The decision is driven by the industry’s return to growth and marks a decisive step toward the company’s next phase.
Full Circle announce a complete management buyout of both companies in the group, Full Circle Exhibitions & Events Ltd, & Psycho Peacock Ltd. The MBO is backed by two key investment partners: Panoramic Growth Equity & Shawbrook Bank.
This transition marks a decisive step toward the company’s next phase of growth. Over the last five years, Full Circle played a significant role in stabilising the event supplier landscape during a crucial time. Through strategic investments, the group shored-up stock, preserved jobs and strengthened its leadership team. With the UK exhibition market now flourishing, Full Circle & Psycho Peacock are poised to capitalise on new growth opportunities:
“It’s very easy to imagine investing during times of great uncertainty, but it’s a very different thing altogether to actually do it. We did it. It changed us as a business and it bonded us as a team. The UK industry is now moving forward at pace, and Full Circle is moving right alongside it,” comments Steve Comar, MD.
The group’s decision to undertake a management buyout is driven by the industry’s return to growth, as organisations increasingly recognise the rising importance of face-to-face. Having grown Full Circle from a newcomer to a leading supplier, Steve Barratt, the company’s founder, emphasises an enduring commitment to the firm’s original values:
“It’s a surreal thing to be writing the quote you’ve been imagining for 30 years, but no matter what you try to plan, the reality will always surprise you. What I never expected was to be passing ownership to a leadership team that have the exact same ethos that Helenya and I talked about right from the very beginning. This means a lot to both of us. Full Circle has always been about the people – the events industry is, at its core, the people industry – and I’m thrilled to know that this foundational value will continue with such a well-loved and tightly-knit team.”
Steve Comar stressed the pivotal role that Helenya and Steve have played in shaping the supplier landscape over the past 3 decades:
“Steve and Helenya are a dynamic double act and they’ve made a remarkable impact. Everybody knows how hard they’ve worked, from Steve’s pivotal role as the founding Chair of ESSA, to the groundbreaking innovations they brought into the systems and regulations we all use today. They have a story to tell about everything and carry so much wisdom and industry history. We’ll be telling stories about them for decades and we are forever grateful to have this kind of heritage within the business”.
The management buyout sets the stage for continued growth and innovation and both companies in the group are keen to stress a single-minded focus on attracting great people who resonate with its people-powered ethos:
“The company is firmly focussed on bringing out the best in its teams, clients, and events, and channelling all of that distinctive Mancunian energy into supporting the industry we love.” Concludes Comar.
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