Press Coverage.
Don’t just take our word for it.
Q&A: OPS Account Director Sarah Tew talks sustainability with Vision: 2025
OPS Account Director Sarah Tew leads on environmental sustainability at We Group and is committed to establishing a sustainable business model which ensures the agency can continue to deliver world-class events and experiences.
She recently joined the Vision: 2025 Steering Group, adding her voice to shaping climate action for the live events industry. Here, she shares her insight with Vision: 2025.
The Fair launches behind-the-scenes festival documentary
Our sister agency The Fair released a behind-the-scenes festival documentary, highlighting challenges faced across the industry, and why the events sector deserves further support.
‘It Take A Village’ followed The Fair and We Are OPS teams on site at various festivals throughout the 2023 season, showing just how much hard work goes into producing these invaluable experiences.
StandOut Magazine: 10 years of The Fair
A lot can happen in a decade – especially when it comes to festivals and events…
In the latest edition of StandOut, the WeGroup directors look back on 10 years of The Fair, the growth of We Are OPS, and reveal our exciting plans for the future.
Festival Insights: We Are OPS in the Boiler Room
Looking for some insight on Crowd Safety, Stakeholder Engagement or Accessibility at festivals and events?
Our recent article in Festival Insights explores the importance of these considerations, and how we enabled 20,000 festival goers to dance in the round at Boiler Room’s Burgess Park show, increasing capacity and scale following the success of the one-day event in May.
‘We couldn’t have done it without them’: OPS celebrated for safety at Savour
Our hard work was highlighted in Festival Insights, following our work to safely bring London food festival Savour to life.
“It was also great to have our sister agency We Are OPS by our side. We couldn’t have done it without them there to manage crowd flow and security, audit all 120 traders, and secure the licensing for the entire event.”
OPS shortlisted for AAA Award
We are so excited to announce that We Are Ops has been selected as a finalist for Access All Areas Magazine’s Supplier of the Year Award at the Event Production Awards.
Jan nominated for ‘Unsung Hero’ award
Our shining star Jan has been nominated for an 'Unsung Hero’ award at the Access All Areas Conference & Awards. Jan is The Fair's Events Operations Manager, but has a hand in each of our departments, supporting our Production, Operations and H&S teams. Jan, a huge congrats - what would we do without you!
AAA - in the spotlight: Yasmin Galletti
We Are Ops Director Yasmin Galletti takes the spotlight in this latest Access All Areas Magazine interview.
Yasmin discusses the new female led division of our business We Are Ops, and the issues of diversity and inclusion within the festival industry.
Resident Advisor – UK festivals on ‘cliff edge’ after lockdown delay, says AIF
CEO Nick Morgan & Director Yasmin Galletti featured in this latest article on Resident Advisor.
The WeGroup directors discuss the ramifications that the delay to reopening the festival and events sector has on the industry and supply chains.
AAA - We Are OPS launch
We are very excited to announce the launch of a new division within the We Are The Fair company.
We Are Ops
“A group of senior female staff from production services company We Are The Fair have launched We Are OPS; a new female-led company offering operations services, people management and safety for events.
We Are OPS will act as a stand-alone offering from the team at We Are the Fair and its sister company We Are Placemaking. We Are OPS’s founders said the aim is to address the gender-balance within the industry”
Led by our Director Yasmin Galetti, Health and Safety Advisors Sarah Tew & Francesca Boden & our Operations Manager Jan Rankou. Access All Areas had the exclusive into the new division.
Glastonbury Festival Cancellation ‘Not Indicative’ of Festival Season
The cancellation of Glastonbury Festival will have a short-term impact on the confidence of promoters and consumers, but smaller festivals are far better placed to go ahead this summer, according to We Are The Fair CEO Nick Morgan.
“Glastonbury is not indicative of the festival sector as a whole because it sits in silo,” he says. “It involves more than 20,000 crew who would have to go on site within the next 16 weeks. Just managing that in the current landscape, with the amount of advance work that has to be done, I can’t see how you could possibly do it. Then there is the enormity of 150,000 fans on site, it is a logistical nightmare.”
Music Festivals Call for New Government Scheme as Sector Faces Ruin
Following a live music action plan published on Tuesday by industry body UK Music, the cross-party Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee (DCMS) committee inquiry heard a plea from the sector for the government to offer its own insurance scheme to protect festivals from bankruptcy, as the new pandemic lockdown harms consumer confidence ahead of the summer season.
A Giant Terrarium Christmas Tree Will Light Kings Cross This Winter
This year, King’s Cross will have not one but three elaborate trees. The upmarket Coal Drops Yard shop Botanical Boys has designed The Terrarium Tree, a 28-foot structure made up of 70 little terrariums that will be lit up at night. Each glass orb will house its own micro-garden that will be reflected in the tree’s 168 mirrored baubles. The plan is that the core structure of the tree will be reusable in future and each terrarium will be re-homed in 2021.
Major Events Summit: 2nd December 2020
Figures from the worlds of sport, music and outdoor events will be speaking at the Major Events Summit, taking place online on 2 December.
Among the speakers are Teresa Moore, director of A Greener Festival; Eileen Williams, safety officer at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club; Anton Lockwood, director of DHP Live; Nick Morgan, CEO of We Are The Fair / OPS / We Are Placemaking and Craig Mathie, managing director of Bournemouth 7s festival.
Nick Morgan: A True Champion of the Events Industry
Our CEO Nick Morgan joins Roger Woodall on his latest podcast episode.
“On this week’s episode, I’m talking to a proper events man, a champion of our industry, Nick Morgan.Nick had a similar start in events as I did: organising student events, getting into the nightclub scene and throwing parties right across the UK.Now, with over 23 years of experience, he is CEO of one of the largest independent festival production companies in the UK: delivering festivals and events to over 1 million people per year.Nick’s passion for the events industry is really refreshing, and I hope you get as much out of this chat as I did.”
CEO Nick Morgan on BBC Breakfast
Our CEO Nick Morgan on BBC News discussing the struggle for the event industry. We are really positive for 2021 and are doing our upmost to support and champion the industry to ensure we have a season next year.
Amazing Graze in Baker Street Quarter
We Are Placemaking organised a three day Autumn Food Market in Portland Square Gardens for our client Baker Street Quarter in partnership with Portman Marylebone. OPS provided full Health & Safety and Licensing services for the event which ran from the 22 – 24th September.
The open air market featured wellbeing activities, such as mindfulness practice hosted by the University of Westminster, boxing with BXR, a Beatles Walking Tour and pilates with W1 Physiotherapy & Pilates, to ensure mind as well as body were nourished. Casino Barracuda Club invited visitors to spin their Wheel of Fortune to win a prize and the Wallace Collection showcased some of their armoury artefacts. Kids were catered for too with sporty activities organised by Seymour Leisure Centre.
“We were delighted to work in partnership with Portman Marylebone on Autumn Graze. For us it was an important opportunity to showcase and promote all the area has to offer while providing those working and living locally with a vibrant and safe setting to enjoy” - Baker Street Quarter Chief Executive Penny Alexander
Cambridge Live Interview with OPS Safety Director, Rob Dudley
Who are you and What do you do at The Big Weekend?
I’m Rob Dudley and my role at The Big Weekend is Event Safety Advisor. This involves working with the organisers in advance and during the event to develop, implement and manage site safety for all of the attendees, contractors, performers, suppliers, sponsors, activity organisers and traders who make up the Big Weekend.
What is your occupation outside of The Big Weekend?
I’m Director of Safety for OPS, an award-winning Health & Safety company. So I essentially perform a similar role at a host of other events and festivals up and down the country. Shows such as Gottwood Festival, Bournemouth 7’s, Moseley Folk Festival and Lambeth Fireworks, to name just a few.
How has that changed due to Covid-19?
Dramatically. All of the events we were scheduled to be working at for early to mid-summer 2020 have been postponed. Either to next year or much later this year (although those that have postponed until later this might have to be postponed again – probably until next year). As a result, we’re obviously working from home rather than being out in the field working on site. We’re still working with our clients on their plans for next year, as well as continuing with more office-based tasks such as applying for Licences.
For the full interview, click below.
Over £80,000 Raised for the Big Issue
More than 250 people put their best foot forward for The Big Issue as they took on the Big London Night Walk to raise £80,000 for The Big Issue Foundation (TBIF).
Walkers travelled 25km around the English capital last Friday night – starting and finishing at Shoreditch Town Hall – to mark TBIF’s 25th anniversary.
OPS are incredibly proud to of worked on this event delivering full Health & Safety.
Nick Morgan Elected as BVEP vice Chair
Our CEO Nick Morgan has been elected as a vice chair of the BVEP.
The Business Visits and Events Partnership’s (BVEP) vision is to support sustainable growth for the United Kingdom’s Events Industry. BVEP’s mission is to support growth across the entire sector via advocacy, networking, collaboration and a collective voice.
“I am delighted to become a Vice Chair at BVEP and am keen to represent the outdoor events sector in its efforts to be better recognised at government level. My aspiration is to see the live industry embraced at all levels from authorities to key community stakeholders. Other competitor countries are leading the charge in protecting both their night time economy and live scene and they understand the huge economic contribution the outdoor events industry makes on an annualised basis.”
A Record Height for the Liverpool International Horse Show
“That was the best buzz ever!” exclaimed the 28-year-old from Market Rasen. “It is a dream come true. I didn’t expect him to jump so high in the first round, but once I got on the right spot it was great.”
OPS delivered Health & Safety services for the Liverpool International Horse show 2019, seeing four riders share the honours of jumping 2.21m, a record height for the show.
Health & Safety for Chromotherapy Christmas, Chiltern Street Christmas Festival and Winterfest Wembley
OPS have been supporting our Placemaking team this week delivering H&S for three christmas events across London.
WINTERFEST: Wembley Park’s Winterfest is free to wander through, with a huge light tunnel, halo light towers and a towering Christmas tree.
Until 3 January
Chromotherapy Christmas: Artist team Squidsoup bring a new installation ‘Wave’ to Belgravia. The dangling orbs of light are illuminated on the principles of chromotherapy, meaning that they should promote feelings of wellbeing.
28 November-11 January
Chiltern Street: Marylebone’s Chiltern Street hosts a free entry, one-night only Christmas Festival, with live performances, workshops, and events going on in shops, restaurants and bars. Have a go at creating your own wreath or bespoke Christmas decorations, take part in a mantra art workshop, or master the art of calligraphy. 28th November 5-8pm
A Night of Light at Cambridge Fireworks
Despite the cold and rain, we successfully delivered Health & Safety services for the Cambridge bonfire night and firework display for around 20,000 people on Midsummer Common.
Camp Wildfire: The Wickedest and Wildest Festival with Rifle Shooting, Climbing and Woodland Partying
“The organisation of all of the events was spot on, with a smoother sign-up process in motion.”
Praise from Wellington Heath for El Dorado’s Consideration
Eldorado Festival has been praised for its consideration, when it came down to night-time festivities.
Wellington Heath correspondent, Peter Constantine said: “They turned off the great loudspeakers in the sky that they used last year, and we enjoyed peaceful nights. We hope that the festival goers enjoyed the music and environment as we also enjoyed the peace and quiet.”
7 Reasons Why Gala Is a Contender for the Best New Summer Party
Wonderland magazine tell us why GALA is quickly becoming one of London’s favourite one day festivals.
“Intimacy, convenience and seamless everything at Peckham Rye’s house and techno all-dayer.”