Moving Venue clients will now be able to benefit from the wide range of event services provided by Smart Group and Smart Group will benefit from the acquisition of Moving Venue’s experience in London venues at events such as the Man Booker Prize and the Barclaycard Mercury Music Prize.
Moving Venue by Smart will keep its brand identity and remain as a separate trading division. It will continue to be overseen and directed for a minimum of three years by founder and managing director, Richard Beggs.
Greg Lawson, CEO of Smart Group, said: "This is a sector of the market that we have had great ambition to enter; the acquisition is enormously complimentary and gives us an opportunity to add our Smart by Angela Hartnett brand to the existing offering.
Moving Venue is a market leader in this segment and was the natural partner. Our two businesses share many of the same values which can only help in our goal to become the UK's most respected catering and creative events organisation.”
Richard Beggs, managing director of Moving Venue by Smart, said: "This is a really exciting time for us as we join forces with one of the brightest and most innovative companies in the events and hospitality sector.
It will give us greater dining creativity, a presence in new markets such as corporate hospitality and equally will give Greg an established brand with the legacy of 30 years invaluable experience across the museum and heritage sector.”
The acquisition will see Smart Group employ a team of over 50 staff across its Manchester and London offices with a combined turnover on live events, catering, corporate hospitality and Christmas parties in excess of £20million.