An early decision to choose large outdoor screens as a niche offering proved invaluable to fledgling company Ellievision AV when the pandemic struck less than two years after the business was launched.
Now, buoyant from the repeat business that came from outdoor cinemas and events when social distancing was the norm, Ellievision AV are embarking on a campaign to show what else they have to offer.
Founded in 2018 by Heather Irving and Tim Hannaby, the Milton Keynes company specialises in innovative audio-visual solutions, bringing events to life and delivering something that is truly memorable for the organisers and their guests.
“We were fortunate in a way that we had invested in big screens just before the pandemic happened, when a lot of AV work either ground to a halt or moved online,” said Tim. “It had been a conscious decision to go for something that was growing in popularity for sports events, music festivals, that kind of thing. We wanted screens that were suitable for indoors and outdoors, just to give ourselves options, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions we could have made.
“As a young company, it saved us during Covid, so much so that it became what we were primarily known for. This summer is looking good, especially a busy weekend in May with Coronation events – we’ve had to turn work away that weekend, there’s so much going on – and then lots of bookings for the summer, but it’s also time to start reminding people that we have so much more to offer.”
Heather and Tim built their careers in the corporate market, primarily focusing on awards nights and dinners, kick-off meetings, syndicate rooms, fundraising events and charity evenings. Their Ellievision AV portfolio includes numerous receptions, dinners and charity balls, and the company will be providing the staging for the inaugural Milton Keynes Education Awards, organised by All Things Business, which will take place at the DoubleTree Hilton at Stadium MK on September 22.
Years of experience in making an event a success is invaluable to clients and, regardless of what form the event will take, Ellievision AV’s approach is to offer as many complementary site visits as are needed to ensure Heather, Tim and the team fully understand what the client is looking for.
It’s not just an in-depth knowledge of production technology, but also an eye for the details that ensure that no stone is left unturned and everything is just right before the event goes ahead. That can be anything from facilitating licences for films for a drive-in event or completing the paperwork for a temporary event notice, through to noticing a wobbly table leg that needs rectifying just before guests start to arrive.
“When we’re preparing for an event, I really like to understand what the clients are trying to achieve, what is their audience, what are their expectations and then try to drill down into the detail so that they get something that is exactly what they want,” said Heather.
“Our approach is that we don’t just meet their expectations, we go further than that. And it might not be directly related to AV services. I have contacts in all areas of the events sector, so if a charity needs chair sashes in its brand colour, I’ll probably know someone who can do that for them. If a school is hiring screens for an outdoor cinema fundraiser, we can help with risk assessments. When you’re organising an event, it’s probably not something you do day in, day out. That’s what we do, and we can provide a wealth of experience and advice.”
Networking has helped build links with venues and organisers, and now that in-person events are all but back to normal, it’s time for the Ellievision AV team to push ahead with growth plans.
This summer, the company will be moving into purpose-built premises that will allow it to display AV rigs and equipment so that clients can get a feel for what will work best when they’re planning an event.
“We were fortunate that we were in a position to keep building the business during the pandemic,” said Heather, “and a lot of our work is repeat business, which suggests that we are doing a good job. Yet I still speak to so many people who tell me they’re surprised at the range of equipment and services we offer – now it’s time to go out there and show what we can do.”
Find out more about Ellievision AV on 07790132298, email info@ellievisionav.co.uk or visit their website.
