Gemma Heyward Email & Phone Number

United Kingdom

Founder and co-owner of Tiger Events Ltd, I play a pivotal role by leading on Event Consultancy, Freelance Event solutions and H&S Management coupled with mentoring and lecturing. Tiger Events came to life following feedback that clients had a desire to deal with one trusted supplier for multiple specialisms in the Event, Security & Safety industry. Launching fully in mid-2023, events we have worked on to date but not limited to is, the United Nations COP28 event in Dubai, pre-work completed for the Rugby World Cup in France, The Hundred Ball Cricket Series, Rothesay Classic Tennis Tournament & Wimbledon.Our comprehensive services cover all aspects of Live Events, Venues, Security, Safety, and Training. Despite our wide scope, we meticulously tailor our offerings to prioritise our clients specific needs. We are dedicated to making their objectives our top priority to ensure a seamless experience for them.Our Services:- Consultancy- Freelance Event Solutions- H&S Management- Close Protection Services- Security Training (SIA: Close Protection & Door Supervisor)Inspired by Tigers in the wild, we emphasise engaging all senses when collaborating with our clients to ensure nothing is overlooked. This approach embodies the strength, intensity, beauty, and balance of contrasts within our industries, guiding us to create a comprehensive and immersive experience for all that we work with. We have a modern approach and quite simply, we prioritise the basics, recognising they’re often overlooked. Whether providing consultancy, taking the lead on an event for a client, or offering training services, we afford our clients ample time and actively listen to understand their unique requirements.With our end-to-end solutions, our clients can access a curated network of industry professionals. This enables clients to assemble bespoke teams tailored to their specific requirements, ensuring the success of every live event against their original aims and objectives.

Ettington

Responsible for all premises within the Caffeine&Machine group, to ensure operational efficiency. Lead on projects, ensuring key business objectives were met in a timely manner and the overall business strategy was implemented. Varied responsibilities included personnel management, events, food & beverage, accommodation and mobilisation of new sites nationally.

Birmingham, United Kingdom

A strategic & senior member of the team, leading on key events as well as being responsible for managing & developing the Event Management team, Event Support team and Hosting team in the planning, preparation & execution of all operational arrangements within events, across the International Convention Centre (ICC), Vox Venue & NEC Conference Suites. Responsibilities: • Ensured a consistent approach to event delivery across all venues, utilising technology and creation of standard operating procedures• Responsible for H&S compliance on events & creation of departmental risk assessments within organisational arrangements • Responsible for profiling of events to understand risks to delivery regarding mass gathering principles, security / counter terrorism threats & contentious messages • Creation of robust recruitment processes, development plans & succession plans for the Event Management, Event Support & Hosting teams• Accountability for client satisfaction levels across all venues, net promoter scores and return rates• Management of P&L budgets & delivery of accurate forecasts / reportsAchievements:• Developed plans for events during Covid19 pandemic with sign off by local authorities & Public Health England• Value engineered the recruitment process for venue mobilisation post Covid19, to ensure the skillsets within the market were placed accordingly• Primary lead on the revitalisation of the Events function via a Ways of Working (WoW) programme to remove complexities in processes, enhance customer touch points & improve the teams working experiences to provide effective tools, resulting in increased customer satisfaction scores to an average 9.6 / 10 with 100% repeat business • Financial gains via the WoW programme secured because of efficiencies being introduced, seeing a 25% increase for the first 6 months post the project, via ancillary revenues

Birmingham, United Kingdom

• Successful management of the mobilisation of the Vox, pre-build to opening, in conjunction with the Director of Event Services, subsequently winning ‘Team of the Year’ with the mobilisation team • Successfully managed the pre-and post-show elements of Sports Personality of the Year 2016 and 2018 including all Olympic / Paralympic attendees and multi-site operations between the Resorts World Arena, Resorts World complex & the Vox which saw complex fire legislation reviews / disability works completed to safely execute the event• Winner of the inaugural ‘Newcomer of the Year’ award at the annual Brilliance Awards • Responsible for the management of the Vox Venue• Responsible for H&S items at the Vox in line with ICC & Vox organisational safety arrangements including completion of annual fire risk assessments, Emergency Incident Plans, and annual training for fire personnel • Accountable for leading & developing direct reports alongside the ICC Senior Event Managers, ensuring financial targets were achieved, skills developed and performance management for the wider team demonstrated growth• Vox shortlisted for the ‘Venue of the Year’ at the National Venue Awards

Ashby De La Zouch

• Project Manager for a Pharma account, responsible for the preparation and maintenance of budgets up to £5.5 million • International travel to conduct site inspections, planning meetings and deliver live events including congresses up to and including 15,000 people• Compliance operating within ABPI and Pharma guidelines • Lead on invitation & attendee management processes executed by the Project Executives, including attendee communication, database management & reporting via Cvent

Leicestershire

• Directed educational conferences for 16-18 year olds at multiple destinations including University of Nottingham, London venues, Prague & the Caribbean• Close integration with schools, teachers and universities to ascertain their needs, ensuring event programmes were relative / in line with current undergraduate / graduate degree offerings to streamline applications• Annual management of up to 45 residential events per calendar year with the December events seeing 7000+ delegates across two city centre campuses• Secured prestigious speakers from the relevant fields such as Lord Robert Winston & Sir Bruce Keogh. Other areas included Veterinary, Law, Psychology, Dentistry & Criminology• Strategic compilation of all event programmes ranging from theory / lecture led programmes through to practical events• Management of the annual ‘Medlink Exhibition’, a fair-based event attended by several UK & international universities & medical schools, medical institutions & armed forces which attracted audiences of 7000 people plus parents• Re-launched the ‘Medlink Exhibition’ to create the ‘Medlink Convention’ & ‘Next Step Convention’, in turn producing the biggest event of its kind within the academic field of extracurricular offerings for 16 – 18year olds and for the first time, creating sponsorship packages for all exhibitors to drive income• Pre-planned & co-ordinated on-site conference teams of 300 people plus, to deliver a range of event management tasks

Loughborough University

• Successfully sold conferences and events to new and existing customers; meeting and frequently surpassing business development revenue & profitability targets• Organised and managed international VIP events for the University Vice Chancellor• Planned and managed VIP visits including HRH the Duke of Kent and the Royal Society• Accountable for professional CRM, tracking customer enquiries and consistently converting into sales • Demonstrated strong coordination skills, ensuring that events were effectively planned & delivered