Amershame & Wycombe College's Metrodeck
With funding cuts reducing the number of new school projects in recent months, Maltbury’s ability to re-invigorate and re-invent performance spaces has been a life-saver for many clients. The adaptability of our staff and products means we offer schools an excellent service not only for new builds but also for the refurbishment of existing buildings. Here’s why:
1. A Bird in the Hand… As the saying goes it is more beneficial to have something you can use right away. Schools that purchase our equipment as part of a refurbishment are able to make instant improvements to their performance space. New build projects take years to complete. Schools can benefit from using our kit now rather than putting up with poor performance spaces whilst the new build details are finalized. We supply our decks promptly and once you have them you can start exploring alternative production styles and designs straight away.
2. Kit is not redundant if a new venue is built. It’s as simple as that. Our portable decks can be transferred to any room or divided up to use in multiple rooms. Our decks are used nationwide in small studios as well as in school theatres and halls, as well as professional theatres, concert halls and opera houses. Maltbury’s staging equipment can be used straight away to improve an existing space and then transferred to new venues when the time is right.
Amershame & Wycombe College's Metrodeck
3. Flexibility: A fixed installation significantly limits the range of performance styles available to you. Our demountable decks offer limitless versatility that caters for a massive variety of arts presentation. Canon Slade school have used their Metrodecks to create a two level seating structure ‘in the round’, a proscenium arch stage and a catwalk. Alex Monro, technician at Amersham & Wycombe College has used his Metrodecks to create a tree, a bridge and a swing! Says he “‘I use it all the time and it’s great for every show. . . We use it for everything, seriously!”
4. Save Money: Buying staging equipment to refurbish your school allows you to only buy what is needed or what you can afford. Our modular decks can be added to whenever you have the resources to do so. Many schools return to purchase extra decks and accessories from us years after their initial order.
We’re very busy at the moment with both Staging and Backdrape orders but we’re still finding time to prepare ourselves (just!) for the ABTT Theatre Show 2011.
ABTT has been an important fixture for over 30 years for anyone involved in technical theatre, from manufacturers through to suppliers and end users. This year it takes place on the 15th and 16th of June at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London.
ABTT is one of the liveliest and most rewarding shows in Maltbury’s show calendar. It’s exciting for us to see what new products are being brought out as well as meeting the people who will actually use our products.
All us office-bound folk are attending but the phone and emails will be working as usual – courtesy of our IT whizz Kavita. Philip and I will be on hand to explain the benefits of Maltbury’s modular staging as well as presenting our Backdrape systems. Come see us at stand 111 in the Lawrence Hall.
For info on registering as a visitor and for a list of exhibitors visit the ABTT Theatre Show website.
It’s been a while since the last blog (thank you sunny bank holidays!) but we’re back to the regular routine now and here’s what we’ve been up to recently.
Firstly we’ve introduced Free Delivery on Education orders made in May. So if schools, colleges or universities are thinking of purchasing staging for summer productions or even next year order now to get free delivery!
Maltbury have been awarded a Gold Payroll Giving award! Payroll Giving allows staff to donate to their chosen charities straight from their pay cheque. Due to the majority of Maltbury’s staff taking part in Charitable Giving we’ve been awarded ‘Gold’ in recognition of our commitment to good causes and the local community.
We had a great time at the PLASA Focus Exhibition in Leeds. Kate and Philip had a successful show promoting our modular staging and backdrapes, including the new Starcloth backdrop.
And finally, we caught up with some past projects and we’ve added new photos and customer reviews to our News and Reviews section.
That’s all for now. Look out for the Brighton Festival 2011 blog coming soon!
On the 23rd and 24th of February we’ll be attending The Building Schools Exhibition & Conference (BSEC). In the free exhibition Maltbury will be showcasing its modular staging and Backdrape products suitable for schools and colleges.
Quite a bit of work goes into preparing for such an event. Our warehouse has to prepare the best samples to demonstrate our products versatility then we have to figure out the best ways to display our products, and make sure they’re displayed safely. I know our Risk Assessment would have been more fun to fill in if we were having a celebrity chef throwing fire knives around a water feature on a 6m high platform!
As well as us (as if you needed more!) there are architects, consultants, school furniture suppliers, education advisors and ICT suppliers. The exhibition is designed for any school upgrading or planning to upgrade its facilities.
Toby Young
The two day conference takes place at the ExCel centre in London and includes Toby Young as a guest speaker. He will be outlining plans for the West London free school – a non-selective school aiming to achieve academic excellence. I’m curious to know how he’ll be received. An online search provides plenty of resistance and negative comments to the idea and even the supporters of such an idea speculate about its success.
All in all BSEC 2011 looks set to be an exciting show for us (despite the lack of knife jugglers). Follow us on twitter for updates and we’ll see you at stand 823 on the 23rd –24th Feb. To register or for more information about BSEC click here.
Maltbury Staging has recently enjoyed recognition of our apprenticeships from the National Apprenticeship Services by appearing on their Roll of Honour.
The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) is the governing body which has responsibility for apprenticeships in England. They take responsibility to ensure that the standards and positive outcomes of apprenticeship schemes are maintained throughout their programme.
Maltbury has been offering apprenticeships for the last few years because we understand the importance of practical, hands-on learning. In an increasingly deskbound society, the manual skills that a Maltbury apprenticeship offers are becoming more and more valuable. Our apprenticeships are workshop-based and provide effective and profitable learning for those looking to start a career in the manufacturing industry.
Our appearance in the NAS Roll of Honour list testifies to our commitment and support of apprenticeships and our understanding of how they benefit both the individual and the business.