I Help Event Entrepreneurs Acquire The Skills They Need To Shape, Manage And Grow Their Businesses, Significantly Increasing Their Value Without Adding To Stress Levels

Is your Event business struggling to reach the next level?

Are you facing issues that are stopping you from growing?

Are you finding it difficult to diagnose where the biggest problems are and how to solve them?

When I set my own event business up, I hoped to make enough money to support myself.  Five years later when we were approached to merge our company into bigger one, we discovered that we had spent 5 years creating no value in our business at all.

❌ We had never set a goal and vision, and had never made a plan

❌ We had no culture and had too many people doing the wrong jobs

❌ We were “making do” with sub-standard offices and equipment

❌ We had no marketing strategy and had no clue how to promote ourselves or to who

❌ We never thought of reaching out and investing in help and advice

So many Event Businesses have started this way.  No goal, no plan, no vision for what they want to achieve and after a few years of growth through repeat business and referrals they start to stall, but they have no idea why or how to solve the problem.

Over the last 7 years Kershaw Partners have worked with dozens of Event Businesses, diagnosing where the barriers to growth are, removing them and helping them to build more successful, more profitable and ultimately, if they are looking for an exit strategy, more valuable Event Businesses.

We start this process with a 2 Day Diagnostic Business Review.  We help you to take a step back from your business for a couple of days and draw a line in the sand. 

The 2 Day Review will:

✔ Help you to clarify your vision, ambition and objectives for the business and plan for them

✔ Make sure that you have the right people on the journey with you and that you are set up to achieve your objectives

✔ Enable your team to do the best job possible by having the best “tools” to work with

✔ Help you define a marketing strategy to find, retain and maximise the value from your customers

✔ Show you what structures you need to put in place so that the business can Run on Rails and not be so dependent on you

✔ Show you how to create value in the business so if you want to there is an option to exit your business.

This is what our clients say:

“I have spent a lot of money on consultants in the last two years, and other than the money I have spent with Kershaw Partners, the rest of it was a waste" (James Middlehurst, Kalm Kitchen) 

"We have used consultants in the past, but none who have walked the walk and are so grounded." (Ben Leslie, Yahire)

To find out more book a call at https://go.oncehub.com/IntroductoryCallwithDavid

David Watt

ADHD nearly held him back until he realised it could be his advantage.
 

On a recent episode of the Events Matters podcast, I sat down with Jason Brown, Founder & CEO of Technical Solutions Audio Visual Limited, to talk about his unconventional journey into the events industry.
 
From the military to freelancing to leading a growing business, Jason shared what it really takes to move from hands-on operator to CEO, and why a client-first mindset has always mattered more than profit.
 
We talked openly about ADHD and dyslexia, building strong team culture, navigating generational differences in the workplace, and the realities of scaling a business while being a dad. Jason also shared how AI and project management tools have helped level up organisation, communication, and efficiency across the business.
 
An honest conversation about leadership, culture, and doing business differently.
 
👉 If you haven’t already, go back and listen to this episode. There are real takeaways for founders at every stage.

https://lnkd.in/eir2sEEN

Partner | Event Business Marketing and Growth Specialist

Cindy Eisenhuth's story is one of the most incredible I've heard.
 

As a young woman, Cindy emigrated from Australia to the UK, ready to pursue a career in hospitality. Arriving in London at the height of a culinary boom, she quickly found herself working in the city's most renowned venues.
 
In one of the most famously unforgiving and male-dominated sectors, she found her calling.
 
Working alongside celebrity chefs. Serving Princess Diana. The highs were high, but the pressure was always on.
 
Inspired by her "old-school hospitality" roots, Cindy went on to create Catering, Logistics & Events Ltd (CLE) - a global events company delivering extraordinary hospitality experiences across the world.
 
The exceptional attention to detail, unshakeable resilience and solid work ethic that saw her succeed in London's kitchens has powered 20+ years of event delivery at the highest level. She is a true industry stalwart.
 
What always strikes me about Cindy is her passion. She speaks with such enthusiasm about her work, the industry, and her desire to pass her knowledge on to the next generation. To this day, she still mucks in at events alongside her team - a firm believer in leading from experience, not theory.
 
I have been inspired by Cindy's story for a long time and it is such a privilege to have her on this week's episode of Event Matters. We discuss her story, her learnings from over three decades in the industry, and her plans for the future. You don't want to miss this one.
 
🔗 https://lnkd.in/e6jbzchd

I trained as a chef before I ever ran events.

 
 
In 1994, I left my job to train as a chef. Food was, and still is, a genuine passion of mine. I worked in professional kitchens for several years and loved the intensity.
 
That experience gave me three lessons that have stayed with me ever since.
 
Pressure.
When service starts, it starts. There is no easing into it. You either deliver, or you don’t. Learning to stay calm when everything around you speeds up is a skill that transfers into every part of business.
 
Preparation.
A kitchen runs on what happens before the doors open. If the prep is wrong, the service fails. The same is true in events. What people see on the day is only possible because of what happened quietly in the background.
 
People.
No chef succeeds alone. A kitchen only works when everyone understands their role and trusts each other. Talent matters. Teamwork matters more.
 
I realised quite quickly that I was not destined to be a chef. I was a very good cook, but to operate at the very highest level requires both artistry and discipline. That was a difficult thing to accept at the time.
 
But those years shaped how I lead.
 
Whether it was building an agency, navigating economic shocks, or delivering major international programmes, it always came back to the same three things.
 
Pressure. Preparation. People.
 
Different environment. Same fundamentals.
 
What early experience still shapes how you run your business today?

Expertise is important. But visibility matters too.
 

You can be brilliant at what you do, but if you’re not showing it anywhere, people won’t fully understand the value you bring. This is why we're constantly encouraging our clients to build their portfolio of social proof.
 
This isn’t about shouting the loudest, it’s about giving people confidence through:
→ Client testimonials
→ Case studies
→ Sharing your thinking online
→ Or finding platforms where you can properly explain your approach
 
People want to understand how you think, not just what you sell.
 
That’s one of the reasons I started the Events Matters podcast.
 
Long-form conversations give founders the space to talk properly about their journey, their challenges and what they’ve learned.
 
It provides real depth, not just soundbites.
 
We’re currently accepting guest applications for upcoming episodes. If you're a founder in the events industry who would like to share your story, drop me a message.
 
And if you've not listened yet, we've got 14 episodes in our catalogue to keep you busy! 

Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eDUZUjD8
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eDSuSeg5

If you’re still undecided about next week’s Sales Masterclass, that hesitation is exactly why it’s relevant.
 

And with only a few places remaining, it’s probably time to make the call!
 
In many event businesses, sales isn’t obviously broken, which is precisely why they’re often left untouched.
 
But beneath the surface, qualification becomes habitual rather than intentional.
Value is assumed rather than clearly articulated.
 
Commercial confidence varies depending on who’s leading the conversation.
 
Nothing dramatic. Just small inefficiencies that compound over time.
 
Next week’s session is designed to bring clarity and structure back to that side of the business, practical thinking, grounded experience, and a more deliberate framework for winning and growing the right work.
 
If it’s been on your mind, I wouldn’t leave it much longer.
 
📅 23rd February
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eznhkfCB

As soon as I heard about Karnival, I knew I had to get Jason Mulhall on the Event Matters podcast...

 
Jason's story is one which I believe will ring true for many entrepreneurs. He started in law, moved to banking and business consultancy, before finding his passion in food and events. He now runs Karnival, a business which brings the best of street food to settings across London - offices, parties, sporting events, street markets and more.
 
It was an unconventional route. But in hindsight, it makes perfect sense.
 
In this episode, Jason shares how his time as a business consultant equipped him with the tools needed to start and run a successful business. In particular, the essential skills of attention to detail, storytelling and persuasion which still underpin his work today.
 
He has some great advice for any young people teetering on the edge of taking a risk with entrepreneurship. I would highly recommend this episode to anyone grappling with that decision!
 
Having briefly pursued a career in the food industry myself (a post for another day perhaps...), Jason's perspective on the power of food, its role in reviving corporate culture, and his passion for the people at the heart of the industry really hit home for me.
 
I have been truly excited to share this episode. I hope it will resonate with you as much as it did with me.
 
Listen now - https://lnkd.in/e298WGtq

I've seen two major shocks hit the events industry: the 2008-2009 financial crisis and COVID-19.

 
The 2008 financial crisis had a deeper and longer impact than many people realise. In a few years, I watched projects go from thriving to operating in a bleak economic reality, with turnover falling sharply. The effects of that period are still being felt today.
 
COVID was different. Sudden, brutal, and disruptive. Furlough helped in the short term, but it didn’t remove the underlying fragility. What it did show, though, was resilience. When restrictions lifted, events came back quickly because people value face-to-face connections.
 
In real terms, it doesn’t feel like much has improved since 2007–2008. Real wealth and real confidence remain under pressure, and that context matters when making business decisions.
 
How are you adapting your business to today’s economic reality?

My love for events began in Italy - when during my university placement year working for tour operator, Mark Warner they gave me  free reign to curate local excursions for the in house guests. Go-karting and pizza became my signature experience. 

I’ve worked in events for 30 years, cutting my teeth with some of the best in corporate events and travel before starting The Wentworth Collective.

We create extraordinary business events from concept to execution across the world. 

The thing that pains me the most is to hear the words “it’s just a corporate event.”  

Events are a huge investment - of time and money.

When I speak to a client, I share the magic that can happen when you pull the right people together, at the right time, with the right conditions to create an extraordinary experience.

You can create, “just another corporate event” but why not seize the opportunity to mark a moment in time and create an event that will transform your business’ and its culture.

That’s what TWC events are here to do for your business.

Lisa James

Let’s schedule more ‘dance breaks’ during our events this week.


Have you seen Hamnet? 

It's caught my attention this awards season. 

Not just for the details on screen:

🎨 The intentional colour palette: Earthy tones matched perfectly to characters and backdrops.

🎶  The haunting score. Threaded through silence.

🎥 The perfectly framed shots. Holding space after loss.

As event designers, we obsess over these details.
The subtle cues that anchor a theme in the subconscious.

But what I loved most?

Director Chloe Zhao’s commitment to the energy on set.

Between intense scenes, she introduced dance breaks.

After emotionally charged takes, the cast and crew would simply put music on and move before stepping back into the next scene.

We design content meticulously.

✔️We plan transitions.
✔️We manage the room.
✔️But do we build in the reset?

Imagine moving between breakouts or changing the tone before the financial review.

Energy shapes attention. 
And attention shapes outcomes.

It’s Monday. 

Maybe we schedule more dance breaks.

What song are you choosing today?

Founder, The Wentworth Collective I Curating business events that connect, engage, transform and have lasting impact, globally I Passionate about experiences and lover of life

Most great experiences go completely unnoticed. 🤦‍♀️
I notice them everywhere. 💫

Waiting for a flat white at Hermanos Colombian Coffee Roasters in King’s Cross, the coffee lids caught my eye.

Stacked and labelled by drink.
Barista hands me my coffee, I grab a lid in one natural movement.

I love wayfinding.

The invisible guardrails that guide you through a moment without needing instructions.

You don’t consciously register them, you just move.

→ Heads stay up instead of scanning.
→ Energy stays in the room instead of leaking into logistics.

In events, this is often the whole game.

✔️ Registration and badge pick up that flows.
✔️ Signage that gently guides you to where you need to be

Guests rarely point to these moments.
Yet they always feel the difference.

Great design does not shout for attention. It gives people back their attention.

What have you seen recently that just worked?

When a plane hits turbulence, who do you watch?


I watch the crew.
If they’re calm, my shoulders drop.

At the end of a global law firm conference a Partner said to me:
“You looked like you were having so much fun. It made us feel relaxed.”

For years I thought pressure signalled quality.
The long hours, late nights and detail checking.

This week I listened to Margot Robbie describe film sets.
In her experience, the best ones weren’t tense. They were simply joyful.

The brief doesn't change, just the delivery

In high-stakes projects we often wear visible stress as professionalism.
But people don’t do their sharpest thinking in survival mode.

They do it when people feel settled and the room feels under control.

And that travels.

→ From backstage to centre stage.
→ From organiser to audience.
→ From team to client.

We design for emotional state before logistics.

The audience experiences, in minutes, what the team felt for months.

Energy is a leadership decision.

The room takes its cue from you.

A powerful 6 minute video.

Thank you for sharing Will Greenblatt

Recovering child actor 😂 I help coaches become paid speakers | ALSO, my workshops help remote teams build trust and connection | DM me if you’re a real human

I can't stop thinking about this video.

Eric Dane died last Thursday from ALS. He was an actor, famous from Grey's Anatomy, though I didn't know his name until I saw the video.

But I was completely transfixed from the moment he started talking.

It's a message to his daughters, filmed by Netflix, only to be released after his death, called "Famous Last Words."

It's one of the most beautiful speeches I think I've ever seen. 

I don't wanna summarize it, or give you any "golden nuggets". Just watch it, if you've got the capacity (and 6 minutes):

https://lnkd.in/gd6A8b92

What an incredible gift he gave his daughters, and the whole world really with these words, spoken himself despite the obvious difficulty.

Gonna be processing this for a while.

taplio

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