Gateshead-based office technology company, SOS Group, is on course for its busiest events year to date.
During 2025, the copy, print, scan specialists have already helped ensure the smooth running of 31 sporting and party political events at very different venues across the country, and each and every one has required detailed advance planning.
John Behan, a director at SOS Group, explains: “In the same way that an athlete can’t turn up to the start line of a race without significant training, we can’t arrive at what are often very challenging working environments without substantial preparation.
“While I couldn’t possibly suggest any of the SOS team are in the kind of physical form the incredible sportsmen and women we work with are, the analogy does stand up!
“We need every bit of our experience, commitment and technical know-how to ensure that we can provide the exact service our client requires for their event, no matter if that’s by the side of a swimming pool, in a busy conference venue or a tent in a field.”
Established in 2002, SOS Group is an award-winning office technology company facilitating business requirements across all sectors.
This year, the company is helping deliver at events including the Swim England Open Water National Championships, the Riding Disability Association’s National Championships, the Aquatics GB Diving Championships and Novuna UK Athletics Championships.
John continues: “Some of our clients want a ‘duplicate’ office ready for them on arrival, others have different requirements, but ultimately they all want a seamless operation, no drama, no hassle.
“For every event, we need to test, clean and securely pack, wrap and deliver the devices, with spares and consumables. On site, we have to test thoroughly in advance of the event start time then deliver our services successfully before decommissioning ready to return to base.
“The decommissioning process includes data cleansing as well as the physical side of things, to ensure users haven’t inadvertently stored information on the device memory.
“We recently transitioned our ISO 27001 accreditation to 27001:2022, updating the highly prized IT security accreditation we’ve held since 2020, and that reflects how seriously and securely we treat client data and information.”
This summer, from June to September, SOS Group are covering 17 events at 10 different venues, ranging from one day to two weeks in duration. The largest event requires approximately 50 devices spread over a venue covering 13,000 square metres and, in some cases, specialist transport will be required.
John adds: “The ‘to do’ list ahead of any event is significant and there is always a lot more to consider than transport, although that can sometimes be challenging in itself.
“The environments we work within are hugely varied but our devices need to operate seamlessly and, as a result of them being scrupulously serviced and maintained, they do.
“Our clients are under pressure to deliver their event and need to know they can rely on us 100%. And, if we can do that for clients in a marquee by a running track when it’s pouring with rain, we can certainly be relied upon within more standard work environments.”
SOS Group has grown into an SME that counts multinationals within its established client base and also works closely to support startups and community organisations.
It has a central office on the Team Valley and staff, including specialist engineers servicing accounts nationally from six regional hubs in London, Scotland, the North West, Midlands, South Yorkshire, South West and North East.
For more information, please visit: www.sosgroup-ltd.co.uk