Security And Risk – Six Top Tips To Select A Venue

With the recent events of London and Manchester at the forefront of everyone’s minds, keeping event attendees as safe as possible has become another topic that corporate event professionals need to be expert in. Trinity Event Solutions hold regular Meetings Voice Summits for clients and potential clients to network and learn, and last week’s event focused on these issues. Venue selection can have a considerable impact on the security of an event, so here are six tips to consider:

1. Consider the venue’s location – is it set back from the road or does it have a private entrance? Venues that are set back will be harder to attack in a vehicle, and less likely to suffer from criminal surveillance too.
2. Check that the venue has CCTV on all entrance points so that they can monitor everyone who enters or leaves the venue. If they have CCTV then this is a great indication of a well designed security plan.
3. Does the venue have the ability to close off access to the building?  Also is there an alternate route out of the building should one road be cordoned off?
4. Ask the venue about safe havens and invacuation. Do they have enough capacity for everyone attending and are they spread around the property?
5. Prepare your own simple security and emergency plan.  Brief key staff and give them a printed copy. Discuss your plan with the venue and ask to see their security and emergency plan. They should be happy to share their plans with you. 
6. Make sure you have the contact details and location of the nearest police stations, hospitals and if you’re abroad, the British Embassy

The next Meetings Voice Summit will focus on food and drink planning in the events industry and will be held in September, if you are interested in attending, please contact Paula Calton, Sales Director of Trinity Event Solutions on 01780 484050 or email [email protected]