Event Matters

Welcome to the Event Matters Podcast , a new podcast from Kershaw Partners about the realities of running, growing and scaling event businesses today. Hosted by David Watt , each episode keeps things open, honest and practical so you walk away with ideas you can use the same week. Expect straight-talking updates on the market, candid conversations with expert leaders from across venues, agencies, caterers and suppliers and the wider industry, plus valuable insights and advice you can implement within your own business.

Event Matters is a business podcast hosted by Kershaw Partners, with 23 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Kershaw Partners hosts Event Matters, a business show with 23 episodes published.

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  Episode #23

  Nobody Has It All Figured Out: What It Really Takes to Build an Event Business

  Aug 14, 202624 min

  In this special episode of Event Matters, David Watt looks back at some of the conversations he has had with event business owners and leaders so far, bringing together the recurring lessons that have emerged around starting, growing and building a business that can last. Across 16 previous conversations, some surprisingly consistent themes emerge. Few successful event businesses began with a perfectly formed plan, but as those businesses grew, their founders had to change with them – learning to step away from delivery, trust other people with responsibility and build the structure and culture needed to support the next stage of growth. David also revisits conversations about the realities of building a team in a demanding industry, from creating a culture where people can learn from mistakes to recognising when constantly working harder is no longer sustainable. The episode finishes by looking at technology and AI, and why service, empathy, judgement and human connection remain so important to creating great events. Expect insights on: Why successful event businesses rarely start with a perfect plan How the founder's role needs to change as a company grows Learning to step away from delivery and trust other people What good culture actually looks like inside an event business Building a business that doesn't depend on everyone constantly running at full tilt Why founders need to create space to focus on the future Where technology and AI can add value without replacing the human side of events Bringing together perspectives from across the Event Matters series, this episode explores what it really takes to build an event business that can grow, evolve and become bigger than the person who started it. Host: David Watt , Partner at Kershaw Partners Featuring insights from: Lucy Nicholls , Andrew Charlton , Gavin Farley , Chris Lind , Jason Brown , Jennifer Davidson , Holly Faulkner , Craig Mathie , Rita Chandarana , Ben Hardy , Taran O'Doherty , Shea McNelis , Cindy Eisenhuth , Lisa James , Deborah Rey-Burns and Hugo Campbell .

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  Event Matters

  Food, Festivals and the Most AI-Resistant Industry of All with Hugo Campbell

  Jul 22, 202645 min

  In this episode of Event Matters, David Watt is joined by Hugo Campbell, Co-Founder of Togather, the food and drink specialist behind catering at some of the UK's biggest festivals and live events. Hugo's journey into events started long before Togather. Growing up in Oxford, he and his childhood friend and future co-founder Digby spent their teenage years chasing free festival tickets, running a music blog and immersing themselves in the world of live events. After moving to London and witnessing the rise of the street food scene first-hand, the pair spotted an opportunity to combine their love of food and events, launching Feast It as a marketplace connecting food traders with private and corporate events. More than a decade later, that business has evolved into Togather, a team of around 65 people delivering food and drink experiences for major festivals including Isle of Wight, Love Supreme and Gala. The conversation explores how catering has become a central part of the festival experience, why younger generations are placing greater importance on food than ever before and how festivals are increasingly using hospitality to attract and retain attendees. Hugo also shares the lessons learned from scaling a business in the events industry, building trust with suppliers and maintaining quality as the company has grown. David and Hugo discuss the role of technology in events, including Hugo's conviction that events are one of the most AI-impervious industries there are. While AI can add significant value behind the scenes, he argues that human judgement, creativity and relationships will always remain at the heart of great event experiences. Expect insights on: • Turning a teenage obsession with festivals into a fast-growing events business • Why food has become a key driver of the festival experience • How great catering can influence ticket sales and attendee retention • Building trust with suppliers and maintaining quality at scale • The operational challenge of delivering food and drink experiences for major festivals • Why Gen Z's relationship with food is changing the events industry • Creating memorable experiences through local partnerships and unique food concepts • Where AI can improve event operations and where human judgement remains essential • Why sustainable growth often comes from patience rather than speed Hugo's story is a fascinating look at entrepreneurship, live events and the changing role food now plays in creating memorable experiences. Host: David Watt , Partner at Kershaw Partners Guest: Hugo Campbell , Co-Founder, Togather

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  Event Matters

  Building a Business People Never Want to Leave with Jennifer Davidson

  Jul 8, 202638 min

  In this episode of Event Matters , David Watt is joined by Jennifer Davidson, Founder and CEO of Sleek Events, one of the UK's fastest-growing independent event agencies. Starting out as a freelance event manager with no grand plan to build a business, Jennifer has grown Sleek into a company approaching £50 million in turnover while staying fiercely committed to its independence, its people and its values. Rather than chasing rapid growth at any cost, Jennifer has built a business where culture comes first, clients become long-term partners and success is measured by the opportunities created for the team. Jennifer shares the leadership principles that have shaped Sleek's journey, from turning down high-value clients who weren't the right fit to creating a workplace where employees genuinely want to spend time together. She also reflects on the importance of self-development, protecting company culture as you scale and why building a business for the long term means making difficult decisions today. Expect insights on: Building a values-led culture that people genuinely want to protect Why saying no to the wrong clients can be the best commercial decision Creating long-term partnerships instead of chasing short-term wins Leading a growing business without losing sight of your people Balancing ambitious growth with independence and long-term thinking How personal development shapes better leadership Why culture should be measured by actions, not words The lessons Jennifer has learned from scaling one of the UK's fastest-growing event agencies Jennifer's story is a powerful reminder that sustainable success isn't built through relentless growth alone. It's built by investing in people, staying true to your values and creating a business that everyone is proud to be part of. Host: David Watt , Partner at Kershaw Partners Guest: Jennifer Davidson , Founder & CEO, Sleek Events

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  Event Matters

  The Power of Culture, Consistency and Customer Experience with Shea McNelis

  Jun 24, 202638 min

  In this episode of Event Matters, David Watt is joined by Shea McNelis, Co-Founder of Integrity Security, one of Ireland’s fastest-growing event security businesses. What began as a bold decision to launch a new company in the middle of the Covid shutdown has grown into a business trusted to secure some of Ireland’s largest public events, including St Patrick’s Festival, major sporting fixtures and large-scale music festivals. But this conversation is about much more than security. Shea shares how his background in event promotion shaped his belief that security should be customer-focused, welcoming and built on trust rather than intimidation. He explains why culture and values have been central to Integrity’s rapid growth, how the business has prioritised staff retention in an industry known for high turnover, and why familiar faces and consistent service matter so much to event organisers. The discussion also explores what happened when Shea stepped away from the business for more than two months to travel with his family, the lessons he learned about trust, delegation and founder dependency, and how the experience changed his perspective on leadership and growth. Away from the events industry, Shea reveals his long-standing passion for music, from managing chart-topping artists to launching a new music development label focused on nurturing emerging talent. Expect insights on: • Building a values-led business in a highly demanding industry • Why customer experience starts with the first person attendees meet • Creating a culture of trust, accountability and professionalism • The importance of staff retention and career development in events • Managing risk, crowd safety and large-scale public events • Letting go as a founder and building a business that can operate without you • Why work-life balance matters, even during periods of rapid growth • Following passions outside the day job and the lessons creativity can teach business leaders This episode is a fascinating conversation about leadership, trust and building a business with purpose. Shea’s story offers a refreshing reminder that sustainable growth starts with people, culture and having the confidence to step back and let others succeed. Host: David Watt , Partner at Kershaw Partners Guest: Shea McNelis , Co-Founder, Integrity Security

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  Event Matters

  A Personal Journey Through Events, Leadership and Identity with Craig Mathie

  Jun 17, 202649 min

  In this episode of Event Matters, David Watt is joined by Craig Mathie, Co-Founder of Project 30 – an event production and project management business delivering work across some of the UK’s biggest sporting, cultural and brand-led events. Craig’s route into the industry began at Bournemouth Sevens, where he worked his way from the bottom of the ladder to Managing Director under the mentorship of entrepreneur Dodge Woodall. That experience shaped not only his understanding of events, leadership and commercial delivery, but also his belief in culture, teamwork and backing young talent. But this conversation goes far deeper than operations and production. Craig speaks openly about the personal journey that led to the creation of Project 30, including his struggles with sexuality, mental health and the counselling process that ultimately changed his life. What emerged from that period was not only a new sense of self, but also a business built around authenticity, people and purpose. The discussion explores the realities of scaling a modern events business, why small teams can outperform much larger organisations and how Project 30 has built a reputation for delivering major projects across events including Glastonbury, the Ryder Cup, Henley Royal Regatta and the Champions League Final. Craig also shares his thoughts on leadership, culture and the future of the events industry, particularly the importance of creating environments where younger generations genuinely want to work and grow. Expect insights on: Why authenticity has become one of the most valuable assets in modern business The lessons learned from growing up professionally at Bournemouth Sevens How counselling and self-development shaped the creation of Project 30 Why culture and team dynamics matter so much in high-pressure event environments The importance of balancing commercial thinking with operational delivery How small teams can outperform much larger agencies when trust and accountability are right Why live events will become even more important in an increasingly digital world The challenges and realities of scaling an independent events business Creating a workplace culture that supports wellbeing, family life and long-term growth Why enjoying the process matters just as much as achieving the outcome This episode is an honest and thoughtful conversation about leadership, identity, resilience and what it really takes to build a business people want to be part of. Craig’s openness, ambition and belief in the power of people make this one of the most personal and insightful conversations on Event Matters so far. Host: David Watt , Partner at Kershaw Partners Guest: Craig Mathie , Co-Founder, Project 30

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