JHAV helps put Cornwall on the world stage
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Liskeard-based JHAV was appointed to help deliver multiple events associated with the G7 Summit for clients including Spaceport Cornwall, Virgin Orbit, the University of Exeter, and surfing brand Finisterre.
The team also created a press conference suite to be used by US president Joe Biden in the Spaceport Cornwall hangar at Cornwall Airport Newquay.
JHAV managing director Jamie Hedges explains: “We’ve been involved in all kinds of events since starting JHAV, but working on all of these projects revolving around something as high profile as the G7 Summit has to be one of our biggest accomplishments to date.
“The top-secret nature has meant we have been under embargo since the event, and I am so proud to now be able to talk about the amazing work of our team. A personal highlight for me was standing 10ft away from the US President while he addressed the world’s press to close his visit, which we had put together with less than 24 hours’ notice.
“As a production company in Cornwall, it's been brilliant to be given the opportunity to demonstrate that we can deliver high-quality events to rival anything produced by multi-national event production companies. We’ve shown that Cornwall can operate on the world stage, in both a literal and metaphorical sense.”
The team was tasked with turning an empty hangar at Cornwall Airport Newquay into a showcase for Spaceport Cornwall and Virgin Orbit. This included installing high level rigging, an LED video wall, a PA system, technical management of the event, and a lighting system to illuminate the Launcher One replica rocket that would be seen by world leaders as they landed at the airport.
JHAV also worked with the official event delivery partner to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the delivery lead for G7, Identity, to create a VIP lounge to host leaders and dignitaries, and to function as an unofficial welcome lounge to the summit. This space later became the venue for President Biden’s final G7 press conference.
Alongside the summit activities, JHAV worked with the University of Exeter on its Green Futures Partnership Programme, providing event management, production, filming, editing and streaming services, bringing together high-profile people such as HRH The Prince of Wales, Sir Patrick Vallance, Eden Project founder Sir Tim Smit, and Sir Richard Branson.
Other events the team supported throughout the week included a panel session with astronaut Major Tim Peake at Goonhilly Earth Station, technical production of a hybrid live audience and online event at the Falmouth Hotel for Celtic Sea Power, and projection mapping onto an engine house in St Agnes for Finisterre’s Sea7 campaign.
Hedges continues: “We had more than 20 staff working for us over the week, including freelancers from the industry. It felt great to be back together and getting involved in the work that we all love after such a difficult year.
“The events sector has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic. Through diversification and retraining, our core team has shown resilience and the ability to bounce back. With hybrid events becoming the future, this is where we are currently seeing the most growth.”
