Protec Begins Operations in Birmingham UK

	Stephen Lakin and Chris Bramwell, Protec European Events

As New Year announcements in the events industry go, one that will certainly shake things up in the UK and Europe is Protec's latest statement. Having established itself as a global staging and event technology services company, the Dubai-headquartered company is now strengthening its presence in the UK with its acquisition of Birmingham-based Aventeq Ltd.

With this agreement, Aventeq -- which takes on Protec's brand identity, will now be known as Protec European Events and will have access to a much larger palette of event production resources, including state-of-the-art technology, equipment, and highly skilled staff. It will be in a stronger position to extend its services to a larger client base and offer a more comprehensive and creative approach to its technical productions. The joining of these two companies delivers on Protec's vision of inspiring the entire events industry with extraordinary and impactful experiences through its technical expertise and deliveries.

Established in 2008 by an industry experienced team led by Chris Bramwell, Aventeq has prided itself in delivering quality projects all across the UK and Europe. The company which offers a comprehensive suite of services, including creative and technical design, production, lighting, audio, video, staging, rigging, and venue support services has been known for its slick productions for events of a variety of categories and sizes.

Commenting on this announcement, Stephen Lakin, Protec's founder and CEO said, "I have a lot of time for Chris Bramwell and the team. They have built up a strong business and I'm thrilled to welcome them into the Protec family. I am looking forward to the opportunity to introduce their customers to a wider global reach and more exciting tools and technology to create unique and memorable event experiences."

Bramwell will continue to lead the company to execute on their growth plans but with the backing of the vast resources of Protec. "Aventeq, which of course I'm thrilled to say, is now Protec European Events, has a similar passion to Protec. We focus on delivering fantastic experiences for our clients and audiences," commented Bramwell. "We are very excited to be a part of one of the world's most respected industry leaders and now be able to offer our clients a more creative and technological palette with a wider market reach."

Protec offers comprehensive event technology and staging solutions -- from innovative design through to technical planning to the eventual implementation. It has 10 fully fledged departments and over 140 handpicked full-time staff who are highly trained and are at ease with the equipment and technology the company has continually invested in over the years. With investments in excess of $80 million in the UAE alone, Protec has always been ahead of the game with technology and equipment and has been comfortable handling multiple events of any size -- from small meetings to stadium shows. Protec has always been committed to not only support events of all sizes but also to offer the highest possible service to all the design houses and production companies encouraging new ideas and bold creativity.

Lakin says, "Technology in the events industry has seen exponential growth, creativity has become bolder and audience engagement now plays a crucial role in every event. Our clients are spending more time on developing bespoke events, creatively using content with technology to immerse and involve their audiences into their story's environment. Technology continues to play an important role and new technologies are guiding content developers to dig deeper into their creative talents to make full use of the technical resources to deliver with impact and to stay current. There is greater demand for a break from the typical sit and listen conference format to a more imaginative, dynamic, immersive, and involving experience. This spurs us to continually think creatively and develop new ways of delivering our productions. So, although we are one of the largest events technical and staging solutions company in the world, in my mind, our creative approach to all our projects and the ability to consistently create extraordinary experiences through clever use of technology is what sets us apart. It is this approach that Protec European Events will take on which I'm sure will be an important factor to ensure that their clients are thrilled with every event delivery."

Protec started operations in 1999 with 12 employees, increased its staff to 21 when it purchased Varilite Middle East, and has steadily grown to a 147-strong team of full-time employees across all disciplines today. Their growth has included the largest and most memorable shows the region has seen (both corporate and rock and roll) as well as thousands of smaller meetings and events. A key factor Lakin claims that has contributed to the company's success is that it treats every event (whether it is the smallest of small events or a mega-show) with the same dedication and commitment. This approach, he adds, has cemented Protec's relationships with its clients and has also played its part in the growth of the company as well as the industry in the Middle East. "Proec European Events shares our passion and I'm looking forward to extending this commitment across the UK and Europe," Lakin concludes.