Wells-based specialist staging equipment and outdoor structures firm Serious Stages is aiming for further international expansion this year to build on its multi-million pound work at the 2012 Olympics.
The firm secured a £500,000 loan facility from Barclays for working capital ahead of the London Games which enabled it to bid for – and win – a contract worth more than £4m to make and install the showpiece video and scoreboard structures for 31 Olympic
sites along with the high lighting supports outside the Olympic Stadium.
These supports enabled the magnificent light show to be beamed onto the stadium’s external walls, as seen in TV coverage around the world every night during the Olympics and Paralympics Games.
Right: One of Serious Stages’ London 2012 video structures
Serious Stages started the Olympics project with test events in summer 2011 – a year before the Games took place – with installation of the final designs beginning last January.
While the Olympics provided the firm with a major, high-profile, one-off contract – it handled more than 300 installations – its regular work involves making and putting up stage structures for large UK music festivals such as Glastonbury, Leeds and Reading, festivals in the Middle East, Europe and Australia as well as sports events
The firm, launched in 1984, makes outdoor stages, covered roofs, decking and bespoke structures from steel and aluminium, which are designed in-house and manufactured at its workshops. The business moved to the 7-acre site in May 2010 from Pilton.
It also maintains hire and manufacturing facilities through strategic partnerships in Australia, UAE, Europe and is soon to start production in Brazil to satisfy its overseas expansion and growth plans.
Director Holly Corfield said: “Serious Stages have banked with Barclays from the beginning, so we’ve seen the relationship stand firm and grow through good and bad times.
“With Barclays help we were able to cashflow the Olympic contract as much of the work was through investment at the very start of the working process. 
Left: Serious Stages' archery scoreboards at the London Games
“We were absolutely thrilled to win the contract on home turf against stiff worldwide competition from companies much larger than ours. There was an extensive consultation period leading up to the award of contract; we had to be confident that we could pull it off, so the investment loan from Barclays certainly gave us that edge.
“A good close working relationship with your bank is an essential part of any company’s success.”
Barclays Bath-based relationship director Martin Crook added: “This is a great example of a local firm whose expertise and business model competed with the best in the world and won a highly competitive tender process.
“It’s important to Barclays that we work closely with companies such as this, as we have the appetite and desire to lend to support business growth and expansion plans which has to be good news for businesses and the local economy.”
Below: One of Serious Stages’ lighting supports outside the Olympic Stadium that allowed the spectacular lightshow to take place
