we know that the return of in-person events is going to return bigger than ever. However, we do believe that there will certainly be a market for both and there is demand for technology to support both virtual and in-person events.

In the meantime, if you are starting to plan for future events this year or in 2021 and have any event related questions, please contact us today.

News

Our guidelines for a safe working environment for event staff

The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) has set out guidance to support and assess the safe working environment at live events post COVID-19 to assist with the recovery of the events industry.

There is a number of items that will need to be considered post COVID-19 at live events so we have put together a short overview of the AEO guidelines for us all:  

  1. Approved by the UK government

The guidance will help to achieve common standards of health, safety and operational planning, management and on-site conduct for the events industry.

  1. The All Secure Standard – Risk Assessment Framework

The health and safety of industry professionals, customers and delegates must remain top priority to any event organiser. The ‘All Secure Standard’ has been set up to provide a best-practice guide to industry professionals.

  1. Key Measures

The AEO UK operations group has put together a list of key measures to consider when planning events that can be used in-conjunction with risk assessments. The measures are also scalable depending on the size of your event.

  1. Risk Assessment

An event risk assessment has been developed to identify the contact points where, when and how transmission at the event is most likely to occur and assigns the controls best able to reduce the risk of this transmission. The AEO. Have provided a basic risk assessment and a more comprehensive risk assessment.

We will be working towards adapting these guidelines to our client’s events and completing all risk assessments prior to any events taking place. Our guidance, along with the AEO guidelines, will be continually reviewed to ensure best practice is being adhered to at all times.

We are looking forward to getting back to providing knowledgeable, highly-skilled event staff to the events industry across the UK very soon. In the meantime, if you have any event related questions, please contact us.

News

Conference centres can now host events

The events industry has been waiting with baited breath for when live events can return to conference centres across the UK.

At the beginning of August, we saw the announcement that exhibition and conference centres in England could host business meetings and events for up to 30 people.

What does this mean?

Small events for up to 30 people are permitted so long as there is direct access to the smaller meeting spaces and COVID-secure guidance is adhered to. This guidance includes: social distancing must be maintained, different groups are kept separate and the venue can demonstrate it has followed the COVID-19 guidance.

To Cater or Not?

Basic catering can be provided at these small events with venues needing to follow similar guidance issued for bars, pubs and takeaways. Pre-packaged food is highly advised in these scenarios.

Receptions, award ceremonies, filming, fashion shows, product launches, and team building exercises are not allowed to take place until 1 October, on the condition that COVID-19 is deemed under control.

All events happening after 1 October will need to be risk assessed following AEO COVID-19 secure guidelines.

We have yet to be told if face masks need to be worn during business events and meetings.

We still need to ensure we are ready to create events that are as safe as possible, no matter the number of people. Organising an event will now have an extra step involved which will be incorporating the AEO guidelines to protect the wellbeing of all attendees and staff working at the event.

Things for event organisers to consider

  • Assess the risk of transmission of COVID-19 at your event and identify and manage those risks
  • Create pre-event checklists addressing the risks associated with COVID-19 at your event
  • Create safety guidelines and policies for suppliers, staff, and attendees to adhere to
  • Communicate all guidelines and policies prior to the event

As the UK Government makes more announcements over the coming weeks, we will be listening to see if any of the current restrictions are lifted further.

In the meantime, if you have any event related questions, please contact us.

News

What will live events look like in the future?

The UK government has announced the lifting of more restrictions today however the future of live events is still very much unknown.

When they are ready to allow us to plan, organise, and gather again, we need to ensure we are ready to create events that are as safe as possible. Organising an event will now have an extra step involved which will be incorporating the guidelines from health officials to protect the wellbeing of all attendees and staff working at the event.

Things for event organisers to consider

  • Assess the risk of transmission of COVID-19 at your event and identify and manage those risks
  • Create pre-event checklists addressing the risks associated with COVID-19 at your event
  • Create safety guidelines and policies for suppliers, staff, and attendees to adhere to
  • Communicate all guidelines and policies prior to the event

There is also the question of what will be the etiquette at live trade shows, exhibitions, and conferences in the future. Will we be able to shake hands or will it be an elbow pump from now on? Will the norm at large-scale exhibitions be temperature-checking delegates as they enter the hall? These may feature in the immediate future but we are sure some old habits will return.

This is a time for our industry to lead the way in demonstrating ways we can balance the need to interact with awareness as well as maintaining safe practices. If you take the cruise industry, for example, they have had hand sanitisers on ships to protect passengers from the norovirus for years. We think practices like this will become the ‘new normal’ at live events in the future.

As the UK Government makes more announcements over the coming weeks, we will be listening to see if any of the current restrictions are lifted further. One thing is for sure, the lockdown has shown us the importance of human connection and the need for us all to come together through live events.

We are confident that we will be dusting off our lanyards very soon but in the meantime, if you are planning your future event and need advice or support, please get in touch. 

News

How to support your staff during coronavirus

As we enter the seventh week of coronavirus lockdown it is important to discuss how we can support our staff and ultimately support each other. 

We have heard that many companies have had to place their event teams on furlough. It is with this, that it becomes difficult for companies to keep in contact with staff and clients and nurture current relationships.

We’ve put together some easy guidelines describing how we can support each other during these uncertain times.

Be clear 

Communication is key during these uncertain times so it is important to be clear. Be the calm voice of reason to reassure employees and remember that how you communicate is just as important as what you communicate. 

Work/life balance

If you have staff that are working from home then check-in with them to ensure they are maintaining a healthy work/life balance. Many people with families are trying to balance working from home with childcare and this can become stressful. 

Speak with your team regularly 

Whether you have people working from home or on furlough, it is important to speak with them regularly. Working from home and furlough can be very isolating. Try to organise virtual calls via Skype or Zoom conferencing so you can see that your team is surviving! 

Encourage your staff to plan their wellness 

We have heard that some companies are asking their staff to complete Wellness Action Plans helping to support their mental health at work. There are guides for both employees and managers to follow and prove great sources of advice. 

Encourage idea creation 

When individuals are away from their desks or usual routine, it can encourage creativity so encourage ideas at this time. These may be usual for future business ideas.

If you are interested in finding out how we can support your event in the future, then please get in touch. 

News

How to overcome the potential impact of COVID-19 on the events industry

We were certainly aware of the initial impact of the COVID-19 outbreak back in March and knew there was going to be an impact on the events industry. Events were being postponed and in some cases canceled. 

We thought we would share our views on the current situation and our tips on how to overcome the impact of COVID-19. 

We strongly believe that the events industry will bounce back from this outbreak. There will be some lasting effects as a result, as we believe a number of companies may potentially have the capability and confidence to run more virtual meetings. Our client Microsoft, for example, hosts a lot of small meetings and they have been able to run some of these virtually. 

Sadly there will also be those companies who don’t make it through this period.  As business owners, who have built this company from the ground up, we really feel for those struggling during these unprecedented times.

What does the future look like?

When the lockdown is relaxed, we believe there will be lots of events to reschedule and only so many venues with large capacity available. The demand will be high and securing dates that work may pose a challenge for many clients.  Planning for us will be key. We will be working with partners to find alternative dates quickly and be discussing flexibility around venue choice.

We feel there will be a tendency to try to run more events virtually and we think this will be a great solution for smaller events, however, networking and face-to-face interaction aren’t possible in this format.

Demand will be high for suppliers and good quality staff as lots of events will be taking place at the same time, luckily here at Pinnacle, we have a vast and experienced team across the UK ready to support the events. 

Our three tips for companies to get through these uncertain times

  1. At Pinnacle our number one priority is and has always been our team, there is no doubt these are testing times financially, technically and socially and we are doing our utmost to support our team in these times.  We may not be able to interact in person right now but we are offering support through the government’s employee retention scheme as well as emotional and social support through ongoing communications.
  2. Of equal importance are our partners. Working with our clients to ensure and minimise the financial impact of COVID-19 on postponed and canceled events.  We must remind ourselves that this period will pass, and we must be ready for when that day comes to do what we do best and support our clients again.
  3. As difficult as it is to do, we’ve tried to find positive’s in this terribly difficult and sad period.  We must do everything possible to ensure the long term sustainability of Pinnacle, for once we have time on our hands and with this time we are focusing on those projects and initiatives that never quite made it to the top of the to-do list, our social media, and marketing activities are ongoing, and we believe it’s vital to use these channels to remain in touch with our industry.

Above all else in these unprecedented times, it’s important to support each other, be kind and consider those who are more vulnerable and do what we can to help them through this difficult time, this time will pass and the industry that we are so passionate about will bounce back.

News

How to stay sane during the Coronavirus lockdown

As we enter week two of the UK Coronavirus lockdown, the novelty of being at home and relaxing has worn off. For those of you still working you are trying to cram in an 8-hour day into 4 hours, home-schooling, keeping the house somewhat tidy and getting dinner on the table! It can be a very stressful time for everyone, especially as we have no idea when this lockdown is likely to be lifted.

Nicola and I have put together our top tips of what we will be doing to stay sane during the lockdown:

Routine

We are both trying to keep a routine to our day which is so important. Having a routine provides you with structure and meaning in what can seem like endless days at home. Getting up, showering and getting dressed is essential to feel ready for the day so you can achieve anything.

Restrict the news

Set boundaries on the amount of time spent watching the news. While it is important to keep up-to-date with the news about the virus outbreak, it is important to keep a balance. Maybe try to limit your news consumption to once or twice a day during the lockdown. 

Friends and Family

Staying connected with friends and family during these uncertain times is important. We’ve been using apps such as Zoom or HouseParty to keep in contact with friends and family. We’ve also been sharing meal plans and recipes with friends via What’s app which can help you learn something new while being stuck indoors.

Keeping busy

Start old hobbies that you have neglected. Aim to read a book that you’ve had on your shelf for ages. Take part in an online course that you’ve always wanted to do. Having a hobby or course to take part in will make the hours pass more quickly.

Staying active

During the UK lockdown, we are allowed one hour of outdoor exercise per day. We’ve been using this time to stay active. Getting outdoors for a run or walk is so important for mental health and allows you to discover new spaces in your local area. Or dig out your old skipping rope and start skipping in your garden, it’s such a wonderful way to keep fit in limited spaces.

Meditating

Taking time in your day to be calm and present in the moment. Meditating allows you to stop and be thankful for the things you have in your life. The outbreak has seen an increase in the anxiety about the unknown. Meditating can really help quash negative thoughts.

Bucket list tasks

Take this time to make a list of tasks that you’ve always wanted to do but never found the time. Cleaning the kitchen cupboards out, making photobooks of the family or the odd DIY jobs at home. We won’t get this time again, so now is the perfect opportunity to achieve some of those jobs you’ve been putting off. 

As a company that provides staff at UK events, our top priority during this time is to support our clients and staff as best we can. If you have any additional questions or would like our advice then please contact us today.