Press Releases

This September, SLS was commissioned by the Royal Yachting Association to provide the Overlay, Look and branding for two events, held consecutively at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy in Dorset.

RS:X World Windsurfing Championships, 3rd – 11th September

Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta, 14th – 19th September

Over these two events, SLS installed 1800 m2 of temporary structures, retail units and information points, working to some very tight timescales and deadlines!

Products: flagpoles, fence scrim, archway, wayfinding, entire event electrics, large range of furniture, double deck commentary vehicle, fencing, toilet hire and portacabins.

“The RS:X World Windsurfing Championships and the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta were two of the most high-profile events the RYA has staged to date at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, which of course will play host to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sailing events in just under three years’ time,” said RYA Competitions Manager David Campbell-James. “The overlay supplied by SLS at these regattas proved really impactful and helped the venue come alive, in keeping with the professional, world class status of these major events.”

For further information:
SLS Group
01256 764994

New York Motorexpo, 13th – 18th September at the World Financial Centre.

Flagpoles and bases now available for rent in the US!

This September, SLS went stateside for the New York Motorexpo! Unable to find temporary flagpoles and bases in the States, the MotorExpo appointed SLS to ship and install their unique product at the World Financial Centre.

Rick Friedberger, SLS project manager for this contract said:
“It was great to see our flagpoles at such a prestigious event. We have retained all the poles and bases in New York. The poles are available to rent for events right across the United States; we are looking forward to being busy!”

Graeme Carver, Motorexpo President said:
“Having conducted a review of suppliers available to us in the United States we decided to again work with SLS and have them import their materials for our 2nd annual New York event. This built on the successful relationship we have enjoyed for a number of years and their flagpoles looked fantastic on the harbour side of the World Financial Center. We look forward to working with them on our future events.”

For further information:
SLS Group
01256 764994

UK event Look contractor SLS added a special dimension to this year’s Special Olympics at Leicester, the UK’s largest multi-sport summer event, held from 25th – 31st July. The event took place across 22 venues, offering an extensive list of sporting activities, including football, swimming, athletics, judo, equestrianism and table tennis.

Working in collaboration with hosts Leicester Games 2009 Ltd and games marketing director Lou Holland, SLS was responsible for delivering branding and signage across all 22 venues. In addition to the Walkers Stadium, where the opening ceremony took place, locations included city parks, public, voluntary and private sector sports centres, community halls and schools, across Leicestershire & Rutland. SLS provided a comprehensive range of items, including: fence scrim, flagpoles, correx, podium branding, vinyl banners, hanging banners, stadium seat kill, screen branding and tablecloths.

The Special Olympics involved more than 2,700 athletes from across the UK, plus some 1,200 coaches and a further 1,500 supporting volunteers. As a cost-effective measure to prevent overproduction of branding and signage, certain items were transported from venue to venue, meaning that a smooth installation process was crucial. The SLS installation process involved a four-man team working around the clock throughout the week to ensure this happened.

The bright, colourful Special Olympics artwork was designed by Gurdeep Sian, Brand Manager for the event, where vibrant blues and oranges were the outstanding colours to project the unique brand image across the venues.

Giles Stanford, SLS Managing Director, said: “We had great fun working on the Special Olympics – the SLS team worked tirelessly to ensure that the series of installations ran smoothly and on time and we were thoroughly delighted with the results. It was an exciting challenge for us to be able to demonstrate our logistical expertise across 22 different venues and be involved in such a world class event”.

Steve Humphries, Games Director for the Special Olympics said: “To deliver a World class event experience requires everyone to be at the top of their game. SLS more than played their part in ensuring the Special Olympics 2009, Leicester proved a most memorable and fun-tastic occasion for all involved. A World class branding and dress delivery from a World class team.”

Special Olympics Great Britain

The Special Olympics is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering
individuals to become physically fit, productive and respected through sports training and
competition. It provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for more than 2.25
million children and adults around the globe. In 1988 it was recognised by the IOC as the third
member of the Olympic family, and is the only organisation authorised by the IOC to use the
word “Olympics” in its title.

Special Olympics Great Britain was established in 1978 and currently serves more than 8,000
athletes who take part in year-round sports training and competition programmes. It is a
registered charity and the Patron of this year’s Summer Games in Leicester is Martin Johnson.

For further information:
SLS Group
01256 764994

Specialist event Look contractor SLS has helped to bring an extra environmentally friendly dimension to this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo, held annually each July at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire.

RIAT introduced a new recycling programme to encourage in excess of 160,000 people to dispose of all items suitable for recycling, including plastic cups and bottles, paper and cardboard. To maximise visitor participation, SLS provided five outstanding information arches highlighting the recycling points. The new arches were examples of an innovative Rail Arch system uniquely developed in-house by SLS.

SLS also provided:

• 3 x freestanding 48 sheet (6m x 3m) billboards (sponsor recognition)
• 48 x 6m flagpoles on concrete bases
• 2 x VIP entrance arches 4 x bus stops
• 36 x 12m flagpoles on concrete bases
• Installation of 900 metre squared building wrap on aircraft hangers

Giles Stanford, SLS Managing Director, said: “This is a fabulous event that draws thousands of visitors from both the UK and internationally, and we are delighted to be providing services that draw on our core skills and resources. We are always keen to support our clients with their recycling initiatives and to deliver innovative solutions within their budgets.”

The Tattoo

This year’s RIAT took place over the weekend of 18th and 19th July and involved more than 250 aircraft plus a 7½ hour flying display, supported by the RAF and some of the world’s leading aerospace companies. Held in support of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, the event is acknowledged as the world’s largest military Airshow and as one of the UK’s premier outdoor events.

A spokesman for the Royal International Air Tattoo said: “As part of our planning for this year’s Air Tattoo, we have been working closely with our recycling partner Grundon Waste Management, in order to provide facilities that would encourage our very large audience to recycle plastic bottles, paper, cardboard, cans and glass whilst they were with us.

However, any recycling initiative is only as good as the on-site signage and displays that we provide, and SLS played a large part in highlighting our recycling activity with their visible and attractive arches”.

For further information:
SLS Group
01256 764994

SLS has been appointed to dress Manchester city centre for Manchester International Festival. The Festival, which is a biennial event and first took place in 2007, runs from 2nd – 19th July 2009. On offer are original, new works and special events across the spectrum of performing arts, visual arts and popular culture. MIF09 presents twenty world premiere commissions including:

• IT FELT LIKE A KISS: Immersive theatre created by Adam Curtis & Punchdrunk; music composed by Damon Albarn
• KRAFTWERK & STEVE REICH: two pioneers of contemporary music at Manchester’s Velodrome
• JS BACH/ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS: ZHA create installation at Manchester Art Gallery for the music of Bach
• THE GREAT INDOORS: Free weekend of performance and activity for children and families in the town hall
• ELBOW & THE HALLE: Mercury-winners meet original Manchester band

Having worked with the Festival in 2007, SLS is once again supplying the event Look across the city, from the Stations to Albert Square, including installation of more than 100 flagpoles around the city centre, as well as large iconic banners in the Spinningfields and Piccadilly Station, wayfinding toblerones, fence scrim and vinyls. The eye-catching artwork was designed in-house by the MIF team.

“This is a wonderful event to work with, covering a wide range of areas, offering exciting acts from around the world. We aim to provide a great city backdrop, so that all areas involved create impact. The Festival allows our design team to be adventurous within the city walls and the final dressing adds great finish to what is already a major date in the city’s calendar” - Cathel Maclean, SLS Sales Director.

“Working with SLS has been a great pleasure and surpassed our expectations. From conception to delivery, the team has been responsive to our objectives and sensitive to budget constraints and time limits. The support and advice throughout provided for great peace of mind and helped us achieve a great result. The quality of the work, especially the temporary flags and window vinyls, has created a real sense of event and celebration in the city” - Cathy Gallagher, Manchester International Festival Marketing Director.

For further information:
SLS Group
01256 764994