Strata acquires Trinity Event Solutions, the venue procurement and event management agency, cementing its commitment to providing clients with full-service support and delivery.
This latest acquisition boosts Strata’s ambitious growth plans to strengthen and broaden its client offering, adding new divisions and businesses to the group that complement the agency’s already wide-ranging breadth of services.
Founded in 2006 by Jacqui Kavanagh, Trinity Event Solutions is a venue finding agency with extensive experience and a strong customer base in the pharma, legal, financial and retail markets.
Simon Hambley, CEO of Strata, said: “I am incredibly excited and proud to be bringing the amazing Trinity team into the Strata Group family. We have been considering a partnership acquisition in the venue search and management sector for a while, not only to meet growing client needs but to capitalise on an area we haven’t touched on much in the past: Strategic Meetings Management.”
Hambley continued: “We have worked with Jacqui and her team for some time now, and recognised that Trinity’s drive for quality, responsiveness and customer service matched our own. A strong cultural fit and ethos are so important in today’s modern business world that this new partnership feels right. It gives the Strata business access to experienced talent and technology and greater bargaining power and scale, meaning we can go to market and offer strategic meetings management services at volume.”
Jacqui Kavanagh, founder and CEO of Trinity Event Solutions, added: “I have known Simon and the Strata team for many years and have admired their approach and passion for excellence in how they operate their business.
“I am really excited for the Trinity team to become part of the Strata Group, as they truly reflect the cultural values that have underpinned the journey that Trinity has been on for 17 years.”
Trinity Event Solutions prides itself on working as a seamless extension of any team and boasts many long-standing global clients, thanks to its strong client focus and team of experts who have devoted years to forging lasting relationships.
Strata serves its extensive portfolio of clients by offering a broad range of event services, including creative, design, planning and execution expertise, but continued client wins have driven demand for venue search and management. By acquiring Trinity Event Solutions, Strata can further develop an exciting blueprint for its future.
Hambley added: “The timing of this acquisition is set for the true re-emergence of business event planning post-pandemic. The international business meetings markets are forecast to double in size over the next eight years and the winning combination of Strata and Trinity is ideally placed to service the conference, congress and strategic meetings management markets as they hit their stride.”
Tracy Winsworth, MD of Trinity Event Solutions, commented: “The Trinity team and I are ready to grow and take our next step. Joining the Strata Group will accelerate this growth and I am sure our venue sourcing and procurement expertise will strengthen the group’s position in the market and stand it in good stead for the future.”
Strata’s acquisition of Trinity Event Solutions follows its acquisition of On Event Production in April 2023 and more recently, its recent appointment of Caroline Lumgair Wiseman as group head of strategic meeting solutions.
Lumgair Wiseman will work closely with the Trinity Event Solutions team as she has been specifically tasked with helping Strata build a stronger meetings management proposition to directly meet client demand.
EDGE Venues will remain independent and continue to be led by Jacqui Kavanagh. She will maintain collaborative relationships with both Trinity Event Solutions and Strata.
Strata’s Head of Strategic Meetings Management, Caroline Lumgair-Wiseman, recently attended the Dorchester Collection’s Annual Luxury Retreat at Coworth Park in Ascot, an event designed to showcase premier venues to top global planners from the UK and Europe.
The retreat at Coworth Park showcased the diverse facilities and services that exemplify the type of venues we are able to source for our clients. With 244 acres of stunning grounds, luxurious accommodations, extensive event spaces, and unique amenities such as an equestrian centre and wellness programs, Coworth Park serves as a perfect example of an exemplary luxury venue.
At Strata, we prioritise aligning venue selection with our clients’ specific briefs and strategic objectives. Our comprehensive approach involves thoroughly understanding the unique requirements of each client and event, from the desired atmosphere and amenities to logistical needs and budget constraints. This ensures that every venue we propose not only meets but exceeds our clients’ expectations.
Strata’s venue sourcing & event management services go beyond venue recommendations. We offer a full suite of solutions designed to optimise every aspect of event planning and execution:
– Venue Sourcing and Customisation: We identify and secure venues that perfectly fit the client’s brief, negotiating the best terms and customising the space to meet specific needs. As well as working closely with hotels and venues, we also offer destination advice, collaborating closely with trusted partners around the world.
– Program Design and Planning: We develop detailed event plans that align with the client’s strategic goals, ensuring each element supports the overall purpose.
– Logistics Management: We handle all logistics, including transportation, accommodations, and on-site coordination, to ensure a seamless experience.
– Cost Optimisation: We implement strategies to maximize the return on investment, ensuring that every event is both impactful and cost-effective.
Our team of experts is dedicated to enhancing the client experience by providing personalised service and tailored solutions. We work closely with clients to understand their vision and deliver events that are memorable and effective.
By attending events like the Dorchester Collection’s Luxury Retreat, Strata remains well-informed about the latest industry trends and innovations. This allows us to continually refine our offerings and provide our clients with cutting-edge solutions that drive human engagement while optimising business success.
This event was a strategic client event attended by all of the collection’s hotels who presented memorable stories to the group at dinner. The activities provided valuable time to build relationships and learn more about the group’s landmark hotels and their home destinations.
For a strategic partner that ensures your venue fits your brief and delivers exceptional value, get in touch. Our expertise can help bring your brand closer to your audiences, creating impactful and unforgettable moments that matter.
Endellion King joins Strata as Head of Incentives to develop the organisation’s in-house incentive offering further.
Strata, the award-winning brand experience agency, has appointed Endellion King as Head of Incentives, tasked with further developing and growing the organisation’s in-house incentive offering.
King’s appointment is the result of significant client growth and a continued demand for a creative and bespoke reward and recognition and incentive offering.
King has over 15 years of experience in the live events industry and joins Strata from Top Banana, part of the TBA Group, where he was Director of Reward and Recognition. His previous experience has seen him enjoy various event and operational roles at Crown, before Crown became part of Strata, and AddingValue.
Simon Hambley, CEO of Strata, said of King’s appointment: “I have worked alongside Endellion in a previous role, so I’m thrilled he’s joining us. With the launch of Sherbet and the increasing demand from clients for bigger, better and more creative incentive events, there is no better person to head up our incentive team than Endellion. He lives and breathes incentives and is incredibly passionate about his work. He is an exciting addition to our team, someone who will champion the value of incentives and the capabilities within Strata to our clients.”
King said: “Strata has entered an incredibly interesting and exciting period of growth and so I am thrilled to be joining at this time.
“The incentives industry is changing constantly, and clients are seeking fresh and innovative ways to incentivise their teams all the time.
“In my new role, I’m looking forward to collaborating with the wider Strata team, to progress their forward-thinking approaches to live events, incentives, rewards and recognition and to enhance their already impressive offering. With the recent launch of Sherbet, and its exponential growth, the timing couldn’t be more perfect.”
King will take over the role previously held by Mike Parrott, who will be moving over to become Managing Director of Sherbet, a brand new rewards and recognition platform, which sits within the Strata Group.
With the launch of Sherbet, and the acquisition of Endellion, Strata’s ability to offer clients added value is further strengthened through their offering of end-to-end support with client’s rewards and recognition delivery.
Strata, the award-winning brand experience agency, has appointed Matt Cole as Executive Creative Director. Matt has been brought in to further Strata’s in-house creative offering.
On his appointment, Matt said, “I’ll be building and leading a team of creatives and designers to collaborate with production and strategy in conceptualising and realising brand-defining moments for our clients across every touch point from content development through to event design and post-event engagement.”
“In an environment where audiences are overwhelmed with brand communications when so much of it fails to land or create genuine, emotional engagement, the passion of the team at Strata to create enduring, personal memories, tangible moments of wonder, is something I’m inspired by and excited to be a part of.”
Giles Cattle, Director of Strategy, Creative and Business Development at Strata, said of Matt’s appointment: “We are thrilled to have Matt join our team here at Strata as our new Executive Creative Director. His track record of designing award-winning creative, campaignable, content across multiple channels fits perfectly with our aim to help brands get closer to their audiences through integrated brand experiences.”
Driving engagement with your people, partners and customers through live events and experiences.
In an era marked by remote work and digital dominance, the sheer volume of digital communication has created an immunity and disconnect to the messages that brands are trying to convey.
So how can brands authentically connect and engage with their people, partners and customers?
We brought together speakers from Clifford Chance, Atom bank, Stellantis, Intel, and scarlettabbott to explore how to reinvent live events and experiences that truly build brands from the inside out.
Find our key takeaways here…
Make Me Care, The Power of Employee Advocacy
Jeremy Petty, CEO of scarlettabbott, discussed the critical role of employee engagement in enhancing organisational performance. He emphasised that employees’ feelings towards their employer significantly influence their work and loyalty. Highlighting the importance of internal brand connection, he advocates for storytelling and authenticity to build a genuine brand culture. Jeremy underscores the necessity of listening to employees for insights and ensuring their wellbeing as foundational for engagement. Through examples like Oxfam and Tommy Hilfiger, he illustrated successful strategies for fostering brand advocacy from within.
The final point in the keynote was the importance of sustained effort in maintaining engagement and advocacy among employees.
“Tell the story, get people excited about it. But then continue that drumbeat of storytelling over the next 6-12 months.”
Strategies for Internal Communications to Engage a Global Audience
Effective internal communication in a global, hybrid, and changing corporate environment requires consistency, inclusivity, and the ability to celebrate past achievements while looking forward. Tailoring messages to different groups, empowering line managers, and using a variety of communication channels are all part of a successful strategy.
Engaging events that honour the organisation’s history can also play a significant role in smoothing transitions during mergers and acquisitions.
“Don’t deny what has been, actually think about celebrating it and help people on the journey throughout.” – Paul Osgood, Clifford Chance.
How to Navigate Budgets while Engaging Internal Audiences and Partners
Overall, the discussion emphasised the importance of creativity, transparency, and strategic planning in overcoming budget challenges while ensuring effective engagement with audiences and partners.
“Keep focusing on the ‘Why’ are you doing that event and get to the point where you are able to articulate that ROI back to the company, even in a time of budget constraints, it’s amazing how you can find pockets of budget that will enable you to do what you’re hoping to do.” – Elaine Cook, Intel
How Important is the New and Evolving Role of the Internal Influencer?
In summary, encouraging employees to champion the brand enhances morale and brand perception through cross-functional influence and specialist networks. Leveraging internal comms strategies and technology for engagement and advocacy creates a cohesive and motivated workforce.
“…the thing that was so so exciting was being in the lift on Monday morning listening to people say, I’m so proud to be a part of this organisation.” – Paul Osgood, Clifford Chance
How to Build a Brand Internally Through Technology & Communication Platforms
These insights highlight the evolving landscape of internal communication, emphasising the need for strategic, inclusive, and engaging approaches to sustain and build brand identity and culture in a digitally connected world.
“Sometimes you’ve got to be cruel to be kind. And that is to say, keep this piece of content exclusively for this channel, and funnily enough, people will watch it, they will get a consistent experience, and Bob’s your uncle.” – Paul Osgood, Clifford Chance
What Internal Communication Strategies are Essential for Effectively Scaling a Business?
An emphasis on the importance of transparent communication, strong leadership, and a supportive culture in effectively managing internal communications during the scaling of a business.
“Have the culture in place and people can make the right decisions… let people find their own way – Elaine Cook, Intel
How to Manage Your People in Times of Change
The discussion emphasised the need for strategic communication, empathetic leadership, and a deep understanding of individual experiences of change. These elements are crucial for maintaining motivation, alignment, and resilience among employees during uncertain times.
“You’ve got to have a leader who is honest, who’s transparent, who you actually believe is invested in the business, and that they’re not just there for a short space of time.” – Andrew Curley, Stellantis
What Metrics Should We Use to Effectively Measure the Success of Internal Branding Efforts?
The conversations underscored the complexity of measuring the success of internal branding efforts, highlighting the need for a mix of quantitative and qualitative metrics. They also stress the importance of investing in measurement strategies to justify and inform ongoing and future initiatives, ensuring that internal branding efforts are effectively contributing to organisational growth and employee engagement.
“…what’s the understanding of the strategy? What’s the view pre-event, during the event, and post-event? Then we can start to tell a story about how we’re not just demonstrating ROI, but taking people on a journey.” – Jeremy Petty, scarlettabbott
How Can We Create Meaningful Connections Internally?
The discussion covered an approach to fostering meaningful connections within the organisation, blending direct involvement from leadership with opportunities for employees to be actively engaged and recognised for their contributions. This combination of commitment from the top down and active participation from the ground up is effective in creating a more connected and motivated workforce.
“Ultimately, the test in training your sales force is… do you hit your sales goals?” – Elaine Cook, Intel
Winning in the World of Incentives
Mike Parrott, Head of Performance Improvement & Incentives, emphasises hyper-personalisation as the key to the future of employee incentives. He highlights that adding AI into the mix changes the game, making it possible to motivate employees more effectively. The future of incentives involves using technology not as a distant overseer but as a personal coach that helps employees understand their progress and what they need to do next, tailored to their individual situations.
This personalised attention is crucial in a world where work and personal life are increasingly blended, and traditional methods of engagement may fall short. By focusing on the individual and employing advanced technology, organisations can significantly boost motivation and performance.
Strata appoints Caroline Lumgair Wiseman as Group Head of Strategic Meeting Solutions, a new position created to develop Strata’s Strategic Meetings Management (SMM) offering.
Lumgair Wiseman has specifically been tasked with helping Strata to build a stronger meetings management proposition to directly meet client demand. In her new role, she will draw upon her extensive experience in global venue sourcing, event management, and high-end experience design, advising clients on all aspects of event strategy and working within the wider group, devising future growth plans.
Simon Hambley, CEO of Strata, said of Lumgair Wiseman’s appointment: “Caroline is a well-known and respected figure to many in the industry and I’m delighted she’s chosen to join Strata. She has considerable experience in the world of events, which I have no doubt she will bring to Strata at such an important time for the business.”
Hambley continued: “Strata has long held the ambition to be in the Strategic Meetings Management (SMM) space, supporting clients such as Allergan and Dentons with their global programmes helping them to make the most effective use of their spend and resources on their meetings and events programming. Caroline’s global experience, industry connections and entrepreneurial mindset enable us to put all the right elements in place to operate in this space, on a global scale.”
On her appointment, Lumgair Wiseman said: “I have a huge amount of respect for Simon and all that he and his team have achieved at Strata. Ambitious plans are in place for future growth and I’m honoured to be included in the team and excited to get to work to help deliver on those goals. I’m looking forward to collaborating and contributing to the ongoing success and evolution of Strata, as the company continues to excel in this innovative industry.”
We have announced several high-profile senior appointments this year, including Kevin Robinson as group head of strategic accounts and Phil Staines as chief of staff.
Strata was lucky enough to #inspireinclusion with micebook on International Women’s Day 2024.
On March 8th, 2024, micebook presented their third annual IWD event. As we champion a more inclusive world, we had the privilege of being part of this event, fostering discussions that able us to understand and appreciate women’s inclusion within the events industry and beyond.
The day was filled with engaging discussions, shared experiences and a better understanding of the importance of diverse topics. We left feeling inspired and empowered.
These were our key takeaways…
Inclusion has come a long way but some way to go.
Inclusion has undoubtedly made strides in recent years, but there remains significant ground to cover in the journey toward gender equality. While policies and initiatives have been implemented to promote diversity and inclusion, there still hinders problems within the wider industry, of gender pay gaps and underrepresentation in leadership roles.
Despite the progress made, achieving true inclusions requires ongoing commitment, advocacy, and collective action to dismantle barriers and create inclusive environments where all individuals, regardless of gender, can thrive and contribute fully to the company they represent.
Men need to be part of the conversation too.
Women simply can’t do it alone; men need to be involved in the fight for gender equality. Involving men in discussions about gender equality can form a deeper understanding of the challenges women face and encourage empathy and solidarity. By engaging men as allies, we can break down stereotypes.
James Coomber, Leadership Coach and Facilitator, shared his thoughts on how men can, genuinely support their female colleagues:
Listen Actively: Be present, and truly hear the experiences and concerns of female colleagues.
Educate and Grow: Engage with resources on gender issues and really understand the issue.
Speak with Care: Address any form of discrimination or inappropriate behaviour you come across sensibly.
Be an advocate for women: Speak up for women, be their voice when they are not there and celebrate their successes
Challenge the Status Quo: Consciously and openly work against outdated norms.
Seek Feedback: Nobody’s perfect. Be open to feedback and learn from mistakes.
Facing imposter syndrome
Imposter syndrome often weighs particularly heavy on the shoulders of women navigating professional careers. Although more than half of women (54%) feel they have experienced imposter syndrome, compared with just 38% of men, it still shows the importance of fostering inclusive environments that champion diversity and validate all individuals, regardless of gender. By acknowledging and addressing imposter syndrome head-on, we can create a culture of empowerment and support, enabling both men and women to thrive.
The events world is heavily dominated by women but is it in upper management?
Despite making up 75% of the event industry, women remain underrepresented in top leadership positions, accounting for less than 20%, as highlighted in the IBTM Event Management Gender Equality Report 2022. This underscores the pressing need for concerted efforts to dismantle barriers and foster inclusivity, ensuring that all voices are not only heard but also empowered to lead.
While progress has been made, with 1 in 4 women holding c-suite roles, it’s also crucial to note that only 1 in 16 of these are women of colour. Clearly, there is some work to do.
The impact of tech on our lives
Keynote speaker Elaine Kasket discussed the impact technology can have on our daily lives and mental health; advising attendees to shift their focus from merely measuring the duration of their phone and social media usage to assessing the impact of their activities on their stress levels.
While acknowledging the positive benefits that technology and AI can provide in being both connective and responding. Kasket highlights that only we as humans have the power to form true connections.
Everyone needs to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
A huge thank you to micebook for organising an exceptional International Women’s Day Event. Your dedication to celebrating and amplifying the voices of women in the industry is commendable and deeply appreciated. We look forward to next year!
Featured image credit: micebook.
Strata, the award-winning brand experience agency, has designed and developed a bespoke rewards and recognition platform. Called Sherbet, the proprietary technology product has been developed by Strata’s in-house team of experts who have a deep understanding of product innovation and the agency and incentive markets.
Sherbet will strengthen Strata’s portfolio of reward, recognition and retention programmes, expanding the agency’s ability to deliver clients more value-added benefits.
The platform is the culmination of almost two years of work led by Mike Parrott, a veteran of incentive and rewards programmes and Head of Performance Improvement & Incentives at Strata.
He said: “What’s different about Sherbet is that it has been built from scratch, starting with a clean sheet of paper. We were able to rethink what a rewards and recognition platform should be and that has resulted in some unbelievably exciting results. The technology combines a perfect blend of calculation algorithms and AI to truly influence the behaviours for success at a uniquely individual user level. It’s perfectly structured to enable businesses to self-service their campaigns with speed and ease, ensuring cost of delivery can be at its lowest, whilst impact on company performance is at its highest. The potential of our platform is incredible and will disrupt the traditional rewards and recognition market.”
Strata has invested considerable time and resources into Sherbet, therefore, a dedicated team will harness the platform’s capabilities and operate as a separate division within the growing Strata Group.
Sherbet will strengthen Strata’s position within the market as a single touchpoint agency that can deliver a full-service offering to clients.
Simon Hambley, CEO of Strata, said: “Developing and launching a whole new service offering and division isn’t easy but it’s hugely exciting for the business.
“Sherbet’s development is perfectly timed and sits within our ambitious plans and company vision. We want to continue striving for our clients, developing ideas and products that help them achieve their goals. We want our clients to see us as the leader in our field, driving maximum value and ROI from their budgets.”
Hambley continued: “In today’s competitive marketplace, recognition and retention is harder than ever but that’s where Sherbet can help and why it’s been developed.
“We saw a need for a full end-to-end performance improvement product that was both user- friendly and affordable, so we took the opportunity to talk with clients and build a solution that meets the needs of our customers.
“Furthermore, Strata continues to grow through innovation as well as acquisition and that puts us in an advantageous position.
“Innovation is vital if we are to continue to keep our place at the top table and meet the opportunity of growth in live events that is forecast over the next five years,” Hambley continued.
Thanks to micebook, Event Industry News, and StandOut Magazine for their press coverage on this. To view the coverage, follow the links below.
Brand experience agency Strata has launched a specialist automotive division, dedicated to meeting the growing needs of its extensive automotive client portfolio, which includes brands such as Lotus, Renault, Alfa Romeo, Citroën, Fiat, Jeep, Peugeot and Vauxhall.
Paul Banham has been appointed group head of automotive and will head up the new division, reporting to Cole Mulkerrins, Strata’s director of client services.
Strata said the division has been launched in direct response to increasing client demand for instant and consistent support and specialist services, strengthening its reputation as agency of choice in the automotive sector.
“We have a long history of working within the automotive sector, with a highly experienced team delivering automotive events and brand experience campaigns,” Banham explained.
“We are bringing this experience into one group to create a division solely focused on the automotive industry that provides our clients with focused experience and expertise, offering deep knowledge and understanding of their sector.
The creation of the automotive division enables the team to immerse itself deeper into the industry, providing clients with a deeper sense of value-add.”
Mulkerrins added: “We have had automotive experts entrenched within our organisation for years, but the creation of this dedicated automotive division cements our intentions as an agency. It gives our clients assurances that their accounts are being managed by the brightest minds, who understand the world of automotive and are devoted to delivering moments that matter for the client.
“The creation of the new division also bolsters our position in the marketplace as an agency that is on an upward trajectory. I’m really looking forward to growing the division, working with Paul and the wider team to develop our offering and to increase our visibility within the automotive sector.”
Thanks to micebook, Event Industry News, Prestige Events Magazine and StandOut Magazine for their press coverage on this. To view the coverage, follow the links below.
Every brand touchpoint is a moment that matters. A chance to strengthen your message with clarity and relevance. To make your audience feel like they're part of something extraordinary, get in touch.
