Industry celebrated at Event Production Awards

Promoters, ancillary suppliers and production companies in the field joined industry heavyweights from organisations including Live Nation, Arena Group, Gallowglass and Eve at the gala dinner hosted by comedian Mark Steel. Organised by The Event Production Show, Access All Areas and the White Book in association with Capitol House Productions; the awards acknowledge best practice and excellence in live events.
 
Michelle Lewis, awards organiser, said, “The feedback for the event was a unanimous thumbs up from everyone. A sell out success on our first awards clearly shows a gap in the market and we are indebted to our sponsors and everyone who put themselves forward for an award.”
 
Nic Howden, editor Access All Areas, commented, “There was a lot of industry talk prior to the event and I’m so pleased that the evening lived up to such high expectations! We are delighted by the feedback and are already getting excited at what we will do next year!”
 
The three-course gala dinner was sponsored by CreatEvents, Agility logistics, Event Industry News, Millbrook Events, PSCo, Table Art, Blackout, Arena Group, Pitmans People, Planet Gold Decor and PP Rigging.   
 
19 categories were recognised with awards judged by a distinguished panel of experts comprising:
 
Roger Barrett: director & shareholder, Star Events Group
Clive Little: director of events and programming, Olympic Park Legacy Committee
Tim Owen: commissioner events/contingency planning for Westminster, Westminster City Council
John Probyn: chief operating officer, Live Nation
Christopher Salmon: events operations director, Goodwood
Gill Tee: managing director, Entertee Productions Limited
Mark Ward: managing director, Proper Productions
 
Awards presented were:  
 
Category: Best Set Design/Finishing Touches
Winner: Wellpleased Events                               
 
Category: Entertainment Supplier of the Year
Winner: Contraband International                       
 
Category: Special Effects Company of the Year
Winner: Quantum Special Effects
 
Category: AV Supplier of the Year
Winner: Creative Technology      
 
Category: Communications Company of the Year
Winner: Etherlive          
 
Category: Seating Supplier of the Year
Winner: Arena Group     
 
Category: Waste Management Company of the Year
Winner: P-MINUS-Q       
 
Category: Event Furniture Supplier of the Year
Winner: GLD Productions            
 
Category: Flooring and Roadway Supplier
Winner: Eve      
 
Category: Supplier of the Year
Winner: St John’s Ambulance     
 
Category: Staging Company of the Year
Winner: Brilliant Stages
 
Category: Security Company of the Year
Winner: G4S Secure Solutions (UK)         
 
Category: Crowd Barrier or Fencing Supplier of the Year
Winner: Eve      
 
Category: Structure Company of the Year
Winner: Arena Group     
 
Category: Employee of the Year Award
Winner: Ben Collins, Stepladder Worldwide                                 
 
Category: Event Innovation of the Year
Winner: Stepladder Worldwide - Inspiring Your Future Project                               
 
Category: Crewing Company of the Year
Winner: Gallowglass      
 
Category: Event Production Show Supreme Award
Winner: Star Events Group
 
Category: Access All Areas Editor’s Award
Winner: Shaun Kendrick