KP ‘Associates’ and what they’ve been up to.

Anyone who has had any involvement with KP, will almost certainly have come into contact with one of our ‘Associates’.

The term ‘associates’ is, of course, how small businesses refer to their freelance buddies, in order to make their organisations appear  a little more heavyweight and grandiose. And why not? … They do after all bring a wealth of additional experience and expertise to their respective organisations, no matter how formal or informal the relationships. In our case, it is true that anyone who knows us reasonably well, will also know that the six so-called associates are indeed our long-standing buddies.

So, having now blown away the corporate associate myth, we figured we might just tell you a little about what they’ve been up to this year. They’re really quite an interesting bunch and they do have lives outside of KP.

Benita Wakefield

Benita had a great year, the final project of which is about to take her to Rome to look after production requirements for an international marching band project.

High points during the year have included a series of extraordinary classical music concerts in country churches with such stars as the Monteverdi Choir and the English Chamber Orchestra, stage managing the Dance Proms at the Albert Hall – an incredible showcase for young aspiring dancers, and just last week, working on the very glamorous  Victoria Secrets Fashion Show 2014 in London’s Earls Court.

Ela Gurmen

As usual, Ela started the year with a 3 month contract in Berlin, running guests services for the ‘Panorama’ section of the Berlin International Film Festival or ‘Berlinale’ as it is commonly known.  ‘Panorama’ is  committed to showcasing work about social and political issues, often with provocative or controversial content. In this area, it is considered to be at the very forefront of world film-making and draws in the great and good of the industry.

Aside from rubbing shoulders with the glitterati (Ela’s latest new mates include John Hurt and Patricia Arquette), other activities in 2014 included her ongoing Rome based role in transport operations for a touring coach company and project managing the New Year parades and concerts in Rome and Frascati.

Jo Daykin

If variety is the spice of life then this year has certainly been very flavoursome.

An assortment of project management and stage management opportunities have seen Jo looking after the logistics for a worldwide viral film campaign for UEFA, saying “GO” to Take That at the Regent Street Lights Switch, reassuring David Hasselhoff that he was looking great (at the Gumball 3000 Rally on Regent Street), producing the fabulous Dance Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, being part of a TEDX event for Parliament, and honing her experiential skills on several events for Plan UK at Excel, Waterloo and Liverpool Stations.

Nick Kidd

Nick topped and tailed his year as he always does, overseeing all production for London’s New Year’s Day Parade and Concerts – a principal fixture in the capital’s event calendar, involving thousands of  overseas participants, and a prestigious parade route that runs from Piccadilly to Parliament Square.

Earlier in the year, Nick finally bade farewell to his brainchild The Theatre Truck, but fortunately found a new home for it in North Wales. It is still available for hire…

Aside that, he’s been working on a rather exciting building project in the West Indies!

Pete Sargent

This year, Pete got involved in an assortment of roles for Plan UK and War Child at the End Sexual Violence Global Summit at Excel – including building replica classroom furniture upon which sat none other than Angelina Jolie and Mr William Hague.

He also ran a charity fundraiser with comedian Milton Jones headlining, created a series of 3D visualisations of event infrastructure on Whitehall and Parliament Square (for The London Parade), and took care of all H&S aspects of his local bonfire society activities, which he describes as follows: “Well, we take several hundred folk most of who are dressed as highwaymen and have had a few beers, give them large flaming torches and then let them run riot through a village where most of the houses are clapperboard. What can possibly go wrong?”

Sam Brunner

2014 saw Sam take on a new position as Youth and Events Leader at a large North London Synagogue, where she runs various youth schemes and projects. It’s a role in which she has to develop content that really engages with the kids, ensure that Jewish values are upheld and promoted, while running the logistics, the H&S and many other associated aspects.

Sam’s also a part of the Hospitality Team at the Emirates (Director’s Box, no less!) and another project has taken her to Barcelona and Dubai for bespoke corporate team building events.

BIG THANKS … to all of them for their invaluable help on the various projects that they’ve worked on with us over the past year.