Providing copy, print, scan services at major, internationally significant, events has become a strong area of expertise for SOS Group.
This year, the Gateshead-based firm will be delivering at almost one major event every week and, as the SOS team are quick to point out, if they can deliver reliable digital office services by a swimming pool or in a field, they can certainly deliver them in a standard work environment.
SOS Group Director, Andrew Skelton, says: “Events are often very high pressure for everyone involved and we certainly thrive on that.
“Providing this kind of service support can range from a few days with just two or three devices, or it can be very involved across multiple sites and requiring up to 117 devices for weeks at a time.
“The logistics involved and client requirements vary enormously but what doesn’t change is the necessity for us to create a strong project plan and then be flexible to adapt this wherever that might be needed.
“Every venue, from international swimming arenas and athletics tracks, to major conference centres, brings with it its own set of challenges and requires very specific and detailed planning.
“Any issue or possible issue encountered will be something we’ve seen and solved before at an event and that certainly translates into a more standard office, service or manufacturing workplace.
“Clients appreciate our ability to problem solve, be that logistics, security, sustainability or cost. That’s that challenge sorted, what’s next?”
Established in 2002, SOS Group facilitates all business and event requirements, including communications and IT, and specialises in providing copy, print, scan solutions for clients from local start-ups to multi nationals.
It has a centralised office on the Team Valley as well as specialist engineers servicing accounts nationally from six regional hubs in London, Scotland, the North West, Midlands, South Yorkshire, South West and North East.
The company, which has achieved both ISO 9001 and ISO 27001, recently provided office services for the Labour Party during the General Election cycle, including local elections, by-elections, Scottish and Welsh conferences, regional conferences, national party forums and an Annual Conference.
In addition, it supported an extremely significant national inquiry and, over the last 12 months, has worked at 21 different locations across the UK to ensure the smooth running of events for clients including British Athletics, Aquatics GB, Swim England, British Taekwondo and the World Orienteering Championships.
For the last six years, SOS Group, has also supported the Riding Disability Association’s (RDA) National Championships at Hartpury University & College in Gloucester.
The biggest disabled equestrian event of its kind, last year’s Championship featured a record number of entries and spectators.
Over three days, RDA participants took part in competition classes from dressage and showjumping to carriage driving, showing, endurance, countryside challenge, best turned out, vaulting and arts and crafts.
Throughout the event, SOS Group provided practical, hands-on technical support and equipment for the busy event administration team.
Clare Prysbet, Head of Fundraising at the Riding Disability Association, says: “Running a show of this scale, with hundreds of competitors and volunteers, is a huge logistical operation.
“We are therefore incredibly grateful for the long-term technical support provided by SOS Group, to help keep the event office running smoothly.”
Andrew adds: “We’re trusted by internationally recognisable names and have previously delivered services at the IAAF World Championships and World Paralympics competitions.
“Ensuring vital office services run smoothly, be that a sporting competition, a major national inquiry or political event, means physically moving a proportion of a client’s office, or an image of that office, and transporting it to another part of the country.
“In the last year, we’ve delivered fully operational services in this way in venues from Aberdeen to Plymouth. Across those events in total, approximately 2.15 million prints were produced for our clients requiring just four service interventions.
“That’s a track record we’re extremely proud of and everything we need to consider in advance of any event, any specific client needs and logistics, that’s all just as relevant within a standard work environment like a hotel, a factory or a school.
“Ultimately, our clients are always assured that their requirements are met exactly and any problems they need to solve, we can provide the solutions.”
For more information, please visit: www.sosgroup-ltd.co.uk