At Story Events, we understand the importance of working with trusted suppliers who deliver exceptional results. This is why Oxygen Event Services, one of London’s leading event production and site logistical agencies, are one of our most trusted, go-to production partners.
We recently had the pleasure of collaborating with Oxygen on several events, including our two flagship industry exhibitions, the London Summer Event Show and London Christmas Party Show, where they sponsored and managed all production elements, including power distribution, creative lighting, AV and set design, ensuring everything ran smoothly and looked spectacular!
Founded in 2004 by Paul Edwards, Oxygen was born from a vision to fill a gap in the market for events that demand exceptional logistical and technical planning. With creativity, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Paul transformed Oxygen into the thriving company it is today and 20 years later Oxygen have positioned themselves as a leading production supplier in a very saturated market.
We recently caught up with Jessica Gray, Event Director, to gain insights into her expert knowledge of event production and top tips on creating unforgettable events!
Tell us about Oxygen Event Services and your journey in the event production industry.
Oxygen Event Services is a full-service event production company that focuses on crafting immersive and impactful experiences. Our offerings range from audiovisual solutions to staging, lighting, and complete production management. My own journey in this industry began with a passion for bringing creative concepts to life through live events. After graduating from university, I joined Oxygen and have since advanced to the role of Director. Throughout the years, we’ve had the privilege of working on a diverse array of events—from large-scale corporate conferences to intimate weddings, and even a remarkable Christmas party at a car factory that involved setting up multiple structures and 500 Christmas trees. Despite the snow adding an extra challenge, it’s the unique obstacles that make each event exciting. There’s a real thrill in receiving a new brief and strategising the best way to bring it to life, and that sense of achievement when everything comes together successfully is incredibly fulfilling.
What sets Oxygen apart from others in the industry?
What sets Oxygen apart is our commitment to not only deliver on the technical and logistical elements of an event, but also bringing a creative, bespoke touch to every project. We deeply understand that no two events are alike, so we approach each one with fresh ideas and customised solutions. Additionally, we pride ourselves on our collaborative approach—working closely with our clients to truly understand their vision and goals. Whether it’s a corporate event, product launch or beautiful party, we combine cutting-edge technology with a personalised service to create unforgettable experiences.
Can you highlight some of the most memorable events you’ve worked on and what made it so unique?
One of the most unforgettable events I’ve managed was a Town Hall Address for the US Embassy at Lindley Hall, featuring President Obama and 500 young leaders. What made this event truly unique was the intense level of secrecy and the extremely short turnaround—we had just four working days to deliver it. It was certainly a stressful week, but the opportunity to project manage an event for President Obama was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a real “pinch me” moment, that not many people can say they’ve done!
What innovative trends are you incorporating into events this year?
This year, we’re embracing several exciting trends to elevate our events. One key innovation is the use of LED screens and advanced content creation to bring live content to life in dynamic ways. Whether it’s immersive visuals, real-time social media feeds or interactive presentations, LED technology allows us to create a highly engaging and visually impactful experience for attendees.
In addition, we’ve seen a growing demand for sustainable event production. As a result, we’ve been actively seeking eco-friendly alternatives to traditional materials and technologies. This includes using energy-efficient LED lighting, recyclable materials for set designs, and minimising waste wherever possible. Our goal is to deliver innovative and visually stunning events while keeping sustainability at the forefront of our production processes.
What does collaboration with event management agencies mean to you?
Collaboration with event management agencies is all about synergy and open communication. We work hand-in-hand with many event management agencies, we look to understand their vision for the event, what they want to achieve, and the challenges they foresee. From there, we provide the technical expertise and creative insights to bring those ideas to life. We see ourselves as an extension of their team, aligning our processes with theirs to ensure smooth execution from concept to reality.
What advice would you give to someone looking to engage with a production supplier? What key information do you need to know you are the right fit?
My advice is to come prepared with a clear understanding of your event goals, budget and timeline. When you’re engaging a production supplier, it’s crucial to have open discussions about your vision, the scope of services you need and any potential challenges. From our perspective, the more details we have upfront, the better we can assess whether we are the right fit. We need to understand your audience, your objectives, and your desired impact so that we can tailor our approach accordingly. Be open to suggestions and collaboration—often, we can offer creative solutions that may not have been on your radar.
How do you manage budget constraints while still delivering high-quality production? Any top tips for cost-effective creativity?
There’s no doubt it’s a competitive market out there, and we have become quite adept at juggling our clients budgets to get the best for them that we can. Managing budget constraints while delivering top-tier production is all about prioritisation and smart planning. We focus on the elements that will have the greatest impact on the audience and find creative ways to achieve those without breaking the bank. For instance, using intelligent lighting or LED walls can transform a space without the need for expensive set builds. We also recommend being flexible with timelines—booking suppliers and vendors early can often result in significant savings.
How do you approach sustainability in your event productions?
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to both our clients and our team. At Oxygen, we approach sustainability by incorporating eco-friendly materials, reducing waste, and minimising energy consumption. We actively seek out suppliers who prioritise green practices and make sure to use energy-efficient equipment.
We recently did a series of conferences for a FTSE100 client that included on one of the evenings a “Feast-ival”, where we powered with a solar generator. Not only did this green solution power the event, but it also generated an extra 12.3kWh of energy. We believe it’s our responsibility to ensure that the events we produce not only engage and inspire but also respect the environment.
Get in touch with us today to start planning your next event!
