bruno, Author at Field & Lawn

Field and Lawn – 2021 and Beyond

Business has always been a rollercoaster ride but it’s safe to say that 2020 was Disneyland, Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Alton Towers rolled into one. It was only comparable to our first year when we were a group of daring 20-somethings, learning from scratch how to erect tents, with varying degrees of success. Similar to the past 12 months, we needed courage, spirit and a positive attitude. What we also experienced during this time was a clear sense of pride, teamwork and achievement.

In March 2020, faced with the cancellation of £5 million worth of events contracts, facing zero income to support 80 livelihoods and families it was like starting all over again. The difference this time was our amazing team of experienced professionals, for whom failure was not an option. So we changed our focus, pivoted the business and fought back against the devastation to the events industry caused by the pandemic. We built test centres, social distancing structures, hospitals and ambulance bays. We supplied pavement stickers, hand sanitising facilities, wayfinding, provided cycle racks, outdoor seating and many other retail support facilities.

As a multi-disciplined business with less than half of our income coming from the event sector, we were no longer reliant on this industry alone. However, we knew that our vast stock of event marquees could be used for a variety of applications, so we began to target a broader market. We put the business into launch control and made changes with lightning speed. We strive to embrace change, so we were in our element.

We now have 4 distinct divisions covering the numerous sectors the business covers.

Event Marquees – Short and long-term rental of modular structures for events, businesses, retail, emergency response and temporary shelter

Festive Lighting – Hire, lease or purchase for the supply and installation of festive lighting for high streets, towns, cities, retail and shopping centres

Industrial Structures – The design, supply and installation of bespoke semi-permanent buildings for long- term rental or purchase

Placemaking – The provision of decorative displays and services to help enliven and rejuvenate high streets, towns and city centres, creating interesting, healthy and welcoming places for the public to explore.

We are delighted to be re-branding to help our customers understand what we do. Our new logo represents our four main areas of business and a fresh start for Field and Lawn and all who are a part of it. We are hugely enthusiastic about the future as we remain firmly rooted to our core values. We are committed to customer service and leadership within our industries and we deliver with a first-class team of people who are keen to find solutions for you.

The Lights of London

Posted on 1 Mar2 Mar by bruno

As England enters it second lockdown, the Field & lawn team have been working hard to switch on some of their Christmas displays early to provide some light to the difficult weeks ahead.

We are continuing our installations as planned so that when lockdown ends, all our decorations will be in place and there to provide festive cheer to high streets and shopping centres across the country.

The Oxford Street lights this year are in honour of all the key workers who continue to do incredible jobs during the pandemic.

The new name in lights this week will be Jay Flynn. Jay has been running a virtual pub quiz since the start of lockdown and raised £750K for charities. One of the charities was for the homeless as Jay was homeless himself in London for two years.

We have now switched on over 40 displays across the UK and continue to install the remaining displays so your high street will be dressed, lit and waiting for you when shops re-open in December.

Bringing Festive Cheer to the City of Edinburgh

Posted on 1 Mar2 Mar by bruno

Despite the cancellation of Edinburgh’s Christmas Festival, we’ve turned the city’s lights up a gear to bring festive cheer to the residents of Edinburgh.

We are delighted to have partnered with the City of Edinburgh Council, Essential Edinburgh and Unique Events to install a huge range of festive lighting displays throughout the city. Installation began in October to ensure that the lights are ready to be switched on, for what traditionally would have been Edinburgh light night on Sunday 22nd November.

We have installed many trees throughout the city, dressing them with over 25,000 LED lights; stretching over 3000 metres in length.

The pinnacle of the trees being the beautiful Mound Tree which stands proud at 18 metres high. The new cross street displays on Victoria Street and Cockburn Street are a beautiful welcome addition, as are the new residents of Princes Street Gardens – a lovely family of reindeer.

Find out more about our festive lighting options by contacting your nearest branch through the link below.

Candy Canes in Kingston

Posted on 1 Mar2 Mar by bruno

For five years, Field and Lawn supplied the Christmas lights in Kingston.

This service included installing, removing, and servicing the lights and coordinating the town centre’s annual switch-on organised by the town’s BID.

With the contract coming to an end, Field and Lawn was asked to tender again for the job. Even though we know the town and have an excellent relationship with the client, it was not a task we took for granted, and we pulled out all the stops. And we’re delighted to say; we won the contract.

In the five years since we first won the contract, the options for Christmas lighting have changed dramatically. We knew the client was looking for more interactive features in their Christmas lighting scheme to complement their existing celebrations.

We suggested using ground features.

An interactive option that gives a striking focal point and fills any space with colour and warmth, ground features also create a real buzz on social media platforms as people share their selfies with friends and followers.

For the rest of the scheme, we extended the theme of the candy cane circles on the walk-through hat throughout the town. The colour choice of warm white LEDs complemented rather than overwhelmed the already powerful statements of the ground features.

We were absolutely delighted with the client, Kingston First’s response:

“The impact in terms of quality of installations and response was very well received, and there was a huge response on social media, with many people taking and sharing photos next to the installations, as well as sharing and liking our content. They were an exciting and magical addition to the town centre at a time when many shops and businesses were closed due to Covid-19 restrictions.”

For your complete Christmas lighting service, please contact your local Field and Lawn branch to see what we can offer your town or city.

(Covent) Garden of Festoon

Posted on 1 Mar2 Mar by bruno

For the Field and Lawn team, we hear the word October and immediately think of one thing – Covent Garden.

For the last five years, we’ve set up camp here to complete festive installations in the iconic shopping and entertainment hub.

In 2020, five teams work a day shift and five teams work a night shift to install over 10km of festoon lighting. It is secured up, down and across 60 buildings along three streets. That’s over 20,000 LED bulbs illuminating this London landmark!

Ordinarily, we’d be slowed up by the hive of activity that takes place in this busy area of London.

But with fewer tourists, deliveries, taxis and even street performers, Covent Garden has been much quieter. Having fewer interruptions has, however, been countered by having to consider social distancing and our additional onsite COVID protocols.

We are fortunate to have a strong contingent of operators who have been working hard under these difficult conditions, and thankfully, we are experts in project planning and meeting deadlines.

If you would like to find out more about our Christmas Lighting services, contact your nearest branch through the link below.

Temporary Industrial Structures: What you should know

Posted on 1 Mar2 Mar by bruno

Office. Warehouse. Showroom. Workshop. What do all of these have in common?

They are normally within buildings which take up permanent residency among several other permanent buildings. The cost to rent or buy a space for your business can be eye-watering. But what if there was another way which was less expensive and gave you more flexibility? We introduce you to Field and Lawn’s range of temporary industrial structures.

Field and Lawn has over 30 years’ experience in designing and constructing temporary industrial structures for a whole variety of purposes and sectors. Whether it’s a short-term temporary facility, or a more long-term storage space, we can offer a range of options.

Before you decide if a temporary structure is right for your business, let us take you through some of the advantages to show you why going down the temporary route could be the most suitable route for you.

Less expensive than a permanent building

We don’t need to tell you that buying or renting some space for your business does not come cheap. With a temporary structure, your outlay is far less than a bricks and mortar building. From our personal experience, we’ve seen this generate significant cost savings for our customers.

Shorter lead time

If you’re constructing a whole new building from scratch, the thought can be overwhelming and the actual project can be time consuming. With a temporary industrial structure, your lead time is greatly reduced so that you can minimise downtime and keep your business productive. If you decide your new structure needs more room for storage, a showroom or just some additional office space, you can increase your space quickly without affecting your workforce.

Designed for year-round use

The Field & Lawn team is well aware of one of the common issues that people have with temporary structures. What if they’re too cold and how can that be controlled? This is simpler than you think as Field and Lawn’s temporary structures are suitable for all seasons. The durable PVC covers protect the interiors from the rain, snow and wind and the interior can be heated throughout during the Winter.

Equipped with all the essentials

You might think that a temporary structure will look much like a traditional warehouse with barely anything inside. Good for a storage space, but not so good for an office you may say. However, Field and Lawn’s temporary structures can be fully equipped with electricity and lighting so your employees won’t even know the difference.

Safe and secure

Without the traditional timber or bricks of a permanent build, security can be a concern. But we’ve already got this in mind. Temporary structures can incorporate steel or composite panels, roller shutter doors and fully lockable pedestrian door systems for complete peace of mind.

Enhanced flexibility

The most exciting thing is that with a temporary structure, you don’t need to be confined by the limits of four walls. The Field & Lawn team has constructed every type of temporary structure imaginable, from your traditional warehouse set-up all the way up to spherical domes for an event space. Our best temporary structure is whatever works best for you.

We can create temporary industrial structures for any purpose and we’d be delighted to discuss your requirements.

T Rex in Town

Posted on 1 Mar2 Mar by bruno

Away from the hustle and bustle of Glasgow City Centre, on the outskirts of Kelvingrove Park, sits something truly spectacular.

The historic Kelvin Hall has opened its doors to a very special visitor – Trix, the Tyrannosaurus rex. Being just one of the three most complete skeletons in the world, this 66-million year old fossil has become the newest addition to Kelvin Hall as Trix finishes her European Tour.

With such a precious artefact taking centre stage the clients, Glasgow Life and City Building, needed to ensure Trix was well protected. Enter the Field and Lawn Industrial Structures team.

Trix’s temporary home in Glasgow needed to be a controllable environment that was fully insulated to avoid moisture damage. This meant designing and building an entirely bespoke demountable semi-permanent structure within the 8,000 sqm Kelvin Hall.

Measuring 20m wide x 30m long and with an eave height of 8m, the unique structure comprises a flat roof to maximise the available internal space. This project comprised several unique elements for the Field and Lawn team, including the management of several stakeholders who were communicated and consulted with throughout the process to ensure that Trix would get the best stay possible for her stop in Glasgow.

Commercial Director, Ross Robertson headed up this unique project and shared more about the team’s process and considerations.

“The structure that we designed was entirely bespoke and was designed to meet all of the stakeholders’ requirements. The structure had to be located inside the space of the Kelvin Hall and had to provide a fully controlled environment, while having as high a ceiling as possible within the space. With the flat roof structure, we managed to incorporate 6.6m of clear internal height. The structure is fitted with insulated panels on the sides and roof and these panels are coloured black externally and white internally in order to provide a “sealed box” – ensuring visitors are in a special environment and also protecting the artefact. As part of our package we also provided all lighting, emergency lighting, roller shutter door, entrance / emergency doors, internal flooring, floor covering and walling – everything you need for a temporary museum.

“The structure looks spectacular and is also future-proofed to ensure that many more touring exhibits and events can be housed in this unique sustainable building. We are very proud to be associated with this project and it showcases what we as a team can provide with our range of Temporary Industrial Structures and our supply chain.”

Following the T Rex in Town exhibition, the plan is to utilise the space for subsequent exhibitions so ensuring the marquee was fit for this purpose was absolutely essential. We can’t wait to see what will come to Kelvin Hall in future and we wish Trix a safe trip back to her new permanent home in the Netherlands.

The T Rex in Town exhibition runs until 31 July 2019 and is Trix’s last stop in Europe, so make sure you don’t miss out on seeing this fantastic specimen while you can. To find out how you could better utilise your space with a temporary structure, contact your nearest Field and Lawn branch.

Speedy Storage Solutions

Posted on 1 Mar2 Mar by bruno

Often when a client requires a temporary structure solution, speed is of the essence. The Manchester branch’s latest industrial structure installation, measuring 20m in width and 40m in length was completed in just 7 days and will be used as a storage facility at the client’s Midlands site.

A purpose-built concrete slab was poured ahead of the installation and the structure was configured and manufactured in line with specification of the new ground conditions.

The structure, which is on long term rental, features 4m walls clad in single skin steel panels and is fitted with a PVC roof and matching gables.

High bay, emergency and exit lighting were also included in the hire package along with an electrically operated roller shutter door and single pedestrian access door.

Rental structures are fully customisable allowing us to create a solution to meet the specific project requirements of the client whilst keeping lead times to a minimum. We can also offer insulated options such as sandwich panels or an inflated roof, depending on the internal conditions that need to be achieved.

To find out how Field and Lawn can assist with temporary structure needs, whether it be for hire or purchase, contact us at your nearest branch. You can now also use our Structure Configurator which allows you to design your structure to your exact requirements. Choose your structure type, size, roof type and more here.

Vehicle Transport and Storage Structures

Posted on 1 Mar2 Mar by bruno

Field and Lawn’s permanent structures come in all shapes and sizes to suit a wide range of uses.

We recently installed one of our industrial structures for a vehicle logistics and storage provider.

At their new site in Bathgate, the company needed to be able to process over 100 new vehicles per day for a full pre-delivery inspection, getting them ready for transportation all over the UK.

With no available buildings onsite to use for this purpose, Field and Lawn provided the solution.

We had nine weeks to create a structure measuring 225 sqm with a 5-metre eve to allow for the processing of larger vans. We needed to ensure the structure could be deconstructed and moved to another site, that it was thermally insulated, and that electric roller shutter doors and pedestrian access doors were incorporated.

Comprising a double-skin inflated roof system to remove excessive condensation the structure was also provided with corner bracing to maximise the working area by utilising the roof space.

As well as all of this, we also acted on the client’s behalf to engage with our Planning Consultants.

Providing this service allows the client to continue running their business while ensuring everything was being looked after behind the scenes concerning their planning application.

Find out more about our industrial structures by clicking the button below to contact your nearest branch.

London’s Response to the Pandemic

Posted on 1 Mar2 Mar by bruno

In May of this year, as the rules of lockdown began to lift, London was planning its response.

As the busiest and biggest city in the UK, we knew that our clients would be looking for ways to attract workers and visitors back to the high streets safely and respectfully. We have installed over 400 flags along some of the most prominent retail high streets with positive messages of support for key workers and the NHS.

We have supplied over 10,000 floor stickers to promote social distancing and encourage one-way systems.

We have also installed 150 way-finders with hand-sanitising dispensers. These have been distributed in high footfall areas, along pavements and outside tube stations, to provide the public with the opportunity to clean their hands regularly.

These projects were enriching for us.

We were able to rely on our trusted suppliers who adapted to these new requirements and delivered under challenging restrictions. Operational management was quick to adjust to the new rules, and we developed new procedures to keep our staff and the public safe, whilst carrying out this work.

We’re very proud of the work we’ve completed over the last four months, as part of the response to this pandemic, and it’s been great to work with the local leaders of London who have put in the time and effort to keep London open and safe for business.

If you’d like to find out more about how we can help you with similar products, contact us through your nearest branch.

The Power of Placemaking

Posted on 1 Mar2 Mar by bruno

At Field and Lawn, placemaking is our area of expertise.

In the time of a pandemic, city and town centres are looking at new ways of creating open, welcoming streets to invite people back safely.

They are looking to reassure people that you can still relax and enjoy your time browsing, wandering the city streets, or meeting a friend for coffee and cake.

So where does placemaking come in?

We are working with clients in BID areas such as New West End Company, Heart of London, Grosvenor and The Crown Estate, installing over 100 hand-sanitising stations and thousands of floor stickers across many central locations.

This helps to keep usually busy retail spaces as accessible as possible in these challenging times.

Feel the Love on the High Street

Posted on 1 Mar2 Mar by bruno

The Christmas trees are packed away for another year but that means Valentine’s Day is just around the corner!

And while we can’t come together just yet, we can still spread a little love across the UK and show our appreciation for our fantastic high streets up and down the country.

We offer an array of city dressing services from decorative lighting to flags, banners and bunting. On top of this, we can also provide branded social distancing solutions such as floor vinyls, wayfinding signage and sanitising stations to keep people connected and safe.

Whether it be a vacant retail unit or a cross street display, we’ve got a solution.

Our experienced team can install flags, branded graphics and bespoke displays to create impact and add some much-needed colour to any space.

No matter the size, it is always our mission to transform spaces. And with many of us venturing out into the cold and with things seeming more than a little grim as we head into 2021, we’d be delighted to bring some cheer and positivity to your town.