Star Hire's event safety drive
By Cathy Steel, Manchester Chamber of Commerce
A COMPANY in Manchester is taking centre stage in the drive to improve safety standards at major spectator events.
Staff from Star Hire, a national supplier of mobile stages, are being called on by those regulating the events and entertainment industry to advise on safety issues.
The company, based in Bedford with an administrative office in Princess Street, is drawing on its 25 years' experience providing specialist services to indoor and outdoor events to help the industry shake off its "cowboy" image.
It has helped performers such as Aerosmith, Stereophonics and classical singer Andrea Bocelli take to the stage.
The company also provides VerTech stages and structures for World Wrestling Federation bouts and has worked on the Top of the Pops Awards. Internationally, Star Hire mounted a huge cinema screen in Madrid for the European launch of the Hollywood blockbuster Armageddon.
The company is also well-known for its product development and innovation. Technical director Roger Barrett developed the first purpose-built mobile stage - known as the StarStage.
Sales and projects manager Peter Holdich said: "We have been involved in the business a long time and in recent years have been pushing forward on health and safety as well as training initiatives. We sit on various committees offering guidance, and are active members of the major industry body, the Production Services Association. We have also recently received Investors in People accreditation. We want to get rid of the cowboys and make sure events are as safe as they can be."
He added: "Our core business is music orientated, but we also get involved in other promotional and even religious events."
The company's links to the music world made Manchester the first choice for its admin base, established three years ago. "Manchester is such a prime centre for the music industry, it made sense to set up an office here. There is also a large number of music industry freelance workers in the area whose expertise we can draw on," Peter explained.
He is also hoping their location will enable Star Hire to play a role in the events surrounding the Commonwealth Games. "We set up the stage for the launch ceremony in Manchester, so we're hopeful we may be involved with the games themselves."
Manchester Car Hire Articles
A new drive to cut premiums
MOTORISTS in Manchester are still paying more than twice the national average for motor insurance.
Babies to boom in skip hire
KATY ATTWOOD is out to bin the cowboy image of skip-hire firms.
Car insurance is driven down
AN insurance "price war" is paying dividends for motorists in Manchester after five years of paying premiums way above the national average.
County spreads out to Oldham
COUNTY Car and Van Hire has opened a new depot in Oldham as part of its continuing north west expansion.
Bee plan to crackdown on bogus hire cabs
A SCHEME to crack down on bogus private hire cabbies preying on revellers in Manchester city centre is revealed today.
Thumbs down to 'guinea pig' city car trial
A PAY-AS-YOU-GO car trial in Manchester would prompt an outcry from business - and 'Big Brother' complaints from civil liberties groups.
Insurance 'should reflect cut in car crime'
POLICE today called for sky-high car insurance premiums in Greater Manchester to be slashed following a huge fall in vehicle crime here.
Jag with a snag
DORIS Mousdale became a fugitive from the law after she unwittingly "stole" a £30,000 Jaguar in a car-hire blunder at Manchester Airport.
Leaders united against pirate cabbies
THE campaign to clamp down on pirate private hire cabbies has won political support right across Greater Manchester.
Mike grows with Speedy Hire
LAWYER Mike McGrath has completed Speedy Hire's latest acquisition - he's signed for the company himself.
Rent a car for just £3.95!
CAR clubs where vehicles are hired for as little as £3.95 an hour could soon be helping make Manchester a greener city.
Sky-high costs for city drivers
MANCHESTER motorists pay the highest car insurance premiums in the UK - an average of over £1,143, or almost 60 per cent above the national average.
Star Hire's event safety drive
A COMPANY in Manchester is taking centre stage in the drive to improve safety standards at major spectator events.
Thorns' star role
CATERING hire company Thorns is reaching for the stars - literally - after building an enviable reputation in the world of showbiz since the company arrived in Manchester four years ago.
Unrest in the ranks at cabs for hire free-for-all
PLANS to scrap restrictions on the number of black cabs in Manchester - and other cities - and allow a free-for-all came under fire from MPs today.
