Smart Group Ltd.

19/04/2024

This past Monday, the entire Smart Group family came together for the 2024 AGM at Illuminate! We were thrilled to welcome our newest members, Last Supper and Story Events Ltd. for the very first time.

The day kicked off with a comprehensive update from our Senior Leadership Team, followed by an inspiring presentation from our Green Smarties committee. They shed light on our sustainability achievements, aspirations and the exciting ways we're working towards a greener future 🌱 🌎.

Next up, our Smarties channelled their competitive spirits in 'Departmental Dash'. From building food stations to completing financial budgets and packing event design cages, our Smarties tried their hand at what departments besides their own get up to on a daily basis and stepped outside of their comfort zones.

Of course, no AGM is complete without recognising our amazing team! We honoured outstanding contributions and long-standing members of the Smart family in our People's Choice Awards. Congratulations to all the well-deserving winners!

After the official agenda, we enjoyed delicious bowl food, courtesy of delightful canapé creations made by the Smarties themselves, and plenty of tempting cocktails!🍹 It was a thoroughly enjoyable and insightful day and was great to bring everyone together under one roof.

Smart Live
Science Museum Events
Moving Venue Caterers
White Light

28/03/2024

Wishing all of our employees, suppliers, clients and followers the happiest of Easters! May the weekend bring delicious lamb roasts, hot cross buns aplenty and chocolate for breakfast...🍫

📸 Pictured: Chocolate, Hazelnut, Caramel dessert from the Moving Venue Caterers SS23 menu.

08/03/2024

We've pledged to make 1,365 impacts this IWD. That's 13 impacts per employee of Smart Group! ♀️

In celebration of International Women's Day 2024, we’ve joined B1G1 in uplifting and supporting women worldwide, by providing them with the essential skills and resources they need to thrive through their Women Empowerment Bundle. By choosing this bundle, we can contribute to multiple causes instead of limiting our support to just one.

We’re empowering women through initiatives such as financial literacy courses, entrepreneurship workshops and vocational training programs. The aim is to empower women to break barriers and succeed in their chosen fields - much like our staff do. Our support will create opportunities for them to achieve their fullest potential whilst making meaningful impacts in their communities.

For every full-time employee, we have donated:
💼 1 day of bookkeeping skills training for a woman
🛠 2 days of vocational training for women
📈 1 day of support for a woman to build a sustainable business
💰 1 day of providing business loans and training for women
🍲 1 day of providing meals for survivors of violence
🧵 4 days of providing sewing machines for women
📻 3 days of education for women about domestic violence via the radio

This campaign marks one year since the beginning of Smart Group’s blossoming partnership with B1G1. Since then, we have created a total of 49,986 impacts to the value of $13,781.93. Our impacts have spanned the globe, from installing taps for over 785 families in India, to planting 9,625 trees globally, providing 1,328 nourishing meals to those in need and donating over 500 days of education - it’s been an impactful year! 🌍

Read the full story: https://www.smartgroupltd.co.uk/news/smart-group-pledge-1365-impacts-this-iwd-to-support-women-in-communities-worldwide/

28/02/2024

10 YEARS OF THE LONDON SUMMER EVENT SHOW! 🎉✨

Last week, the London Summer Event Show made its return, this year celebrating its 10th anniversary! We are thrilled that this event is now part of the Smart Group portfolio, since acquiring Story Events Ltd. last August. Held at the historic Freemasons' Hall, this two-day extravaganza showcased over 100 incredible venues and suppliers. Our dedicated team at Story Events curated a jam-packed schedule with engaging workshops and insightful seminars for guests to get stuck into 🌟

Moving Venue Caterers proudly sponsored the catering over the two days, and treated attendees to a feast with delectable canapés, food stations, bowl food and a delightful afternoon tea ☕🍽️. We were also honoured to have the World Young Mixologist of the Year, Luigi Giannini serve up his signature cocktail at the central bar on the VIP Agents night, and provide an insightful masterclass into his skills on Day 2. We were delighted to sponsor an exclusive agents afterparty, which carried on into the night at Freemasons Hall. Guests were treated to a spectacular performance from The Function Band whilst drinking and dancing the night away.

On the Smart Parties stand, our fantastic sales team were on hand to provide attendees with inspiration for their entire events calendar, exhibiting our summer packages at Evolution London and Magazine London, as well as the brand-new Moving Venue Curated Summer Collection.

To read more about the event, head over to our blog, link in bio!

If you couldn’t make it to the show but would like to find out more about our summer venue and catering offerings get in touch via the below:

Smart Parties:
☎️ 020 7836 1035
✉️[email protected]

Moving Venue:
☎️ 020 8691 6661
✉️[email protected]

09/02/2024

Our Executive Pastry Chef, Sarah Hartnett, recently had the honour of judging the IIHM Young Chef Olympiad in India for the second year in a row. The 2024 edition of the IIHM Young Chef Olympiad showcased a vibrant tapestry of culinary traditions from around the world, underscoring the rich diversity of food culture. Beyond merely a culinary competition, this event served as a platform for budding chefs to demonstrate their skills while promoting cross-cultural understanding and unity through Youth Culinary Diplomacy.

From Pune to Kolkata, Sarah shared her expertise as a tasting judge and also hosted two practical chocolate masterclasses, where she revealed trends from the UK, including innovative flavour combinations, reduced sugar techniques, and sustainable practices, offering invaluable insights to the aspiring chefs in attendance. Sarah also conducted a training session with the pastry team and executive chef at Radisson Blu Pune Kharadi Hotel. This session focused on UK and European trends in pastry making, particularly emphasizing sustainable working practices and menu engineering to reduce food wastage and promote upcycling. During the session, she also highlighted the importance of sustainable practices in the culinary industry, and Smart’s involvement with B1G1, explaining how we are looking to upcycle food items and use surplus food to create new products that otherwise would not be used.

05/02/2024

We're thrilled to share that since March, Smart Group has made an incredible 41,767 global impacts via B1G1! 🌎💙

At Smart Group, giving back is not just a mission; it's ingrained in our daily operations. Whether we're on a site visit, scanning visitors at a trade show, or savouring the flavours at a tasting, we're donating on your behalf, making a significant difference in the world.

Curious about the impact you've been a part of? You can track our contributions in real time, 24/7, 365 days a week! Head to our website and explore our global impact tracker – see where in the world we've made a positive difference and which Sustainable Development Goals we've attributed our efforts to.

https://www.smartgroupltd.co.uk/about-us/b1g1/

Join us in celebrating the power of collective impact and making a meaningful change, one gesture at a time! Together, we're shaping a brighter and more sustainable future.

01/02/2024

🌿 Exciting News! 🌍 We're thrilled to announce our partnership with the Southwark Climate Collective, a movement uniting small-to-medium-sized businesses like ours in a shared commitment to combat climate change. 🌐🤝

Together with fellow businesses in Southwark, we are taking bold steps towards reducing our carbon footprint and contributing to London's ambitious 2030 net zero target. 🎯✨ This initiative, generously funded by the Mayor of London and Levelling Up, empowers us to make sustainable choices across various key areas, and we've chosen to focus on our supply chains.

Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond words – it's about action. By aligning with the Southwark Climate Collective, we are actively participating in a scheme that enables businesses like ours to make eco-conscious decisions in areas such as freight, waste management, energy consumption, and, in our case, optimising our supply chains. 🚚♻️💡

This collective effort is not just about minimising our environmental impact; it's about building a resilient and greener future for Southwark and beyond. 🌱💚 We firmly believe that small changes, when multiplied across businesses, can lead to significant positive outcomes for our planet.

https://southwarkclimatecollective.co.uk/

31/01/2024

WE'RE EXHIBITING AT THE LONDON SUMMER EVENT SHOW! ☀️
Smart Group are excited to be showcasing our new summer products and highlight the suitability of our venues for summer events. Whether you're an events agency or seeking ideas for your summer party, stand A02 is the place to be.

Hosted by Story Events Ltd., the London Summer Event Show is a MUST-ATTEND for event agents and corporate event buyers looking to gain inspiration for not only their summer events, but their entire events calendar. Now in its 10th year, the show returns on 20 – 21 February 2024, at the iconic, Art Deco Freemasons’ Hall!

This year's show has an added highlight as Moving Venue Caterers takes on the role of catering sponsor. Enjoy complimentary food and drinks throughout the event, courtesy of London's leading caterers.

Register your attendance today: https://portal.londonsummereventshow.com/events/29/applications/create?utm_source=Smart+Group+Newsletter&utm_medium=Smart+Group+Social&utm_campaign=LSES+24+&utm_id=LSES+24

31/01/2024

8 top chefs, 8 courses and 24 Michelin stars all for a good cause🌟

On the 22nd January, we were delighted to be a sponsor for the prestigious Bocuse d'Or London Gala Dinner, hosted at the stunning Raffles at the OWO. 8 top chefs with a collective 24 Michelin stars, treated diners to eight artfully crafted courses, showcasing the UK's culinary excellence. Chefs included Heston Blumenthal, Clare Smyth and Alain Ducasse to name a few. Smart Group provided the chinaware for this remarkable evening, which was in support of Cancer Platform, a charity that aim to directly empower and equip people with the tools and knowledge to navigate their cancer journey. It was a true honour to be part of such a special evening 🍽

17/01/2024

On Friday night we hosted our sixth sell-out Hospitality Rocks! Every year, the event seems to get bigger and better, exceeding the expectations of all in attendance!
�
2000 guests descended on Evolution London, ready for a night of 'Carnivale' themed festivities, exceptional hospitality, and giving back - Hospitality Rocks is the time for the industry to celebrate, and celebrate they did! 🌟💃 �

Whilst the hangover subsided, it became apparent that the night extended further than the 2am finish. Hospitality Rocks successfully raised an impressive £35,500 for industry charities Springboard and Hospitality Action. This remarkable achievement underscores the resilience and collective commitment of the hospitality community to overcome obstacles and support its own
�
But no Hospitality Rocks would be complete without our sponsors, so another thank you to them all!
�
Indeed Flex UK Encore - EMEA The Icebox Collins King & Associates Aubrey Allen CountySupplies London DAVIN FOODS Town & Country Fine Foods Ellis Wines Eight Ray Music S2 Events
Max Wifi Events
Aardvark FX UK Zest4.tv

02/01/2024

No Elderly person should be lonely at Christmas! 🎄❤️

Did you know that every year on Christmas Day, Evolution London plays host to The Rotary Club Battersea Park? This year was no exception, as over 230 volunteers and 350 elderly guests descended upon Battersea Park for a joyous day filled with festivities, topped off with a delightful Christmas lunch.

If you'd be interested in getting involved, send us a message and we'll let you know how!

25/12/2023

Wishing you a Merry Christmas from Smart! Meet our CEO, Greg, our own Father Christmas in festive attire. Greg's passion shines as he ensures thousands of clients have a fantastic time at their Christmas parties, whether he's transforming into a themed wonderland or spreading the 'nice' list treatment at numerous events – it's never too much for him! 🎅✨🎄

22/12/2023

On Tuesday we hosted our annual Smarties Christmas lunch at Evolution London! 🎄'Carnivale' set the backdrop this year and the team were all brought together for an afternoon of delicious food, served by our CEO, Greg Lawson and Group Executive Chef, David Ridgway, a free run of the Voodoo Lounge bar and cheap entertainment in the form of our staff taking to the centre stage for a well-deserved boogie!

Alongside this lunch, Greg and our MD Chloe Jackson also announced the winners of our company incentive trip. We aim to recognise the Smarties who go above and beyond and will be taking 12 employees to New York in April 2024 🍎🗽. These individuals have been recognised across the business by senior management and leadership teams for their dedication to their roles.

A massive thank you to all our employees across all our companies, we honestly couldn't do what we do without you! Now for a well-earned break as our office is now shut until the 2nd January... And by then, we'll be refreshed and ready before gearing up to Hospitality Rocks! 🎉

14/12/2023

The historic Freemasons' Hall has set the stage for 18 exclusive Christmas celebrations this season✨

Smart Parties offer two spectacular spaces in this iconic venue: The Grand Temple and The Masquerade Club. If you are interested in hosting your festivities here next year, get in touch with a member of our team who will be able to assist in planning your perfect party!

13/12/2023

Last month, Moving Venue Caterers were privileged to cater the State Banquet, in honour of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Korea. This event marked a momentous milestone for us having last catered for a State Banquet in 2015 and even more so for our MD, Chloe, who has personally aspired to pitch and win a State Banquet for over a decade.

Set against the historic backdrop of Guildhall, the event brought together both international and local guests. Catering for such a grand occasion is a significant undertaking, but as always, Team MV rose to the challenge with grace and skill. Under the leadership of our Executive Chef David Ridgway, our talented team of chefs meticulously crafted a menu that beautifully fused traditional Korean flavours with British produce.

Led by Head of Operations Lee Bushnell and Head of Planning Bethany Dare, it was a genuine honour to be involved in such a prestigious event. The hard work paid off when we received such positive feedback on the delivery and service, so a huge congratulations to all of Team MV who were involved, from planning to operations to the waiting staff - it really was a team effort!

07/12/2023

Earlier this week, we embarked on a festive Venue Safari with some of our lovely Smart Friends! 🎄🌟

Starting at Evolution London with fresh pastries and coffee in our reusable Smart Friends Cups, we went on a journey across some of our Christmas sites, exploring Illuminate, Freemasons' Hall, Landing Forty Two, the Leadenhall Building, East Wintergarden (soon to be the Pelligon!), and Magazine London. From informative site visits to exciting sneak peeks of upcoming transformations, it was a thoroughly insightful day, and each venue showcased its unique charm, all dressed up for Christmas. Thank you to the venue hosts, and our own Evolution London, Smart Parties and Moving Venue Caterers teams. If you missed out, and are keen to see our venues, please get in touch with a member of our team!

04/12/2023

Last month, Moving Venue Caterers catered the inaugural Rolling Stone Awards, held at London’s iconic Roundhouse . It was a privilege to be involved in the first of this fantastic event, honouring the UK music, film and TV scene. Team MV provided a delicious three-course menu to a high-profile guest list including the likes of Louis Tomlinson, Sharon Osbourne and Munya Chawawa. It was an honour to also sponsor the Rising Star Award, presented by Busted and won by The Last Dinner Party Congratulations to all of the well-deserving winners.

09/11/2023

🎉 Exciting News: It's London Living Wage Week! 🎉

This year has been a milestone for us as we proudly achieved accreditation as a living wage supplier. What does that mean? It means we're committed to paying our staff not just the government's minimum wage but a wage that truly supports a decent standard of living.

Especially for our London-based events, we're thrilled to announce that over the coming months we'll be embracing the new Living Wage rates for 2023/24! It'll mean a pay rise for hundreds of thousands of hardworking individuals.

In a world where the cost of living seems to have its own marathon, ensuring fair compensation is more crucial than ever. We believe in putting people first, and that includes recognising the value of their work with a wage that reflects the reality of living in one of the most vibrant cities in the world.

Join us in celebrating London Living Wage Week! Together, let's champion fair pay and make a positive impact on the lives of those who contribute their passion and dedication to making our events truly exceptional. 💪✨

31/10/2023

As October comes to a close, that means only one thing - London Bierfest 2023 has come and gone, and what a sensational two days it was! From bratwurst to beer, the spirit of celebration filled once more.

As we wave goodbye to this year’s fest, we are excited to announce next year’s date! Mark your calendars for Thursday 17th October 2024, when we’ll host two incredible sessions. Secure your tickets now because you won’t want to miss it! 🍻🎉

19/09/2023

On the 8th September, 41 Smarties and embarked on our Smart Friends agency gold incentive trip. The trip took the group to Marrakesh whereby an unforgettable weekend was due to unfold. As you may be aware on Friday evening as we were departing dinner, an earthquake struck. It was a scary and uncertain time for all involved, but as a group of like-minded event planners, we all pulled together, evaluated the situation, and made what we could of the trip, with much collaboration and consideration for the local community. A massive thank you to , , , and all of the local staff who demonstrated incredible resilience.

Smart Group have donated to the Morocco Earthquake Appeal. We will also continue our pledge efforts throughout September as we donate for each site visit we undertake through the platform.

02/08/2023

A New Chapter in the Smart Group story...

We are thrilled to announce that Smart Group have acquired creative events agency Story Events Ltd.
Story Events create the most unique, unusual and exciting events, designing and producing ideas with clients including Waitrose, Revlon and Together For Short Lives. They are also the owners and operators of the UK’s leading and award-winning event exhibitions including the London Summer Event Show and London Christmas Party Show.

Story Events will benefit from this strategic bolt-on acquisition with Smart Group’s buying power and the opportunity of being part of a larger business with continued control over its supply chain.

It is important to us that Story Events remains an independent agency, integrating with our existing communications agency Smart Live, who specialise in end-to-end project management of both large and small-scale events.
Read the full story here: https://www.smartgroupltd.co.uk/news/smart-group-acquires-story-events/

25/05/2023

05/05/2023

As a neighbour of ours at Smart Group HQ, we are always delighted when we're able to help The Felix Project with picking and packing produce for Londoners in need. Many thanks to our willing model Sagar for the photo and for sparing a few hours out of his busy week to lend a hand.

Just 1 hour of our time equates to 200 meals for locals!

What's better, we're now donating and helping with distribution.

05/05/2023

We are proud to announce that we have officially been accredited Living Wage Employer with the !

We are delighted to have officially joined thousands of organisations across the UK who believe that a day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.

Find out what this means for us and our staff: smartgroupltd.co.uk/news/its-official-we-are-london-living-wage-accredited/

06/04/2023

If you're cooking a traditional lamb roast this Easter Sunday, you'll want to read this... Our chefs' have shared some of their industry secrets with us (and all of our followers) ahead of this weekend 🤫

Wishing you all a Happy Easter 🐣🍫

28/03/2023

We can't believe it's been three years since we re-opened our kitchen following the initial lockdown to support

We are still so proud to have cooked and delivered 50,000 meals to 13 hospitals over a 3-month period to support our incredible NHS workers.

To this day, we remain incredibly grateful to the NHS staff who worked tirelessly through that time, as well as our team that worked to provide for them.

08/03/2023

This International Women’s Day, Smart Group have decided to give back. Through B1G1 , a global giving movement, we have pledged to supply sanitary products and sexual awareness education to 85 girls in Kenya for a whole year. This equates to 20,400 days of care.

This simple privilege can radically improve a girl's attendance at school, improve her educational outcomes and remove the risk of early pregnancy and/or early marriage.

And why 85? One for each of our employees - no matter their gender, we’ve donated on their behalf.

Read the whole campaign: https://www.smartgroupltd.co.uk/news/international-womens-day-at-smart-group/

So They Can

07/03/2023

Food Waste Action Week (6-12th March) is a week-long campaign, chaired by Love Food, Hate Waste . The aim is to shine the spotlight on food waste and how to reduce it through initiatives.
With this in mind, Smart Group partnered with isla to inform our clients, fellow event profs and followers about our fight against food waste and the actions we're taking.

06/03/2023

The London Summer Event Show is a must-attend for event agents and corporate event buyers looking to gain inspiration for not only their summer events but their entire events calendar. Now in its eighth year, the next event will return on 21 – 22 March 2023 at the iconic City venue, The Banking Hall. ☀️

🪅Attend The London Summer Events Show for a day of summer fun, where you can discover and re-connect with over 150 of the hottest event venues and suppliers, including Oceandiva London and Encore - EMEA who will be exhibiting at Stand A3.

🎟 Come join us for complimentary food & drink, attend a packed (and free) seminar and workshop programme and much more…

Register here: https://www.londonsummereventshow.com/?utm_source=Smart%20Group%20&utm_medium=Smart%20E-shot&utm_campaign=Smart%20&utm_id=LSES%2023

13/11/2022

Lest we forget 🌹