A leading North East-based conference and trade show organiser forced to adopt a virtual model almost overnight, is celebrating winning seven major US contracts.
Fresh Start Events saw its business wiped out when the first 海角视频-wide coronavirus lockdown came into force in March last year.
But a rapid move into online events has helped safeguard the future of the company, which has its headquarters at the Evolve Business Centre at Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear.
The firm, which is well-known for organising the region’s largest business-to-business expo, has been signed up to run a series of online events across the United States between now and May, after embracing an online virtual format.
Fresh Start Events has also picked up a raft of other new work – despite the coronavirus outbreak rendering physical events impossible.
Wilton-based NEPIC, PD Ports in Middlesbrough, Growthdeck and the Material Processing Institute on Teesside, are among the new clients who have turned to Fresh Start Events as they too shift their meeting focus online.
Together, the new contracts have brought in up to £50,000 worth of work Fresh Start Events would have missed out on.
Fresh Start Events director, Marc Gordon, said it is doubtful the firm would have survived the past 12 months if it hadn’t moved into the virtual world.
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“Being honest, I wouldn’t think we would still be here. We had taken on the bounce back loans and had thought the pandemic would all blow over. But it hasn’t.
“Our physical business has gone, and it’s fair to say it is the virtual solution that has saved us.
“The American conference contracts are a huge boost. We delivered a large scale Smart Pharma event in the US in January, and on the back of that work the client awarded another six, including two automotive conferences we’re organising for March.”
The company is also working on a global event for Climate Action Network International involving delegates from Vietnam, Russia, the Philippines and Brazil.
In the coming months Fresh Start Events will also host speakers including Sebastian Coe and Kanye King, founder of the Mobo awards.
The company, launched in 2011 and now one of the 海角视频’s leading organisers of business expos, tradeshows and conferences, is using a new innovative virtual platform called Floor to deliver its online events.
It is able to host conferences, exhibitions, trade and large-scale networking events, product launches, and awards.
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Mr Gordon said: “It has been such a success for us we have now become the platform creator’s 海角视频 partner. The contracts to deliver the new US contracts are the icing on the cake.”
Fresh Start Events is a member of the North East England Chamber of Commerce and works closely with the member organisation’s events team to hosts its Chamber Showcase at the North East Expo every year.
Mr Gordon said: “We plan for July’s event to be held virtually but sincerely hope the autumn one in November is able to be held physically.
“We have completely pivoted our business in the past year and going forward, whilst I can see elements of physical exhibitions coming back, they will be run in parallel with online formats.
“If you think about it, you don’t need to be making a journey by car to London or taking a plane to Paris for an event. We have all realised that we can do things virtually now.”