Episode 7
I think Sarah says it all so, in her words!:
“My name is Sarah, I’m 25, Irish and a big fan of Brightsparks!
I worked with Brightsparks for nearly 4 years while I lived in London. I was working full time but on a temporary basis in a primary school so Brightsparks was so handy for filling in school breaks when I wasn’t being paid during that time. Once I went permanent in the school, I kept working with Brightsparks as the extra pay really helped with living in expensive London. I wanted to become a primary school teacher and the experience I was gaining in my position in the school isn’t available in Ireland so working with Brightsparks allowed me to save for uni while living in London and to have a social life, because.. well.. Balance!
Brightsparks was a perfect fit for me as I had waitressing experience however I met plenty of people who had no previous experience and were trained to provide a high level of VIP service or working in other areas. The easily accessed app meant I could plan in advance and decide when I wanted to work and where. I personally enjoyed working in Twickenham most so would make sure to sign up to as many matches and events held there. I worked in private boxes and the agency would do their best to keep the same staff in the same areas. A handy tip- there was always plenty of work going, no matter what venue you prefer, for November and December ensuring you have plenty of extra cash for Christmas!
Since leaving Brightsparks I have moved back to Ireland and returned to uni to study Primary Teaching. My experience and references from Brightsparks helped me to secure a part time job at home. From working in new venues and working with so many different people I feel more prepared for starting my teaching placement. I can be quite uncomfortable in new situations and was feeling quite daunted by the idea of walking into a new class, school, staffroom etc but I am far more confident now than I was before.
I highly recommend Brightsparks as an agency. They are easy going but professional which is difficult to find. Everyone was so friendly and accommodating and I hope to see them again.
Best of luck!“
Episode 6
Jonny worked with us at a range of amazing events as well as going on to work directly with one of our clients as part of their F1 hospitality team!
Jonny: 2008 – 2012
It might be nearly a decade since I last worked with Brightsparks, but the work I did with them and the personality I developed have certainly contributed to the path my life has taken and continues to do so to the present day. From my time with Brightsparks, I was able to develop skills and personality traits that are not only useful in the professional world but can also be exhibited in social contexts; skills such as communication, man management, delegation, organisation and traits such as concentration, confidence, responsibility and respect for others. Lessons were sometimes learnt the hard way but were nevertheless taken on board for the better.
Undoubtedly, I am indebted to Brightsparks for the four years I spent working in Formula One in hospitality and logistics. Without a blend of the beforementioned skills and their good word of course, the opportunity, which I admittedly had never considered in a million years would never have become a reality. In this role, I was able to exhibit all these soft skills along with the hospitality itself; all this in far flung corners of the world such as Australia, Brazil, Canada and Japan. Working in a fast, high pressure F1 environment, working with not only your team, but the rest of the F1 community quickly became second nature which meant I was able to enjoy the experience even more.
To the present day, I still need to display the skills I developed with Brightsparks in working as a freelance translator and interpreter, while also developing this as my own business. Organisation and delegation/ man management are paramount, and communication and levels of professionalism have to be maintained in order to succeed. Working as an interpreter requires levels of concentration and confidence which can be developed working in the busy team environments provided by Brightsparks.
A lot of this has come from putting in the hours at all the different venues with Brightsparks. To end on a rather light note; the friends I worked with, and the fun experiences with them also play a huge contributing factor in what I have done and do now and probably what I will do in the future too and it is something I always made the most of.
Thank you Jonny and we wish you the best of luck with all future adventures!
Episode 5
Naomi is currently working as a receptionist and said that she re-lived some really nice memories whilst writing the below!
Naomi: December 2011 – June 2015
If I’m to be very honest i had no desire to work in hospitality before Brightsparks. I had just left college at the time and was desperate to work… until now, It’s been my best placement. I learnt how to work alongside a wide range of different people (including many difficult ones) and that strengthened my character to say the least. It’s something that I’ve taken with me everywhere. I’ve taken so much from my experiences but another important thing for me is the high standard that was expected from the Brightsparks. I remember that despite what agency was at an event, Brightsparks always held a strong reputation for good standards and outstanding staff. I admired that and it encouraged me to work more. Customer service skills are required everywhere and that’s something you’ll definitely find with Brightsparks. I can confidently say that my customer service skills that i gained while working with Brightsparks got me to where I am now
Naomi, we wish you all the best in the future and hope you continue to keep in touch!
Episode 4
In his year with us, this Brightspark had the opportunity to work at The Rugby World Cup, Corporate Dinners, Christmas Parties and Coldplay, throughout his time at university.
Andrew: October 2015-October 2016
“Brightsparks enabled me to see the value of teamwork and showed me that if everyone pulls their weight in a team, areas of work that may not initially be the most attractive to an individual can become truly enjoyable experiences where one can meet a wide variety of people from a wide range of backgrounds and work as one unit. Brightsparks seeks out the best roles for the individual and enables them to explore their own strengths and in the process, enables Brightsparks to work like a well oiled machine with immense job satisfaction, something that is a fundamental aspect of the kind of atmosphere the armed forces tries to achieve.
This is due to the outstanding professionalism and organisational skills and online resources that has built Brightsparks into the success story that it has become and I have no doubt, will push it forward for many years to come to reaffirm itself as the gold standard in agency hospitality services. The values which are a fundamental aspect of Brightsparks mission such as those of team work, inclusion and genuine care for the individual truly set it apart from the rest.
Personally, I believe that Brightsparks has shown me that participating wholeheartedly when working in a team and showing enthusiasm for anything you engage with will help you in any workplace environment. It has helped me to respect those whose job it is to ensure that an operation runs smoothly and understand that these people should be respected as they hold a great deal of responsibility for anything that may go wrong, should the team fall apart. I am currently completing my degree at Kings from where I hope to join the Royal Navy. I firmly believe that I have learnt a great deal from my time at Brightsparks about core values which will suit me well in both the application for the Royal Navy and any future employment. I thank you and the whole team at Brightsparks for placing your trust in me”.
We wish you all they very best in the future Andrew!
Our Service
Our recruitment, assessment and training process is rigorous and second to none within the industry. As we appeal largely to the Student Population, we focus on candidates’ soft skills including Work Ethic, Communication & Team-work and Presentation rather than CVs as we understand many candidates may be coming to us for their first job.
We provide dedicated Account Managers so clients and Brightsparks alike have direct access to someone in HQ who has the relevant knowledge at their finger-tips. Brightsparks will never feel just like a number, we encourage an open dialogue to ensure staff feel they can come to us with any concerns and take great care to get to know all new Brightsparks who work with us.
Regardless of a Brightspark’s age, we pay the National Living Wage to all staff as a minimum – we believe that if you are doing the same role with the same level of responsibility as someone else, you deserve to be paid the same.
Rates for our Clients are competitive and flexible and reflect the great level of service and staff that you receive.
Brightsparks are the only hospitality agency staff who can access their pay straight after their shift through Hasteepay which helps cash-flow and promotes consistency and promptness.
Where we work
We predominantly provide Brightsparks to venues in and around London but venture out for large events further afield. Our roles vary from Box waiters to bar staff at venues such as:
Stadiums – Read More
Prestigious Venues eg houses of Parliament & the London Eye
Conferences
Festivals eg Wilderness & SW4
Racecourses – Read More
Christmas Parties – Read More
Summer Events season Venues – Read More
Who are our Brightsparks?
We like to keep in touch with our Brightsparks after they graduate and start full-time careers – here are some of their stories:
Contact us
If you would like to work with us, as a client or Brightspark, please get in touch!
Working with Raymond Blanc at the Chelsea Flower Show
The team’s objective is always to bring an element of joie de vivre to the, sometimes dry, world of corporate hospitality together with exceptional food and great conversation and to deliver an experience reflective of Raymond’s passion for seasonality, locality and great quality ingredients
Our client has designed an experience, repeated and improved year-on-year to delight all guests from beginning to end, utilising our exceptional staff to bring this vision to life. We implement rigorous staff selection to provide the exceptional calibre of service expected by the clientele attending the exclusive venue: bright, engaging and proactive.
Client Testimonial
It is always a great pleasure to work with the Brightsparks team. They always provide us with a professional hardworking team, who support us in delivering some of our amazing events, always with a smile. Brightsparks staff work across a number of our events and the staff work ethic and quality is some of the best I have seen – Thank you Brightsparks.
Lords & Oval Cricket Grounds
The Cricket World Cup has raised the profile of this sport in the UK and Brightsparks was excited to be involved in another global sporting competition having been key suppliers during the Olympics and the Rugby World Cup. Our Brightsparks worked in a number of hospitality roles from box waiters to bar staff and team waiters. Brightsparks has had a long and successful relationship with MCC Lords and has relished the opportunity to support at the Oval and look forward to many events together in the future.
Paris & Farnborough Airshows
There are very few dates on the event calendar when so many multi-billion £ decisions are made within the space of a few days. Brightsparks supply a core team to provide hospitality throughout each airshow, both in the UK and in France; such important decisions should never be made on an empty stomach or a parched throat!
Henley Royal Regatta
The Summer Events Season would not be complete without a trip to Oxfordshire to watch others “messing about in boats”. Many pack up picnics and don blazer and boater to spend an enjoyable day on the River; others, in the same attire, prefer a more formal setting and our Brightsparks are on hand, in marquees set on the riverbank, to serve delicious dishes and refreshing beverages, all with a smile and personality to match the occasion.
Goodwood FOS & Revival
Summer, engines and dressing-up in vintage outfits, what’s not to love? Our Brightsparks, despite the very long hours, queue up to work at the loudest events of the Summer (even compared to the many festivals!). They relish the opportunity to show just how great Brightsparks are at providing great customer service, with the hospitality skills to match; working in areas such as Mercedes, Porsche, Veuve Clicquot and Sponsors.
Providing Events and Hospitality Work
Rugby World Cup 2015
The largest sporting event of 2015, staged at 13 stadiums across the United Kingdom. As quality providers of events and hospitality work, Brightsparks were asked to lend their expertise.
The Tournament was seen live by 2.4m people attending matches, with a further 1.5m fans entering zones across the country and over 10m TV viewers for opening game alone. In order to deliver best in class experience to visitors from around the globe, Brightsparks were asked by tournament organisers to provide events & hospitality staff to all 19 RWC matches hosted at London venues:
- Twickenham Stadium
- Wembley Stadium
- The Olympic Stadium
- Official RWC Fanzones
From the opening ceremony, Brightsparks were proud to be part of every game. From Royalty to sporting Hero’s, Heads of State to Heads of Industry, we provided the highest level of hospitality throughout; the pinnacle for our team including serving members of the Royal family their boxes.
Alongside the Royal and Exec boxes across the stadium, Brightsparks staff were the main suppliers of retail staff in outlets across all venues.
At all Fanzones we provided experiential staff and Brand Ambassadors with core sampling activity which would include sampling, brand engagement and competitions driving consumers online including some VR activation.
For RWC 2015, we supplied:
- 870 accredited staff
- Working 4,472 shifts
- Totalling 34,969 hours
We continue to provide VIP hospitality staff to all major stadiums in and around London.
Click here for the downloadable, printable version.
Discover more events and hospitality work today or discover the right talent here with Brightsparks.
Working at Events
Brightsparks & Goodwood
The spectacular estate of Goodwood is the home to the world famous Festival of Speed, Goodwood Revival & Qatar Goodwood Festival. Helping to get people working at events and venues is not uncommon for Brightsparks. With over 400,000 visitors attending the venue each year, Brightsparks routinely supply accredited events & hospitality staff some of the most exclusive areas and to represent some of the biggest global brands from Bentley to McLaren.
Brightsparks staff can be found working in restaurants, boxes & bars across the venue, enabling guests to enjoy the full VIP experience in luxury surroundings.
In 2015, Brightsparks supplied:
- 150+ accredited staff
- Over 15 key event days
- Working 6,400+ hours
Click here for the downloadable, printable version.
Interested in working at events? Discover jobs today or find the right talent here with Brightsparks.
Brightsparks – Providers of sport event jobs
Here at Brightsparks, we help to successfully provide people with sport event jobs and more. Here’s how we were asked to help Volvic and Tough Mudder:
Objective
- As part of a three year brand activation activity plan between Volvic & Tough Mudder.
- Brightsparks were asked to bring the partnership to life before, during & after Tough Mudder events throughout the UK.
Planning & insights
- Stimulated intrigue in Volvic via key POS material
- Utilised key brand messages on Sampling Teams uniform
- Strategically positioned Brand Ambassadors throughout the course
Results
- Distributed 130,000 highly targeted samples
- 1.3m participants interactions with brand
- Demand out striped supply on 80% of event days
Click here for the downloadable, printable version.
Find sport event jobs today or discover the right talent here
with Brightsparks.
Brightsparks & KIND
Brightsparks, providers of promo staffing jobs and more, teamed up with KIND to amplify their snack bars in the UK. Here are the details:
Objective
- Raise awareness of KIND snack bars in the UK
- Enable as many people to try the bars as possible
- Educate consumers about the KIND brand & bars
Planning & insights
- Target Audience predominately health conscious
- Educate consumers on ingredients/nutrition and heritage
- Spread the KIND message to trade ensuring core distribution
Creative solution
- Highly targeted diverse national sampling campaign
- Branded stand and outdoor display attracting customers whilst offering product sampling
Results
- 100,000 samples handed out during launch across key sites
- 328% uplift in sales post activity
- Secured national coverage across the Tesco Estate
- Roll out across Wholefoods
Click here for the downloadable, printable version.
Find promo staffing jobs today or discover the right talent here
with Brightsparks.
Brightsparks – Evian & TFL
Brightsparks were asked to amplify the brand awareness of the Evian & TFL partnership over the summer…
Objective
- Raise brand awareness of the Evian & TFL partnership
- Keeping passengers hydrated on their journeys with Evian
Planning & insights
- Logistically difficult due to the nature of both Underground sites & time constraints
- Staff selection & bespoke uniform design in line with brand guidelines
Creative solution
- Distribute free Evian water on the underground
- Amplifying our message via social media #beattheheat
Results
- 175,000 free bottles of Evian handed out over 10 days
- Sales in the UK rose by 12% post activity
Click here for the downloadable, printable version.
Find promotional event jobs today or discover the right talent here with Brightsparks.
Experiential Jobs – The Thought Process
It’s important to fit into your audience’s daily routine…
It’s 7am on a Friday morning. David, a twenty-something Londoner hears his alarm go off. The first thing he does is reach for his phone to check all of his notifications: another DJ Khaled Story on Snapchat -#KeysToSuccess; 26 new followers after that Kygo clip was re-posted by @Kygomusic last night, – awesome; 11 Tinder matches? Good swiping game. Then, as he prepares for work, he opens Citymapper to see what time the bus arrives. Six minutes to grab breakfast?! With Apple Pay enabled that’s no bother as he’ll be less than a minute at Pret.
At lunch, David gets another notification. A French couple want to rent his room through Airbnb when he goes home this weekend. “That’ll pay for the train fare” he muses and accepts. He goes out for a bite and decides to take the stairs as he hasn’t done too much walking today. He knows this because of his Fitbit which monitors his activity.
As the end of the work day approaches, he knows he wants to do something, but isn’t 100% sure what that ‘something’ is. He’s looking for experiences in-line with his lifestyle, and finds a great gig in Camden, he invites his friends through the app, books in a snap, and then makes his way over to North London with his paperless ticket.
Indeed, David isn’t alone. He’s a millennial – a generation that is embracing technology unlike any generation before. It’s hard to catch David’s attention, as he installs all kinds of ad-blocking programs and isn’t looking at traditional advertisements. What David wants is something real and authentic; he wants brands to engage him on his level.
On the flip side, brands are left wondering: how do I connect with this audience? How do I make sure my experiential campaign cuts through the noise and reaches the right person at the right time? You’ve been working tirelessly planning that awesome cocktail masterclass to appeal to that trendsetter, urbanite audience. You know this event is different – even special – but after all the hard work the PR team has spent exhausting traditional channels you’re left wondering who will show up? How do I make sure it’s full at all times? Experiential jobs aren’t easy.
The simple answer is: figure out where your audience is. Fit into their daily routine and you’ll get through. Go niche if you need to. What disruptive technology are they using? Who holds an authority in their life? Who do they trust when making decisions on where to go, what to wear and where to stay? Armed with that information, you’ll fit into their lifestyle on their terms, naturally targeting as you go. You’ll change the course of your audience by tapping into their way of doing things. It’s discovery, not advertising. And it’s that easy. Now back to that cocktail masterclass, when is it again?
Find experiential jobs today or discover the right talent here with Brightsparks.