Stadium conquer Three Peaks Challenge for charity

An intrepid team of nine, from a leading events and security firm based in Coventry, successfully completed a mountaineering challenge to raise money for a charity close to their company’s finance director’s heart.

The team from Stadium finished the ‘Three Peaks Challenge’ – where England, Scotland and Wales’s highest mountains must be climbed within 24 hours – to raise money for cancer charity Macmillan as part of their 10th year anniversary campaign.

Stadium’s finance director Steve McCabe chose to raise money for the charity due to support it gives to his grandmother, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

The team smashed their target of £1,500 after successfully getting to the top of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon within the time limit.

Steve said: “This challenge was hard work – climbing these tough mountains all within 24 hours was certainly no picnic. And driving everyone between the mountains wasn’t easy for the designated driver either.

“But the team really pulled together when it counted and supported each other all the way.”

Macmillan helped Steve’s grandmother apply for a blue badge, and provides her with financial support. The charity also explains complicated terminology used at hospitals to help her understand exactly what is going on.

And Steve was delighted the team from Stadium had helped raise so much money for Macmillan.

He added: “I’m really humbled by all the donations so far. We smashed our target and more money is coming in by the day.

“Macmillan has helped my family so much since my Nan was diagnosed with terminal cancer, so I’m especially grateful to everyone for supporting this wonderful cause.”

The fundraising was also part of Stadium’s goal to raise £10,000 for ten different charities during 2019 – the firm’s tenth anniversary.

Alongside Macmillan, the campaign will raise money for Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, Alzheimer’s Society, Cancer Research UK, Coventry & Warwickshire Mind, Emmaus, Myton Hospices, The Forest Hermitage, YoungMinds and Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice.

Stadium is still appealing for further donations. Anyone wishing to donate should visit the team’s Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stadium?utm_id=27

New website launch marks major rebrand

A Coventry-based events and security company has reaped the benefits of working with a local business after its new website has received highly positive feedback.

Stadium, which recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, hired Coventry digital design agency Image+ to create a new website as part of a major rebrand.

The two businesses’ work together is being hailed as a great example of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Go For Growth: Trade Local’ campaign, which encourages businesses to look locally for suppliers and partners.

Maria Holmes-Keeling, marketing manager at Stadium, said Image+ took a proactive approach to meeting the company’s brief.

She said: “Out of all the companies I invited to tender, Image+ was the only one who requested a meeting with us to fully understand what our rebrand was all about.

“Our meeting was very useful, and we felt they were clear about our vision for the future. The fact they are a local company was something very important to us and we were delighted to hand them the contract.

“Since the new website has gone live, feedback from colleagues, suppliers, media and customers has been extremely positive.

“I strongly believe that we should support local business and work together as much as possible to benefit the local economy, so it’s great we were able to work so successfully with Image+.”

Emily Smith, Marketing & Creative Manager at Image+, said: “We were recommended to Stadium by a mutual contact, and I’m glad that happened because they’ve been brilliant to work with.

“It was important to meet face-to-face with Stadium to properly establish exactly what they wanted from their new website. Once we’d spoken to them, we knew exactly what we needed to do to fulfil their vision.

“Even though this is very much the digital age, working with other local businesses is something we should all be striving to do to ensure we help to grow the economy in this region.”

Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “It’s great to see two businesses in the region doing business with one another. Go For Growth: Trade Local was devised to encourage firms to give local suppliers opportunities to tender for work.

“It’s great to see that, in this instance, it has led to a local SME picking up a contract.”

 

Image L to R – Emily Smith, Marketing and Creative Manager, Image+ and Maria Holmes-Keeling, Marketing Manager, Stadium

Rebrand marks tenth anniversary celebrations

A Coventry events and security firm reaffirmed its ambitions to remain a world leader in event safety and training during its tenth anniversary celebrations at its new head office.

StadiumTM welcomed around 50 clients, employees and suppliers along to the event at its Bodmin Road headquarters to share in its success.
The firm is a specialist supplier of traffic management, stewarding, security and training services to the events industry, both nationally and internationally. It also supplies award winning temporary Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) barriers helping protect visitors at events against potential vehicle-ramming attacks.

It officially rebranded as ‘Stadium’ at the event and marked the historic occasion with Coventry City councillor and Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration Jim O’Boyle cutting a ribbon.

The rebrand, complete with a new logo and website, aims to consolidate all the areas the business focuses on.
In a speech to the attendees, David McAtamney, managing director of Stadium, said he was extremely pleased with the progress the firm has made and was looking forward to the future.

He said: “Today is a huge milestone in our company’s development. We’ve really come a long way in the last ten years.
“The success of our services has led to officials from Qatar engaging us to train them in event safety and management ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which is a great honour.

“Our temporary Hostile Vehicle Mitigation barriers have seen us win a Midlands Business Award for Innovation of the Year, and we have been training clients in event safety from as far away as South Korea.

“And our aim to raise £10,000 for ten different charities this year is going very well so far – our staff have braved abseiling down Coventry Cathedral and a team of 11 is set to take on the Three Peaks Challenge in June.

“We decided to rebrand as ‘Stadium’ to consolidate all the different parts of our business and give our brand more focus whilst maintaining our history and heritage.

“Although we’re still experts in event services and traffic management, our original name of StadiumTM doesn’t cover the fact that we are also market leaders in HVM rental solutions and providing safety training around the world.

“We work with clients all over the UK and the world, but we’re proud to be a Coventry company. We’re not afraid of competing with much bigger companies, and I genuinely believe we can do anything we set our minds to.”

And Cllr O’Boyle paid tribute to Stadium’s enterprising services while staying true to its Coventry roots.

He added: “We have so many great businesses and organisations right in the heart of the city, and Stadium definitely stands high among them.

“Companies such as Stadium are absolutely crucial in bringing wealth and economic growth to Coventry. I really hope they go from strength to strength.”

CAPTION – Stadium staff and guests with Stadium’s owner and Managing Director David McAtamney (front row, third from left), and Stadium’s HR Director Lorraine Baillie (front row, centre) next to Cllr Jim O’Boyle (front row, second from right) preparing to cut the ribbon outside Stadium’s Bodmin Road head office.

KSPO return to UK for training with StadiumTM

Members of a South Korean sporting body travelled all the way to Coventry to learn how to effectively run large events safely from a world-leading firm based in the city.

Event management specialists StadiumTM welcomed the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation (KSPO) at its head office Coventry to teach them how to effectively manage large events and make fans’ experiences as good as they can be.

StadiumTM is a specialist supplier of traffic management, stewarding, security and training services to the events industry, both nationally and internationally. It also supplies award winning temporary Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) barriers helping protect visitors at events against potential vehicle-ramming attacks.

Its clients include Premier League football clubs, local authorities and universities and it has also worked for high profile events including the London Marathon, the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s Club and BBC Radio’s Biggest Weekend.

This was the second time KSPO has received training from the firm. The federation first came over to Coventry four years ago to learn best practice, and wished to continue its relationship with StadiumTM by returning.

StadiumTM’s week-long training course consisted of intensive lessons at its head offices, before delegates from KSPO were taken to Anfield to gain knowledge in a high-class football stadium.

 

Lorraine Baillie, and Mr Sung Su Ha, KSPO

David McAtamney, managing director of StadiumTM, said: “We’re so pleased KSPO chose to come all this way to learn from us for a second time. It’s a real honour.

“But it’s also testament to our expertise. We are one of the leading companies in the world when it comes to event management.

“Sport brings people of all nationalities together and is truly global. So anything we can do to help other countries raise their standards is massively important to us.”

While many countries simply let the police handle pre and post-event crowds and traffic, David said the UK was unique in that private companies are left to do this.

This means there is a much greater focus on providing a good experience for the fans when they arrive and leave a large event, as there is competition for business.

Improving the fan’s experience was also part of what StadiumTM taught KSPO, alongside their training around safety.

David added: “When police control the fan experience, all they want to do is keep you safe. The experience for the fans is not a consideration.

“But we make sure getting to and leaving an event is as seamless as possible. The idea is that the fans don’t notice the systems we have in place because they are so smooth.

“If bad crowd and traffic management means it takes you too long to get you into a stadium for a football match and you miss kick-off, you’re going to be upset. We make sure this rarely happens.

“We have passed this knowledge once again to KSPO so they can run their own events in South Korea much more efficiently. Our aim is to keep people safe.”

 

Lorraine Baillie, HR Director at StadiumTM (centre) and all KSPO delegates

Featured image: Jemma Baillie, Head of Recruitment & Training, Greg Browning, Recruitment & Training Co-ordinator, Lorraine Baillie, and Richard Butlin, Training & Development Manager with KSPO delegates

StadiumTM awarded Midlands Innovation of the year award 2019

A Coventry company’s innovative idea of supplying temporary barriers designed to prevent vehicle-ramming attacks in crowded spaces has been recognised at the 2019 Midlands Business Awards.

StadiumTM, which lends temporary hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) security barriers to organisers of all sorts of public events, won the ‘Midlands Innovation of the Year’ award at a ceremony in Leicester.

The company was also given a ‘highly commended’ award in the Midlands Service Provider £1m+ of the Year by the judges.

David McAtamney, managing director of StadiumTM, said the firm’s idea to buy different kinds of HVM solutions and then rent them out to clients was a natural extension to the firm’s event management specialist business.

He said: “We’re the first company to offer temporary HVM solutions for hire, rather than customers facing an option to buy permanent solutions which comes with a high price and a storage issue or simply not protecting a crowded space from potential vehicle attacks.

“Before us, clients would have to consider spending a fortune on buying barriers and gates outright for one event, and then have to keep them in storage for the rest of the year.

“With us, they can hire what they need for when they need it, reducing costs. In the 12 months we’ve offered this service, our HVMs have been used more than 300 times at events like the Godiva Festival and BBC Music’s Biggest Weekend in Coventry, as well as the Fever Tree Championships in London.

“So we’re delighted the judges at the Midlands Business Awards recognised how we’ve led the market by giving us the Innovation of the Year award, as well as a highly commended award in the Service Provider of the Year category.

“We have won awards within the event management industry before, but never an award of this magnitude.

“But we won’t rest on our laurels. We’re continuing to innovate by investing in new designs of HVMs to cater for all sorts of different needs for our clients.”

To win the two awards, StadiumTM was first assessed by judges from the Midlands Business Awards in the two categories and given a score in both based on a range of criteria.

Their scores meant they were eligible to be a finalist in both categories.

Once they were named as a finalist, representatives from the company were the interviewed by the judges face-to-face. The judges then used the interview to decide overall winners in each category.

And if the judges have to make difficult decisions on which company should win in a particular category, they can give out ‘highly commended’ awards to deserving companies.

Harj Sandher, managing director of the Midlands Business Awards, said: “Innovative companies like StadiumTM really make our economy thrive.

“They have a real passion for what they do, and it’s no surprise our judges picked them for not one, but two awards.

“StadiumTM is a credit to the region and we hope to see the business continue to grow and grow.”

Charity abseil raises more than £1,000 for Myton Hospice

The new Coventry Cathedral was the site of a charity abseil as 125 people descended down its 100ft walls to raise money for Myton Hospice.

And five brave women from Coventry-based event management company StadiumTM were among the people who scaled down the iconic building.

Maria Holmes-Keeling, Jade Haverty, Jemma Baillie, Rosie Hyde and Abi Watt took on the abseil as part of StadiumTM’s challenge to raise £10,000 for 10 different charities to mark their 10th anniversary all through this year.

The team were cheered on by their friends and family who came along to support them.

And their efforts managed to raise more than £1,000 for Myton – with further money expected to come in through later donations – after all of them successfully completed the descent.

Maria, marketing manager at StadiumTM, said the windy conditions on the day made the abseil a little more challenging than expected.

She said: “It was pretty breezy at the top, and very cold. I’d abseiled before but the conditions certainly made it a bit more nerve-wracking for some.

“Even though the weather wasn’t great, we all got down the cathedral safe and sound with smiles on our faces.

“Myton is such a wonderful charity and it was an honour to raise money for them by being part of their charity abseil. We hope the money we raised will help Myton continue to provide the best quality care for their patients.”

The abseil aimed to raise £35,000 in total for Myton to fund the recruitment, salary and training of a nurse for one year.

It was just one event out of 30 that StadiumTM will be taking part in to raise money for various charities throughout the year.

Alongside Myton Hospices, StadiumTM’s campaign will raise money for nine other charities: Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, Alzheimer’s Society, Cancer Research UK, Coventry & Warwickshire Mind, Emmaus, Macmillan Cancer Support, The Forest Hermitage, YoungMinds and Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice.

Further events planned for this year include staff taking on the Three Peaks Challenge and staff holding an ‘It’s a Knockout’ style fundraising day.

StadiumTM is a specialist supplier of traffic management, stewarding, security and training services to the events industry, both nationally and internationally. It also supplies temporary Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) barriers helping protect visitors at events against potential vehicle-ramming attacks.

Although the firm’s head office is in Coventry, it has a number of high-profile clients across the UK from Premier League football clubs to local authorities, so many of its workers are based elsewhere in the country.

Anyone wishing to donate should visit StadiumTM’s fundraising page at chuffed.org/project/stadiumtm

Strip for Spray Tan: 10th Anniversary Fundraising Celebrations

Six brave workers at a Coventry-based event management firm stripped off to receive their first ever spray tan to officially launch an anniversary charity campaign.

The spray tan, held at the head offices of event management specialists StadiumTM in Coventry, was one of many events being held this year to raise a minimum of £10,000 which will be split between ten different charities to celebrate the company’s tenth anniversary.

The six men were all bronzed in turn by Jade Haverty, staffing coordinator at StadiumTM, who has experience in spray tanning.

More than £400 was raised on the day for YoungMinds, and a further £100 was later raised at a fundraising quiz.

Maria Holmes-Keeling, marketing manager at StadiumTM, is organising the year-long anniversary fundraising campaign and thanked the men for having the courage to volunteer.

She said: “I’ve got to thank all the men who took part for being brave enough to get their kit off and have a spray tan in aid of YoungMinds, the charity chosen by Jade for this fundraising activity.

“Jade’s idea to perform a charity spray tan was brilliant and she did a fantastic job. They all look they’ve been on the beach for a few weeks.

“It was such a fun way to launch our campaign to raise £10,000 for ten different charities. I hope our other planned events later in the year are just as successful.”

StadiumTM’s campaign will raise money for ten different charities: Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, Alzheimer’s Society, Cancer Research UK, Coventry & Warwickshire Mind, Emmaus, Macmillan Cancer Support, Myton Hospices, The Forest Hermitage, YoungMinds and Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice.

Further charity events planned for this year include an abseil down Coventry Cathedral, a Three Peaks Challenge and an ‘It’s a Knockout’ style fundraising day.

StadiumTM is a specialist supplier of traffic management, stewarding, security and training services to the events industry, both nationally and internationally. It also supplies temporary Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) barriers helping protect visitors at events against potential vehicle-ramming attacks.

Although the firm’s head office is in Coventry, it has a number of high-profile clients across the UK from Premier League football clubs to local authorities, so many of its workers are based elsewhere in the country.

Maria came up with the idea to put together a fundraising calendar of events to not only raise money for a number of good causes, but as a way of bringing staff members together.

Maria added: “When we first launched the campaign, we asked our staff what charities were close to their hearts. They replied with a lovely mix of local and national charities.

“We’ve got so much going on this year, and every worker at StadiumTM can get involved with any of the activities.

“This campaign is a way of raising money for all sorts of charities, but also to have fun and unite our teams across the UK, working together to give something back to the communities we live in and help those less fortunate than ourselves.”

Anyone wishing to donate should visit StadiumTM’s fundraising page at chuffed.org/project/stadiumtm

CWLEP Growth Hub helps Coventry business StadiumTM to grow

A Coventry firm which helps protect visitors to some of the UK’s largest events against potential vehicle-ramming attacks has taken on new members of staff and is expanding its services after securing almost £55,000 of funding.

Event management specialist StadiumTM has employed eight new members of staff and is continuing to create new roles after relocating from Coventry University Technology Park to a new, bigger premises in Walsgrave after engaging with the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Hub.

The business, which supplies traffic management, stewarding, security and training services to the events industry, is also expanding its hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) product service side of the business.

The unique and mobile temporary security barriers are used to protect members of the public from vehicle ramming attacks, and StadiumTM is investing in additional equipment to continue meeting the needs of its network of high-profile clients.

Following discussions with Gary Thyeson of the Growth Hub along with both Kieran Bal and Matthew Dillow of Coventry City Council, StadiumTM received a £50,000 grant from Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme and a further £4,679 grant from its Green Business Programme.

This money has been invested in the renovation of the new premises in Bodmin Road, the purchase of additional HVM equipment and also helped improve the energy efficiency of the new site.

The grants, which were secured through the company’s work with the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Hub, are part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and are being delivered by Coventry City Council who are an accountable body.

In 2018, StadiumTM provided services to local events including Godiva Festival, BBC Radio’s Biggest Weekend and the Rolling Stones performing at the Ricoh Arena as well as events across the country including the London Marathon, the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s Club and the Blackpool Illuminations switch-on event.

StadiumTM managing director David McAtamney said: “We have seen a 61 per cent increase in revenue in the past 12 months, and have ambitious plans to grow this further in the coming year.

“The grant has not only helped us move into our new headquarters, facilitating our growing number of staff, but has also enabled us to expand the range of HVM solutions we offer.

“HVM solutions are the newest area of the business, and we are seeing more and more organisations in the events industry looking at ways to protect crowds from the threat of vehicle ramming attacks.

“We are very pleased to have worked with the Growth Hub, and hope to develop a long-term partnership with the organisation.”

Craig Humphrey, managing director of the CWLEP Growth Hub, said: “StadiumTM has experienced a considerable amount of growth, and unlocking this funding means we have been able to instil confidence in the business to continue its momentum.

“It is important that we support scalable companies so that they can experience the growth that this region needs, creating jobs for local people and boosting the economy.

“We look forward to working with StadiumTM in the future as they continue to develop ambitious plans to expand the business further.”

Event management specialist wins major contract with Merseyside

An event management specialist has won a major contract to support train passengers across Merseyside as extensive platform work takes place.

StadiumFM has been appointed by Merseyrail to provide support staff as it completes platform upgrade works to prepare for its ground breaking new trains on one of the busiest networks in the UK.

The work will include both station and line closures, and Stadium FM staff will be on-hand to direct and assist passengers onto rail replacement bus services, provide timetable and general assistance, and help passengers with luggage.

The company will be working across the whole network of stations in preparation for the arrival of the new train fleet in 2020.

StadiumFM specialises in providing stewards and event support at both large and small-scale events ranging from festivals and music concerts to football matches and other high-profile sporting events.

Current staff members will be used, and the contract may also create a number of new jobs for local people as the work progresses.

David McAtamney, Managing Director of StadiumFM, said: “We are highly experienced in managing large crowds and will be working with Merseyrail to ensure that customers continue to have a smooth journey while the work takes place.

“This is our first contract in this industry sector which gives us a great opportunity to demonstrate our expertise in providing excellent customer service to large numbers of people, which we have been doing for almost a decade.

“We invest in comprehensive training for all of our staff to give them the skills to deliver an excellent service.
“At peak times in the central stations there will be a minimum of 24 StadiumFM colleagues on-hand to assist rail passengers to ensure they have an excellent onward journey.”

Andy Heath, Managing Director of Merseyrail, said: “We are very pleased to award the contract to StadiumFM. Our main focus throughout the work is our passengers, and StadiumFM share our values in providing exemplary customer service which they have demonstrated at countless events across the UK and overseas.

“Working with StadiumFM, we will strive to make journeys as smooth as possible throughout the duration of the work as we prepare for our new trains.”