Event management business plans for growth with £25,000 injection

A live event management business is making the most of lifted restrictions in the sector after securing a £250,000 finance package.

Birmingham-based Lemonzest Events, which operates from the OYO Business Park in Castle Vale, has used the six-figure loan from Lloyds Bank to expand its service offering for clients.

The business has also adapted to meet heightened demand for virtual events, by creating a dedicated 8×5 metre studio area where clients can stage both live and pre-recorded digital events.

Following a challenging 18 months for the business, when the pandemic put a stop to live events right across the country, Lemonzest Events says it has recently seen a strong recovery in demand for its services.

Lemonzest Events typically hosts more than 100 live events each year, from large-scale awards dinners and professional conferences, through to catwalk fashion shows and interactive exhibitions.

Its customer base comes from a range of sectors including sport, financial services, retail, and charities.

Co-founder and commercial director Louise Connor said: “The impact of Covid-19 on our industry has been nothing short of catastrophic, but we’re now entering a new and more determined phase of recovery. The pace of live event bookings is beginning to accelerate and for many people, their appetite and confidence to re-join events and experiences on a large scale is increasing.

“The support we’ve had from Lloyds Bank has been outstanding. The team has been supportive and provided the finance we needed to help us get through lockdown and prepare for the reawakening of the live events calendar. My own colleagues here have also worked tirelessly throughout this very challenging period and I couldn’t be prouder of their commitment.”

Lemonzest Events was established in 2012 by Connor and her business partner Paul Needham. Having furloughed most of its employees during the height of the pandemic, the firm has now brought its seven-strong team back to work and has ambitions to increase headcount in the future, as the pace for new live bookings continues to accelerate.

Paul Kowaski, business banking manager at Lloyds Bank, said: “Live events are such an important part of life, helping to bring culture and shared experiences to so many. And now, after a prolonged period of cancellations, restrictions, and challenges that have blighted the sector, its finally time for the spotlight to shine on in-person events once again.

“Hosting large-scale events creates a ripple effect for employment and consumer spending and sustains employment for a whole host of people – including truckers and ticket sellers, caterers and staging crews, sound and lighting technicians, make up and costumes and hotels and hospitality. Local firms like Lemonzest Events are playing a significant role in this supply chain and we will continue to be by their side as they build back growth.”