Fireworks & Pyrotechnics
In recent times it has been realised that often highly qualified Health & Safety Advisers do not have the specialist knowledge of product, safety protocols, priorities, firing systems and risk mitigation measures to fully assess and understand what is being delivered.
The specialised knowledge offered by us broadly fits into the following categories: Safety Advice, Procurement, Project Planning, and System & Business Analysis.
Safety Advice
The presence of an independent fireworks and pyrotechnic safety adviser is advantageous to both supplier and client as has been the case for some years at The Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve Celebrations, Liverpool Football Club Parades and Hogmanay but in the past 18 months this is trickling down into wider pre-planned events. On the client side they can be assured that the advice to curtail, adjust or, in extreme cases, pull elements of a show is driven from an analytical and independent viewpoint and is set aside from a company who may be inclined to push the boundaries of safety to try and deliver the event for reputational or financial reasons. On the supplier side having an independent third party to work through the show with and discuss any safety points shows a high level of diligence to safety. It also means that in those circumstances where adaptions do need to be made the client will understand that with the backing of an adviser the reasoning behind the decision is firmly grounded in safety.
The expertise and knowledge WEconsults brings can also sit alongside a standard Health & Safety team and will range from assuring that the product being demonstrated is actually the product being used, understanding the true meaning of terms like 'no-debris' and fallout, and working through supplier companies' paperwork, documentation and assurances.
All these levels of support can range from consultation prior to the event looking at product suitability, safety distances and fallout plans through to onsite support to complete project support, and these services are all available through us.
The expertise and knowledge WEconsults brings can also sit alongside a standard Health & Safety team and will range from assuring that the product being demonstrated is actually the product being used, understanding the true meaning of terms like 'no-debris' and fallout, and working through supplier companies' paperwork, documentation and assurances.
All these levels of support can range from consultation prior to the event looking at product suitability, safety distances and fallout plans through to onsite support to complete project support, and these services are all available through us.
Procurement
Procurement has increasingly become an exercise where the wrong questions are asked by procuring teams that leads to the wrong supplier being selected to deliver a show.
The obvious example is the often asked 'shot count' that we have seen some companies submit fantasy figures of counting the burst from a crossette shell as 'in excess of 4000 shots' as they were counting each star that then bursts to four as an individual shot. This submission was then compared to a company who submitted a cue count as their figure and the resultant comparison was based on entirely different sets of values.
With the specialist knowledge comes an understanding of the % weighting of product in a show by type and by % of budget spent on fireworks. With a good assessment and understanding of these factors it is possible at the procurement stage to select the company who will competitively deliver the greatest, safest, most impactful show for any budget.
WEconsults can offer a range of services in this area:
The obvious example is the often asked 'shot count' that we have seen some companies submit fantasy figures of counting the burst from a crossette shell as 'in excess of 4000 shots' as they were counting each star that then bursts to four as an individual shot. This submission was then compared to a company who submitted a cue count as their figure and the resultant comparison was based on entirely different sets of values.
With the specialist knowledge comes an understanding of the % weighting of product in a show by type and by % of budget spent on fireworks. With a good assessment and understanding of these factors it is possible at the procurement stage to select the company who will competitively deliver the greatest, safest, most impactful show for any budget.
WEconsults can offer a range of services in this area:
- Consulting to write and produce tender documents and questions.
- Ensuring the right companies within the industry are seeing and responding to your RFQ
- Independently writing, scoring, assessing and reporting back on a tender process
- Interview stage presence to examine and fully understand responses from potential suppliers
- Negotiation with potential companies to ensure the best possible outcome from the process
Project Planning
At the conception stage of many events the desire to use fireworks or pyrotechnics is included, but all too often a certain fireworks or pyrotechnic company will say a certain thing isn't possible, hiding the fact the only reason for this is it isn't their speciality.
The truth is often an alternative company may be able to deliver your concept safely and with the desired impact because they have different product, access to different systems or an entirely different area of speciality.
Engaging an independent consultant at an early stage means they can advise on the feasibility of concepts with a wide understanding of what is possible across both industries and assuring the right companies are invited to then quote for a potential event. This independence ensures that an event is not bound by the limitations of one or a small group of companies trying to force their product or speciality onto an event just so they can get the job and deliver what they are specialist in.
The truth is often an alternative company may be able to deliver your concept safely and with the desired impact because they have different product, access to different systems or an entirely different area of speciality.
Engaging an independent consultant at an early stage means they can advise on the feasibility of concepts with a wide understanding of what is possible across both industries and assuring the right companies are invited to then quote for a potential event. This independence ensures that an event is not bound by the limitations of one or a small group of companies trying to force their product or speciality onto an event just so they can get the job and deliver what they are specialist in.
System & Business Analysis
With over 25 years in the fireworks and pyrotechnic industry ranging from pyrotechnician, to rigger, to working within production, to production management, to operations management, and most recently company director, Will has a broad and wide-ranging knowledge, understanding and insight into the industry.
He has also worked intimately on a huge number and varied set of events both in terms of size and scope:
- Small wedding shows
- Festival & carnival events
- All size of November events
- National New Year celebrations — England & Scotland
- National Ceremonies
- City Parades
- International Displays and Competitions
- Premier League Football Club celebrations
This experience gives him an excellent and unrivalled independent knowledge of how these events run, what is required to successfully bid for and deliver these shows, and to understand and overcome the complexities and hurdles that will arise.
WEconsults can offer consultancy on any scope of work; from a single project, to H&S compliance and spot checking, to a wider business analysis and consultation depending upon your needs.
He has also worked intimately on a huge number and varied set of events both in terms of size and scope:
- Small wedding shows
- Festival & carnival events
- All size of November events
- National New Year celebrations — England & Scotland
- National Ceremonies
- City Parades
- International Displays and Competitions
- Premier League Football Club celebrations
This experience gives him an excellent and unrivalled independent knowledge of how these events run, what is required to successfully bid for and deliver these shows, and to understand and overcome the complexities and hurdles that will arise.
WEconsults can offer consultancy on any scope of work; from a single project, to H&S compliance and spot checking, to a wider business analysis and consultation depending upon your needs.