Martyn Blunt's Podcasts

✋ Hands up if you know the birthplace of British aviation?

 It’s Farnborough International, home of the world-famous airshow and a venue with a story unlike any other.

For the latest episode of the Goose podcast, our CEO, Martyn Blunt, sat down with Lucy Spensley, Head of Venues at Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre, to explore how this iconic destination has evolved beyond its aviation roots to become one of the UK's most versatile event spaces.

While many people know Farnborough for its rich aviation heritage, they may be surprised by just how much the venue has to offer:

- Exceptionally well connected, with easy access by both road and rail

- Flexible spaces that can accommodate everything from a 10-person board meeting to conferences and exhibitions for up to 3,500 attendees

- Extensive branding and customisation opportunities, with multiple entrances and the ability to scale spaces to suit your event

-  A genuinely relationship-led team focused on delivering exceptional experiences for clients and delegates

- A truly unique location, right alongside the runway, where aviation history is woven into the fabric of the venue

- The space, security and operational flexibility that large-scale events demand

And if you’re worried about the sound of your event being drowned-out by the noise of aircraft passing overhead, don’t be! Soundproofing takes care of all that 😊

Tune in to hear how Farnborough International continues to combine world-class event facilities with a heritage that's impossible to replicate.

#CorporateEvents #EventVenues #FarnboroughInternational #EventProfs #Podcast 

What do a cabbage patch, 181 years of sporting history, and 2,000 corporate events a year have in common?

The Kia Oval!

One of the UK's most iconic sporting venues has evolved from its humble beginnings to the Home of Surrey County Cricket Club AND a world-class destination for meetings, conferences, exhibitions and gala dinners.

 With floor-to-ceiling views overlooking the famous pitch, London's skyline as a backdrop, and event spaces for everything from intimate meetings of two to large-scale gatherings of 700, it's a venue with a story to tell.

And perhaps the biggest draw? Hosting your conference in the morning and enjoying a live cricket fixture in the evening.

Tune in for this conversation which talks about heritage, innovation, and why great events are about much more than the four walls they're held in.

#CorporateEvents #EventVenues #KiaOval #EventProfs #Podcast

Seen “Succession” and think you know what an Investor Day is all about?

We caught up with Ben Pearson at Investor Relations experts Q4 about different approaches to IR, trends, regulatory considerations, and the impact of the pandemic in championing creativity and the transformational use of technology. Have a listen!

Tracy Jacobs of Essential Entertainment was there at the birth of corporate entertainment. @Martyn and Tracy go way back and the latest in his podcast series looks at Tracy’s insight on the importance of research and asking questions so that the right tone is achieved with an event’s personality, vibrancy and engagement. Booking entertainment direct online without doing the due diligence is a recipe for disaster. Agents like Tracy are worth their weight in gold. Hear more about why!

www.essential-entertainment.com

The event industry – Accessibility – insight from Phab

 The charity, Phab, inspires and supports disabled and non-disabled children, young people and adults to make more of life together. 

 @Martyn recently caught up with Mik Scarlet – Co-CEO of the charity – to get his thoughts on best practice, whether the event industry does enough to support accessibility, and the importance of changing how we think and achieving a consistent approach. 

 Need practical support to help create accessible events?  Phab offer access audits, consultancy and training. www.phab.org.uk 

Bringing us full circle, episode 4 of our sustainability podcast series is all about how Event Cycle are identifying recycling, repurposing and redistribution routes for leftover event materials with charities, community groups and social enterprises.

Working with agencies, suppliers, and clients and engaging at any stage of the event process with a view to repurposing everything from stationery to scaffolding, their experience is diverse to say the least. Hear more about how their practical solutions and how you can get involved!

Listen to earlier podcasts within the series here.

Visit www.eventcycle.org if you’re a charity or community group wishing to sign-up with Event Cycle or email: [email protected] to discuss placing items or to explore how Event Cycle can support you with social integration into your policies

We head to the home of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix for episode 3 of our sustainability podcast series.   As Silverstone's Head of Business Sustainability & Partnerships, Stephane Bazire talks to us about the home of British motorsport’s Shift to Zero strategy as they work to embed sustainability into every aspect of the supply chain and the business’ diversification beyond motorsport. We cover the importance of executive team buy-in and some examples of quick wins that have helped to ensure stakeholder commitment. Have a listen!

 For episode 1 of our short series of podcasts on sustainability in the events industry we talked about the importance of measurement with isla (catch-up here), and for episode 2 we caught up with Creative Technology on how it’s the people rather than the tech who make the difference (catch-up here).

For episode 1 of our short series of podcasts on sustainability in the events industry we talked about the importance of measurement with isla (catch-up here). 

 For episode 2, we caught up with Marc Butterworth who is Director of Operations at Creative Technology here in the UK. 

From the strategic to the practical, we explore how, as industry pioneers, it’s actually the people rather than the tech who make the difference. By investing in people coming into the industry, CT are able to not only stay dynamic, but are also seeing a cultural shift with younger people keen to make a difference. We also discuss the simple, practical measures they take in their day-to-day operations too – good for the planet but also good for the business.

Organisations referenced in the podcast include:

• https://crisppacketproject.com
• https://www.upcycledmedical.com
• https://www.eventcycle.org

We check in again with isla - The organisation that works with event agencies and brands, organisers and suppliers providing practical guidance and support on environmental issues.

This time Martyn talks with Ellie Ashton-Melia,  Community Lead  at isla who explains the progress made since the last podcast two years ago and looks to the future. 

Ellie explains why measurement is a crucial tool as we create more sustainable events and brings us up to date with the latest solutions  that isla have to support the industry.

This is the first in a short series of podcasts featuring  sustainability in the event industry.  Further episodes with an event suppliers, venues and others follow later in September 2023.

 I started my broadcast career at Radio Mercury in the south of England in the mid 80's.   

My former colleagues at Radio Mercury, others working in Radio in the 80’s and 90’s and any listeners from that era and those interested in Independent Local Radio of the 80's  may like to listen here to a recording of an April Fool that was broadcast with the help of Richard Branson on Mercury - 1st April 1987.  

I re-post it 35 years on as a nostalgic look back to a very happy time with many friends.