Festival Health and Safety: RecFest UK

Background

RecFest – the world’s largest Talent Acquisition festival – returned to Knebworth Park in July 2024, inviting up to 5,000 attendees to enjoy captivating talks from top experts from across the recruitment sector.

In addition, guests enjoyed live music, chill out areas, entertainment, street food, multiple bars and an afterparty featuring headliners, Reggie Yates.

Working alongside our festival production colleagues at The Fair, OPS were requested to complete pre-event documentation including the ESMP and risk assessments as well as auditing all the suppliers, contractors and sponsors. A Safety Officer was on site throughout the build, live event and break.

Challenges

Supplier Auditing: extensive auditing of over 100 sponsors and 40 contractors, suppliers and traders.
Lightning and bad weather: consistent bad weather during the build made it increasingly difficult for vehicles to drive on site. The OPS team consistenly trackerd weather, and recorded a red alert for lightning at one stage during the build. Using our Emergency Weather Plans, we halted all work on site, maintaining safety of all crew until it was safe to recommence.
The site: Working with the management team from Knebworth to ensure compliance with licencing and agreements in place.