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A significant new provision has recently been inserted by the Government into the Employment Bill on flexible working.

There will be a new statutory right for employees with at least 26 weeks’ service who have parental responsibility for a child up to six years (18 if disabled) to request flexible working (e.g. changes to working hours, time or place of work etc) and for the employer to have to consider it.

This is only a right to request flexible working, not to be given it, but a strict timetable will apply for a meeting to discuss it, a reply to be made and a right of appeal. Acceptable ‘business reasons’ have been set out for the request to be rejected, namely . . .

- additional burden of costs

- detrimental effect on employer’s ability to meet customer demands

- inability to organise work in employee’s absence

- detrimental effect on qualit

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Lighting companies trading on the Internet are being warned to keep a watchful eye after a number of businesses in the industry have seen their Internet traffic unlawfully directed to a rival’s website.

The warning comes from commercial law firm, Taylors, who successfully helped a leading Lancashire-based lighting manufacturer win a legal battle against their competitor who had unlawfully placed meta tags on their website so that customers searching for their rival’s products would be directed instead to their own. Further investigations by intellectual property lawyers at Taylors also revealed that the website contained 15 meta tags for other rivals’ sites.

Elaine Hurn, managing partner at Taylors said: "Some unscrupulous companies have been including meta tags giving the names of their competitors, so that when the competitor’s name is searched for, the

ISE 2026 - Banner - Oct 2025

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Employers invariably have fluctuating levels of demand for work or may, on occasion, have a rush job or a deadline to meet which can only be achieved if workers are prepared to put in some overtime. Can the employer insist upon this?

As the result of a case heard earlier this year by the European Court of Justice, the answer is ‘no’ unless there is a provision in the employment contract giving the employer the right to insist that overtime is worked. The employee had been dismissed for refusing to work overtime and the Court held that he was quite entitled to refuse as his contract said nothing on this issue. Accordingly, contracts should contain an appropriate requirement and always be checked before any attempt to insist upon overtime being worked is made.

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Following our news story last week on the death of Derek Power, we now understand that his funeral will take place at midday this coming Friday at St Mary's Church, Callington, Cornwall. Flowers have specifically not been requested in favour of a collection at the service for the benefit of the church itself.

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Le Mark continues to experience a year of success. Returning from a successful launch by Apollo Design Technology of Le Mark’s PLASA 2002 double award-winning product GEL-TAK Filter Fix at LDI Las Vegas, the Cambridgeshire-based company has found that they have been short-listed for a ‘Huntingdonshire Business Award’ in the category of ‘Spirit of Ingenuity’.

"The award is presented to the company and its staff rather then for an individual product", said managing director Stuart Gibbons. "We are extremely thrilled and honoured to even be shortlisted," said Gibbons, "being based in the high-tech county of Cambridgeshire so close to ‘silicon fen’, we are aware of the high calibre of competition within our catchment area."

(Lee Baldock)

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Veteran entertainment industry writer, photographer, publicist and designer, Cat Strom (Forcer), has announced the launch of a new entertainment technology service: Catriona Strom Design. The company aims to deliver a complete design, content and production package, including graphic design, web design, editorial content, photography and website maintenance, or any one of those services as required.

Should you need a media release, photographs of your project or production (digital or traditional), web site design or content updates, a newsletter (electronic or printed), a product brochure or a magazine ad, this new venture offers a comprehensive range of highly-integrated publicity and promotion services for entertainment technology businesses - from someone who knows the industry.

(Ruth Rossington)

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The Music Managers Forum (MMF) has appointed John Glover as its new chairman. He replaces outgoing chairman Keith Harris and will be assisted during his tenure by Phil Nelson, who has been re-appointed vice-chairman. The announcement comes after a successful AGM, which was held in early November at the offices of Willott Kingston Smith in London's Regent Street.

As a well-known and respected music industry manager, John Glover brings a wealth of experience to the role of MMF chairman - a position he last held four years ago. A manager for over 30 years, Glover has been involved in the careers of Free, Mott The Hoople, Jim Capaldi, Joe Brown, Paul Kossoff and, more recently, Victoria Beckham. His company, Blueprint Management currently represents Tony Hadley, Go West, Beverley Craven, Alison Limerick and Outbreak. He is also a board member of the British Music Centre and sits on the boa

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Socapex has launched a new website fully dedicated to the entertainment industry. The website is complete with all the last information about Socapex inter-connection solutions, such as SL61 standard and monopiece back-shell, rectangular and audio connectors, as well as the RJ Field - the ruggedized RJ45 connection.

Socapex designs and manufactures connectors according to the highest standards of quality, safety and robustness. Socapex is part of Amphenol-Socapex (France), which designs, manufactures and markets connector products for the following the Entertainment, Industrial, military, aeronautic, fibre optic, data and telecommunication markets. Amphenol-Socapex is part of the Amphenol Corporation (USA).

(Lee Baldock)

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A credit card scam, using ‘electronically stolen’ credit card details, which has recently affected US companies in the entertainment industry, is now seemingly targeting UK companies. Up to a dozen US companies, members of ESTA, have been targeted by what appears to be the same individuals, operating from Indonesia. In a warning issued by ESTA to its members, one company’s experience is described as follows.

"We were contacted by email for info, stock availability, and whether we could ship internationally (to Indonesia) against payment by credit card. Relatively small dollars were represented on first contact. No shipping account could be supplied via UPS, FedEx, or DHL, so prepay and add terms were requested. The credit card company originally approved authorization for future shipment, although it was noted that the name and address on the account did not m

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The Barco Technology Showcase, held at Pinewood Studios on the 8-9 October provided an interesting opportunity to view the display specialist’s wide range of projection and display products, while the company’s experienced and knowledgeable staff were on hand to talk visitors through each product.

The Barco portfolio is certainly impressive, ranging from the compact state-of-the-art Cine Versum 80 home theatre projector through to the ScenergiX seamless wide screen and SLM Performance projectors - ideal for panoramic backdrops on stage.

Also on view to visitors was Barco’s iStudio, one of the most advanced all-in-one solutions for managed monitoring. Intended for use in studios, control centres, playout centres, uplink centres and for downlink monitoring, it has a high quality display with rear screen projection, a graphic controller and web-based operating softwar

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Freelancing in the 21st Century is the title of a seminar to be held at the next PSA Get Together, which will take place at A.C. Lighting facility in High Wycombe on 4 December 2002 at 7.30pm.

The evening will begin with a review of the current system of using freelancers as self-employed subcontractors, the rights and responsibilities of the freelancers and their clients and the potential problems now facing the Industry as a result of the abuse of the IR56 self-employment regulations, particularly the possibility of crippling tax arrears bills faced by some users of freelancers. Following this will be an examination of the alternative ways of freelancing, either as one-person Limited Companies or as Temporary Employees, taxed at source under PAYE. Finally there will be presentations of management and freelance points of view, followed by a question and answer session, drinkies and ni

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Theatre Projects Consultants has worked all over the world, but never created a drive-through theatre - until now! At the eleventh hour, the Emir of Abu Dhabi has called in Theatre Projects Consultants to work on a new 500-seat waterfront theatre being built for the Royal Court, one of the requirements being enough space between the stage and the stalls to allow the frail leader to be driven to his seat.

Although the original plan had been to erect a tented theatre, this was abandoned when the Royal Court decided it wanted a more permanent structure and contracted local company Algeemi Code to design, build and fit-out the new facility. Soon after the metal framing had been put in place, it was realized that there were opportunities to improve the design and one of the Public Works Department's architects contacted Theatre Projects: within a week Mark Stroomer, design director, was in

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Twenty-year laser industry and special effects veteran, Kevin McCarthy, has launched a new firm, Holo-Walls, specializing in producing large holographic environments and effects that are available for sale or rental to the entertainment and display industries.

Previously with Laser Media until 2001, he moved on to work with Hiro Yamagata, producing spectacular holographic art installations throughout the world - the largest being the critically acclaimed 'NGC6093' at the Ace Gallery in New York, which comprised of 25,000sq.ft of holographic mylar panels covering floors, walls and ceilings.

In his new venture McCarthy has a total of eight patterns with five patterns producing varying multi-coloured effects while three patterns simulate the raw look of steel such as galvanised metal, diamond deck or brushed aluminium. "Holo-Walls are basically a product that incorporates a thin fi

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The Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA) has announced the election results for its 2003 Board of Directors. The new directors are: Mark West, re-elected as Affiliate Vice President (President, Downhome Productions); Rick Rudolph, re-elected as Dealer Director (Vice President, Stage Equipment & Lighting, Inc.); Fred Mikeska, elected as Manufacturer Director (Marketing Manager, Creative Stage Lighting Co., Inc.); and Greg Meeh, elected as Affiliate Director (CEO, Jauchem & Meeh, Inc.).

In addition, Cindi Manning of Vincent Lighting Systems has been appointed to fill the recently vacated position of Dealer Vice President and Patrick O’Rourke of Big Apple Lights has been appointed to fill the remaining two years of Cindi’s previously held position of Dealer Director. ESTA has also paid tribute to two long-time and highly effective Board members - Beverly In

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The McKenzie Group has acquired its fifth live music venue which will allow for further expansion of the successful Academy brand to Scotland. The Group has concluded negotiations to purchase the former New Bedford Cinema on Eglington Street in Glasgow from Scottish property developers E.D.I. Group, and will fully refurbish the venue before its relaunch in March 2003.

MKG currently owns and operates three other Academy branded live music/club venues - Brixton Academy (London), Birmingham Academy and Bristol Academy; and also London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire and Bar Academy in Birmingham City Centre.

An extensive £3,000,000 planned refurbishment programme will commence immediately by MKG’s in-house project team headed by Archie McIntosh - previously responsible for the refurbishment programme of McKenzie Group’s Birmingham Academy, Bristol Academy and Bar Acade

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Audio-Visual company 6th Sense Solutions (UK) Ltd has recently moved to new premises in Cheltenham, following six years of growth that have seen the business grow to need four times as much space as at its old premises.

The company specializes in audio visual production and hire and sale of AV equipment. Its clients range from those requiring a simple audio-visual presentation at a small event to large-scale productions for conferences, outdoor concerts and festivals. Clients include household names such as the BBC, Leeds City Council, Dyson Appliances, The Salvation Army, Pfizer and Dairy Crest. Matt McCarty, managing director at 6th Sense Solutions, told us: "The move will enable us to be more efficient and give us greater opportunities to display our technology. We need to continually invest in the latest equipment in order to satisfy our clients’ expectations."

Th

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The Entertainment Services and Technology Association’s Board of Directors has voted unanimously to open up ESTA’s Code of Conduct to allow complaints to be filed by the general public, with effect from 1 January 2003. In 1999, ESTA led the industry in promoting ethical business practices and professionalism by creating and adopting a Code of Conduct for members. Received with enthusiasm by members, the Code was also used as a model by several other industry associations, including PLASA and CITT, in creating their own codes.

ESTA’s Code of Conduct plays a very important role in maintaining public confidence in the industry by assuring the public of uniformly high standards in their dealings with members of the Association. As one member of the public said: "ESTA membership does matter to many of us and we use it as a ‘recommendation’ when looking for

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Those involved in Fire Safety may be interested in a seminar being held at the Headquarters of the Institute of Electrical Engineers at Savoy Place. Taking place on 12 December, the focus is on the recently revised Building Regulations Part B - Fire Safety. Whilst the bulk is on prevention and accordant construction, time will be devoted to detection and warning systems.

For more information, contact the IEE or Alison Payton at the Institute of Mechanical Engineers on the e-mail address shown.

(James Eade)

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The Event Services Association (TESA) is moving into providing training for the UK event industry with the launch of a series of Health and Safety Courses.

Designed to improve standards in the events industry, the first three courses are planned for March, April and May of next year and will be undertaken for the Association in conjunction with Richard Limb, Director of Leisure Safety and Group Safety Manager with the Symonds Group, one of the industry’s leading event safety consultancies.

Costing just £195 + VAT per delegate, the one-day course will cover everything from risk assessment planning to the evaluation of both indoor and outdoor sites for events. Delegates are given a practical exercise to do in site planning and complete the course with a TESA/Symonds Certificate to show that they have completed the work.

Further courses are also being planned in other areas of

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Large format projection specialists E/T/C UK projected the images of the BBC’s 10 Greatest Britons onto three different city centre landmarks. Contracted by the BBC, E/T/C UK did this over the three evening’s leading up to the broadcast of the final programme in this high profile series.

As the final winner was announced, the face of Winston Churchill, voted the all-time greatest Briton by the public, was then projected onto all three buildings - in London, Liverpool and Bristol - in a simultaneous live broadcast.

The project followed on from E/T/C’s work with the BBC for the first programme in the series - on Viscount Horatio Nelson. They projected the face of Nelson onto the Shell Building on London’s South Bank. This projection was such a success, that the BBC decided to publicise the finale using the same hi-impact promotional techniques of large format p

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Creative Technology (CT) produced some unusual television effects for the BBC Children In Need fund-raising marathon hosted by Terry Wogan and Gaby Roslin recently.

The company was contracted by BBC Resources to build on the Totaliser screen reinforcement they provided last year, as well as adding a spectacularly ‘retro’ LED dancefloor. The dancefloor dominated the stage and was in use for much of the evening. CT’s project manager Paul Holden commented: "Last year we provided a flown screen over the Totaliser using Barco i6 high-brightness panels. This year we used 80 of the Barco i8 panels, in a 16 x 5 configuration."

The display - measuring 7.16m wide by 2.24m - was run in 16:5 format, receiving 16:9 aspect ratio feeds, to create a letterbox effect. The content mostly comprised of Totaliser-specific graphics. But the more challenging aspect of the set wa

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A big thank you to Le Mark and Roscolab as this Christmas both companies have decided to send their Christmas greetings via e-mail and advertising respectively, instead of traditional Christmas cards, with the money saved being donated to the Light Relief charity.

Stuart Gibbons, managing director at Le Mark explained: "A Christmas card has a life of one or two weeks before it's disposed of, so my suggestion was an e-card to send either via e-mail or to create something along the lines of a virtual Christmas tree to use on an industry news site."

Duncan Smith at Roscolab added: "Light Relief has enjoyed a high profile recently, especially at PLASA 2002, and I wanted to add to that. As we usually buy charity Christmas cards anyway, as well as taking every opportunity to give something back to the industry, I thought this year instead of cards we should make a donation t

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East London-based gobo and projection specialist, Projected Image, has taken on an additional new premises at its HQ in the Three Mills Island Studio complex, Bromley-by- Bow. This is part of an on-going expansion plan in line with recent company developments and the establishment of sister company Projected Image Digital.

In November, Projected Image announced an exclusive UK distribution deal with RADlite, the revolutionary new PC-based computer generated effects package. Expanding to the new, larger, 1100sq.ft premises will allow Projected Image to enlarge its gobo production facilities and move all administration into the new space, leaving the original area free to be set up and utilized as a permanent RADlite demonstration. "We’re very excited about the move," said director David March. "The intention is also to offer the facility to lighting designers and vi

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L&SI’s series of industry networking events got off to a flying start on 10 October when 58 delegates joined the PLASA Media team and the technical production crew at the London Palladium for a backstage tour of the world’s most technically-advanced musical production, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

After a welcome drink in the Palladium’s Cinderella Bar, delegates were welcomed to the theatre by L&SI editor Ruth Rossington, before being given a fascinating potted history of the site and the venue by theatre manager Nick Bromley. Following this, the delegates were split into groups to begin the behind the scenes tour, which took in the automation control position, the lighting control room, the lighting rig, FOH sound desk, the under-stage engineering and the radio racks, plus a chance to view the amazing car itself, built by Howard Eaton Lighting Ltd. At each point, deleg

  1. Training Database Launched
  2. 2D>3D, Sheffield
  3. Charity Climb
  4. PLASA Committee Election Results Announced
  5. Owen departs PSA
  6. Caroline Moss joins Faith Communications
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