Events are considered a high-risk activity, in terms of transmitting COVID-19. To manage this risk, stringent new Re-opening Guidelines have been created by the Events Safety Council on the behalf of the South African Events Council. However, these guidelines are only as effective as your understanding and implementation of them.

Katelyn De Schutter, a professional event consultant, likens the reopening of events to skydiving: “It has minimal risk and is completely safe provided you have a well packed parachute.” With this understanding, she has joined forces with Disaster Risk Management NPC (DMS NPC) and Virtual Integrated Academy to provide an event readiness solution for the MICE industry.

“What is your company’s current reality and approach to readiness, and how will you empower your teams to make informed and confident public health and safety decisions in the workplace or on the event floor?”

DMS NPC is a non-profit organisation that that delivers tailor-made solutions to manage disaster risk and enhance community resilience, while Virtual Integrated Academy is a SETA-accredited e-learning platform. By marrying their skills with De Schutter’s understanding of how the MICE sector works, the consortium, called “Together we are more”, has developed a solution to assist businesses to successfully implement the new protocols.

“Event organisers, venues and suppliers must carefully choose their next-steps. What is your company’s current reality and approach to readiness, and how will you empower your teams to make informed and confident public health and safety decisions in the workplace or on the event floor? This is where we come in and tailor our offering to your specific needs, based on your current reality and through tried and tested methodology,” explains De Schutter.

Together we are more cuts through the noise with its offer to conduct a free, no-obligations gap analysis to see where your business’s safety weaknesses are.

While there is an overload of information available on this topic, Together we are more cuts through the noise with its offer to conduct a free, no-obligations gap analysis to see where your business’s safety weaknesses are. This current reality assessment with you and your core team will be done online, costing you only an hour of your time. Once this has been assessed, they will provide a tailored solution to meet your business’ unique requirements, and any training and support necessary for you and your staff on your journey towards compliance.

“Our solution is aligned to Event Safety (SASREA), ISO, Disaster Management Act and now the industry protocols and guidelines,” adds De Schutter.

“The advantage of the solution we offer is that all members of the consortium have gone through the process of reviewing, consolidating and updating all relevant requirements prescribed by the evolving regulations and guidelines, thus saving you, the client, time trying to make sense of it all – and to provide you with a well-packed parachute.”

“The Event Readiness On-boarding Solution is consistent with overall national strategies and policies, recognising global best practice in its efforts to minimise the spread and impact of COVID-19. The advantage of the solution we offer is that all members of the consortium have gone through the process of reviewing, consolidating and updating all relevant requirements prescribed by the evolving regulations and guidelines, thus saving you, the client, time trying to make sense of it all – and to provide you with a well-packed parachute,” she concludes.

For more information, visit their website here. To book your free gap analysis, contact Katelyn De Schutter on 082 506 1450 or katelyn@katelyndeschutter.co.za.