Showsec is the preferred crowd management partner at many of the UK’s highest profile festivals, tours and one off concerts. Working with international and local promoters, venues, artist’s management and authorities to protect the assets, safety and enable enjoyable events for all concerned. Recent gigs have included Hyde Park summer events (Nelson Mandela’s 46664 charity concert, Hard Rock Calling and the 02 Wireless Festivals), Download, Bestival and Rockness, the Madonna, Oasis and Queen tours, whilst also maintaining a strong presence at small and mid sized venues. Experience of securing such a diverse range of events means they understand different audience demographics and can tailor their approach accordingly. Their range of personnel includes security management consultants, specialist pit teams, search and entry lane teams and barrier system design expertise.

Showsec’s research department helps them to assess risks, develop effective strategies and raise standards, also working with trade bodies such as the PSA and UKCMA to increase the industries understanding of this evolving discipline.

Pictured: A view of the stage at the Live8 global charity concert.

Showsec manages the security and crowd management at over 200 UK venues.

Showsec has developed long term relationships with venues, working as a strategic part of the management team to create secure buildings, where good customer service is paramount.

Showsec’s experience at a wide range of events makes it easier for venues to host a varied range of events and audiences, implementing bespoke crowd management plans effectively, with a consistent team.

The Company’s client focused approach is applied in award winning arenas, student unions, sports grounds and theatres. Polite, friendly communication from  Showsec staff give venues confidence in deploying them as their ambassadors, being the first and most consistent point of contact for audiences from tens to tens of thousands.

All of our staff are appropriately trained and licensed to implement robust security procedures. We also often train the venues own staff, so that there is a seamless understanding and implementation of operational procedures.
 
Pictured: The Roundhouse, Camden, London

Showsec supplies bespoke crowd management packages tailored to the individual requirements of clients, removing the stress and assisting the development of the event or venue to match clients’ aspirations. As the leading crowd management specialist, Showsec has the experience and expertise to plan and implement all the elements of successful event security including emergency services liaison, ingress and egress, pit team requirements, stewarding numbers and much more.

With experienced, qualified managers to oversee the implementation of the crowd management plan on site, each event or venue will benefit from a carefully organised infrastructure of security professionals to follow and, where needed, adapt plans throughout its duration.

Many organisations ask Showsec to provide specific elements of their service, from writing risk assessments, method statements, contingency and operational plans. Showsec provides consultancy services for license applications.

Pictured (l-r): Simon Battersby, John Hadland, Steve Reynolds and Roy Wise at BBC Radio One's Big Weekend.

Demand for Showsec’s international services has increased, as international promoters have been impressed by the company’s ability to provide high level training and support for local supply partners, often in developing markets.

The company provides consultancy to international events which may not have the experience with rock and pop concerts that Showsec has developed in the UK, or who simply need high quality reinforcement from one of Europe’s recognised leaders in crowd management. Its management teams can draw up event security plans and train teams in all disciplines of concert and festival security, including front of house pit teams.

Recent clients and events have included Desert Rocks, Dubai, B’estfest and other concerts in Romania, the MTV Awards and Lowlands Festival in Holland.

Pictured: A view of the stage at the Dubai Desert Rock festival, Dubai, UAE.

From in-house security partnerships with Premiership football clubs to major one-off international sporting events, Showsec excels at offering the most comprehensive range of security services to major sporting events from monitoring fans on grandstands to VVIP close protection. This includes overall management, health and safety consultancy and stewarding teams for sports ranging from football and horse racing to ice hockey and Formula 1.

The company was official security partner for The Commonwealth Games 2002 in Manchester, planning a security and stewarding operation involving several thousand employees and volunteers over many weeks. Planning the operation with the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, the local authority, police and other emergency services, Showsec developed extensive understanding of sporting event security, budgetary controls and asset protection. Showsec staff were the public face of the competition, offering a friendly, efficient welcome to international visitors whether they were athletes, VIPs, officials or members of the audience.

This understanding extends into other areas of Showsec’s sporting work, including providing security to Manchester City Football Club, Leeds Football Club and others. The company is crowd management partner at a number of race-courses including Nottingham, Market Rasen and Huntingdon. In addition, Showsec recently planned and operated a complex security operation for the successful FINA World Swimming Championships at the MEN Arena, Manchester.

Pictured: The Showsec team at the 2008 FINA World Swimming championships.

When it comes to providing teams for conferences at every level, Showsec has demonstrated its dedication to improving the customer experience. 

Its trained staff put an emphasis on friendliness and efficiency as they undertake the procedures required by the client, whether that be airport-style security, delegate verification procedures. 

The company is security partner to a number of high profile conferences and corporate events including the International Sporting Event Management and Security Conference (ISEMS), the International Live Music Conference (ILMC) and The Association of Exhibition Awards (AEO) Awards.

Showsec’s growing reputation in the exhibitions market stems from a service focused approach coupled with a willingness to implement new initiatives that take in the individual needs of organisers, exhibitors and visitors.

Vigilance coupled with high levels of customer service are applied at all times. From securing the venue during the build, whilst many different contractors are on site, Showsec staff display professionalism through the duration of the show and out of hours, protecting exhibition stand assets and diligently watching for theft and people entering restricted areas without authorisation. They will also familiarise themselves with the venues plan so that they can assist people around often difficult to navigate exhibition layouts.

Recent projects include the popular six month long Dr Who exhibition at Earls Court, London which welcomed about 100,000 visitors between April and September 2008. The venue had such faith in the company that it entrusted Showsec teams with customer – facing enquiries and feedback.

Pictured: Jon-Lee Trotman lends a helping hand.

Showsec’s depth of experience in the award sector has steamed from securing high profile music related award ceremonies such as The Brit Awards, MTV Europe and the World Music Awards. Personal relationships with key people, respect, proven experience and specialist training combine to prepare them for the unique challenges the awards environment presents. Showsec coordinate with the personal security of individual artists and understand the pressure placed on VIPs on the red carpet due to the high level of scrutiny, whilst also looking after the needs of the media focused on high profile awards. Post award celebrations are handled sensitively as the evening area often needs to be cleared and transformed into the night time party.

Showsec’s expertise can be taken to any international location. A management consultancy team will embed themselves in the organisers production any where in the world. Security plans written to suit the particular awards event and training delivered to local partners in the country that the awards are hosted, accounting for any cultural differences or specific traditions. This also allows security teams to become familiar with the venue, its layout and emergency procedures so they can provide high levels of customer service in a safe environment.

Showsec plays an integral part in the diligent preparation process for many kinds of event. Its management consultants are well versed in the careful planning required for a successful event and will work with clients to consider all eventualities. They produce comprehensive risk assessment documents that can guide the organisers, external bodies and authorities through potential pitfalls.

Showsec works closely with event and venue managers to write thorough risk assessments which consider any factors that may affect the event. Learning from vast experience, factors such as the type of event, audience profile, artist profile, venue facilities, topography, local transport and volume of visitors will all be considered, to create a complete crowd management solution.