Testimonials
From our wonderful clients.
“We contacted Ken for help with an event under very tight timelines and we couldn’t have been happier with our decision. From our first call it was clear that we were in safe hands which meant I could focus on other aspects of the event. Ken was incredibly responsive and helpful in answering our questions and setting out what was needed from a health and safety perspective. He was very proactive in undertaking site visits and reaching out to the venue directly which helped inform a very thorough risk assessment. Furthermore, this ensured the event ran smoothly and safely on the day. To top it all off, the support staff he provided on the day of the event itself were excellent - professional and friendly but also able to calmly and effectively enforce site rules when needed.
Taryn Ferguson, Senior Policy and Programme Officer (Air Quality), Greater London Authority, 2022.
“I wanted to get in touch to thank you for your help making the London Schools’ Climate Kick-Start such a great success earlier this month and, in particular for helping us ensure a wide variety of activities and events were safe and well facilitated.
We received a host of fantastic press, including feature articles in the Evening Standard and on ITV London news and made a splash with tens-of-thousands of students taking part in the programme."
Pete Nichols , Senior Engagement and Events Officer, Environment and Energy, Greater London Authority, 2021.
“Ken was engaged as our health and safety consultant, following recommendation in the contemporary circus sector. He was fantastic to work with, he bought a wealth of knowledge and experience and supported the event as a member of the team as well as offering significant support to our lead artist and funambulist.
Ken makes health and safety a natural part of the process, looking at it from all sides and working with you to find the solutions. Ken is thorough and bought a sense of reassurance to the process. He was a joy to work with we and we look forward to our continued partnership on our future events."
Rachel Chandler, Project Manager, 2019.
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Ken Rankin (Blue Yonder) has worked as a freelance H&S consultant with Seachange Arts for over 10 years – his knowledge, experience and professionalism are second to non!
Ken plays a key role in supporting the team responsible for delivering The Out There Festival of International Circus and Street Arts. Out There takes place in September each year in Great Yarmouth. Now in its 12th edition, it is the region’s largest free festival of street arts and circus and regularly attracts audiences in excess of 60,000 people.
Ken works closely with the festival producer, production manager and local authority ESAG ahead of the festival to ensure all aspects of H&S in the event planning process are thoroughly considered. Risks are identified and carefully assessed, detailed documentation is produced and appropriate measures are then put in place in order that the public, staff and artists can all enjoy a safe and successful event. Ken also liaises with some of our international artists, who are often unfamiliar with the concept of a risk assessment, and supports them with their documentation and safe management of their performances. On site, Ken’s approach is to carry out a dynamic risk assessment of all activities as they unfold, ensuring any issues are managed there and then by the team .
With Ken on board, you can be confident that you are in a very a safe pair of hands! The added bonus is that he’s a really personable guy and a great pleasure to work with!"
Veronica Stephens, Executive Director, 2019.
“Ken’s knowledge of Heath and Safety within the Festival Industry and observations has been crucial in the planning and execution of 51st State Festival. Ken has been an absolute pleasure to work with over the last couple of years and is an primary asset to working with us to collaborate the festival from a Health and Safety standard.
Ken and his team go above and beyond at all times and are always willing to offer guidance and work as part of the team"
Lizamarie O’Sullivan, Director, 2019.
"Ken Rankin has been working with the Piece Hall since our re-opening in 2017 following a 12m Heritage Lottery Fund-led redevelopment. The Grade 1 listed Piece Hall hosts a truly diverse programme of free and ticketed events in its courtyard, appealing to local communities and visitors to Calderdale alike. It includes large-scale music gigs, international outdoor arts spectacles, cultural celebrations, outdoor film screenings, markets and sporting events such as the Tour de Yorkshire.
Ken has been integral to the planning and safe delivery of this very broad and diverse programme - we have been fortunate to work with him at every stage of planning and delivery as our programme has evolved, ensuring that events are safely and professionally delivered and accessible to all the different audiences we engage with. We consider Ken to be an integral part of our Events Team. We involve him at the very early stages of any new event we are considering and rely on his expertise and experience to help guide our thinking and planning. He is brilliant to work with, provides the perfect mix of friendliness, attention to detail and authority - the working definition of a safe pair of hands for this small and busy team. "
Jenny Harris, Acting Head of Events, 2019.
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"Greenwich+Docklands Festivals (produced by Festival.org) is a large scale outdoor performance festival, taking place for 2.5 weeks annually in South East London, City of London and Tower Hamlets.
We work with Ken Rankin to deliver our health and safety consultancy, through from our programming stages to the on-the day H&S management during events. Ken's approach is one of ‘how do we work together with the festival and the artists to make this performance happen safely’ based on compromise, a genuine understanding of different art forms coupled with creative care and thinking. Given the complicated nature of some of our events, and with using outdoor public spaces, this approach is both helpful and refreshing, instead of being faced with close-minded thinking.
We have had particularly positive feedback from the licensing authorities in several boroughs of the city on the diligence of our H&S documentation, and the on-site presence of Ken to discuss any concerns/actions/processes on the day of events. In addition, we are safe in the knowledge that the correct interrogations are being made, whilst being carried out in a personable way so as to sustain positive rapport with artists, suppliers, the general public, licensing authorities, and ourselves.
We look forward to continuing to work with Ken on future Festival.org projects."
Ellie Harris, Festival Producer, 2019.
"The knowledge and experience provided by Blue Yonder Events is second to none. The teams attention to detail and documentation is excellent which was crucial in helping the events team in Great Yarmouth hosting a well-attended successful inaugural air show. We look forward to working with Blue Yonder in the future."
David Helsdon, Senior Event Director, 2018.
“Just to say thank you so much for all your work on Out There this year and helping us to keep everything safe and running smoothly.
Great to work with you on all the more challenging bits of the festival this year and as always to have your calm and reassuring presence on site. Over all we’ve had loads of brilliant comments and feedback from audiences and artists so thanks for being part of making it another great edition!”
Laurie Miller-Zutshi, Creative Producer, 2017.
"The experience that Ken and his team have is invaluable to the smooth running of this well attended event. They offer a full event planning service ensuring that all our Risk Assessments, Event Management Plans, and Health & Safety Documentation is up to date and in line with the City requirements as well as sourcing, supplying and managing all the staging and AV equipment.
Ken and the team go that extra mile to ensure that the event runs smoothly and everyone has a good time."
Becky Burrell, Marketing and Commercial Manager, 2017.
Contact us
Looking for a quote, have a question or not sure where to start?
Call us on 07432214607 or fill out the form below.
Blue Yonder Events Ltd
Office B, Business Centre West
Avenue One
Letchworth
Hertfordshire
SG6 2HB
Company No. 08571611
Registered in England and wales.
Call us
07432 214607