Centerprise, the College’s Business Incubation Centre, has welcomed a new start-up company this autumn. HD Events offer custom entertainment packages for corporate clients and was set up by friends Ben Bateman, Huw Jenkins and Dave Cooper after they identified a gap in the market for bespoke entertainment services.
The three have no shortage of experience in the entertainment industry and are all Neath College alumni. Ben studied a BTEC in Musical and Performing Arts and appeared on our TV screens as part of the hugely successful choir ‘Only Boys Aloud’, who finished third in Britain’s Got Talent in 2012. Dave is a former HND Performing Arts student, whilst Huw also studied Performing Arts and has recently enrolled onto a part-time accountancy course, which will no doubt be of great benefit to the business moving forward. The three have also experienced musical success together with the renowned band Fonz and the Poet, a “four piece party, funk & pop band” who regularly pack out venues across Wales.
It was this industry experience, together with dealing regularly with corporate clients with specific requirements, that led the trio to identify the need for custom-built, bespoke entertainment solutions. Instead of setting up a standalone agency for one element, they decided to offer more flexibility and cater for every aspect of event management, facilitating everything from stage design to sourcing bespoke performers, making the event extra special for the client.
They said: “We are excited to be setting out on our new venture with the support of Centerprise at NPTC Group of Colleges. It makes the perfect base from which we can expand our business and the support from the team has been second to none.”
Cara Mead, Senior Officer: Enterprise & Employability was delighted to welcome another new business on board, she said: “We are so happy to welcome HD Events, it’s wonderful to have former and current students setting up a business right here in Centerprise and is a testament to the work that we undertake as a College encouraging entrepreneurship”.
Having almost completed their preparations, HD Events are set to launch in early 2020 so watch this space!
For more information on how Centerprise can help you start a business, please email Cara.Mead@nptcgroup.ac.uk or call 01639 648657.
Pic Caption: HD Events in their new home at Centerprise, (left to right) Huw Jenkins, Ben Bateman & Dave Cooper
