The
co-founder of the Roundhouse Trust has assembled a collective of dedicated
venue consultants and launched a network, specifically designed to support
venues with targeted and impartial advice and support.
The invenue Network – developed by Caspar Norman, co-founder of
Roundhouse Trust and the London venue’s first events director – aims to help
venues of all sizes to maximise their revenue streams, increase their
resilience, and realise their potential.
Norman, director of invenue Network, told M&IT that although
venues vary, they share a common need for resilience in the face of
ongoing rising costs and an uncertain economic outlook. "They all need to
find and keep great people, including new flexible models of working, and to be
taking advantage of every opportunity and market they have," said Norman.
"What we are trying to do with invenue is to help on some of this - having
one place to go to find independent and expert advice to help venues become as
resilient as possible through a difficult period, and beyond."
The invenue Network matches venues, their operators, and
stakeholders, with independent experts who have run venues, launched them,
founded them, managed them, or supplied them.
Norman added: “Across the UK, there are thousands of wonderful
venues, large and small. They host incredible organisations – arts, sports,
community, social, heritage, municipal, and cultural – which sit at the heart
of our communities, delivering unquantifiable support and opportunities to the
people they serve. However, these venues are under huge pressure. How do they
find the right advice and where do they get their support from? This is where
we can help.”
Norman’s experience in driving venues success comes from trying
to generate revenue from a dilapidated steam engine shed in Camden – the iconic
Roundhouse, back in the late 1990s. Maximising the income generated from the
space helped underpin the Roundhouse Trust’s charitable aims.
Norman continued: “invenue is a growing network that is not only
for venue people but is run by venue people, who understand all the nuances that come with venue management,
and venue operations. invenue exists to offer these incredible venues the right
advice and support, ensuring such amazing spaces remain flexible, operational,
and agile.”
The invenue Network is guided by an advisory group including
Fiona Price (Fiona Price Events), Neil Ormondroyd (Jono Events), Lucy Gemmell
(Rhubarb), Michael Aldridge (Unique Venues Consultancy), Jack Franklin
(Spectra), Mary Griffiths (The Project Hub Venues and Hospitality), Susan
Morrissey (Venue Doctors) and Peter Kerwood (Venue Doctors).
A desire to travel led Holly Patrick to the business meetings and events world and she’s never looked back. Holly takes a particular interest in event sustainability and creating a diverse and inclusive industry. When she’s not working, she can be found rolling skating along Brighton seafront listening to an eclectic playlist, featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Sean Paul, and Arooj Aftab.
