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MCL: AV Solutions for Every Event
As audio-visual supplier to the 2008 CIS Excellence Awards, and one of the country's leading resources for AV equipment and expertise, MCL provide the events and hospitality industries with every conceivable service and product to ensure that your event runs according to plan. Using the leading brands and the latest technology, their experienced team of technicians provide clients throughout the UK with an overall AV solutions package that takes the stress out of event planning.
Catering in Scotland introduces MCL, the one-stop shop for AV advice, equipment and services…
As part of Avesco Plc, a worldwide broadcast and live-media group of companies, MCL is ideally placed with unrivalled backup and support to cater for the AV needs of any size of client and event.
'We specialise in providing a complete service to hotels, industry and conference venues throughout the UK, from corporate events to the private and public sector, and our business ethos is based around the concepts of consistent quality and trust,' says Dave Menzies, Business Development Executive at MCL Glasgow. 'Because we take care of everything from sound, lighting, staging, graphics production and even stage design - clients can rely on us to produce the whole package from scratch.'
Indeed, a dedicated MCL project manager works with the client from initial meeting to event conclusion, with in-depth planning from start to finish, regardless of the venue, number of guests or size of budget.
'We can offer clients the best advice on bespoke solutions to meet their requirements, adds Dave, 'and because of our six branches throughout the UK we can call on extra reserves from other offices if necessary.
'We have a comprehensive range of the latest conference, presentation and multimedia equipment available in stock. Our customer base is very diverse, with clients in hospitality, financial services, engineering and electronics, and we are happy to travel anywhere to cater for any type of event. We also offer 'dry hire' of screens, projectors, camera equipment, flip charts and other AV tools for hotels, clubs, restaurants, town halls, marquees and so on.'
MCL's six locations are spread evenly throughout Britain, so the company is ideally located to serve the entire UK, from Aberdeen to St Albans, and from Warminster to Wick. However, as well as convenience and backup support, this comprehensive spread also brings with it the associated benefits of decreased transport requirements, so MCL can minimise the impact their activities have on the environment: 'We can source equipment from the branch closest to the event,' adds Dave. 'This geographical edge helps to manage our impact on the surrounding area and the environment in general. 'In fact we are currently undergoing an audit to determine our carbon footprint, which should help us to keep our consumption and emissions to an absolute minimum in the future.'
But it's not simply the green issues that single out MCL as a more socially responsible operator; Health & Safety plays a big part in everyday life, and the company has a qualified Health & Safety professional in Angela Gerrard. Angela implements the systems under which each branch works, and ensures compliance with all current and forthcoming legislation. The H&S system includes completion of detailed risk assessments and method statements by the project managers for each and every event.
Much of this flexibility and independence centres on the dependability of the tools of their trade and the people who use them, and MCL are committed to consistent investment in these areas: 'We are constantly investing in our people and new technology,' he continues. 'We upgrade our equipment frequently to enable us to keep up with the latest demands of our client base, and our experienced technical and projects staff are consistently trained to the highest standards.'
One such technological development is Aquawall, an imposing new technology which uses falling water to display names, messages and company logos to impressive dramatic effect.
Meanwhile, VersaTILE is an innovative LED-based system which turns ordinary spaces into visually mesmerising environments, and the Spyder Widescreen enables high-resolution images to be placed across multiple projectors for a seamless widescreen display.
'With Spyder Widescreen, the High brightness DLP projectors are seamlessly blended to give a previously unachievable visual area, with images that are vivid, bright and pin-sharp,' continues Dave. 'PowerPoint presentations can be projected onto the giant screen and our graphics department can create stunning widescreen images to use in presentations and indeed to theme entire events. It's perfect for the 'wow factor' that event-managers are looking for to differentiate one conference, presentation or awards ceremony from another.'
However, it is MCL's custom-built stage sets that really allows an event to stand out from the others, as Dave explains: 'Although we specialise in audio-visual equipment and expertise, we also have a graphics department who can design and commission bespoke backdrops of any size or style to suit a client's corporate colours or event theme. We provide customised signage, stages and digital print, as well as producing visual design concepts in advance of an event, so the client can see what it looks like before we have even begun to build the stage.'
And if further proof was needed of the size, quality and service of MCL, a brief glance of their client list demonstrates exactly why they are leaders in their field: In the past year alone they have handled such high profile events as the Scottish Labour Party Conference (for the fifth year running), the SQA Star Awards, the Scottish Institute for Enterprise and fundraisers for the hospitality industry's own charity, HIT Scotland.
With a successful parent group behind them, (Avesco also owns Fountain Studios, the setting for the UK's X-Factor reality TV programme), unrivalled expertise and backup support, and an enthusiastic team who work on a one-to-one basis with clients, MCL really are top of the pack when it comes to AV services. Put them in the spotlight and you'll see how they shine.
This article has been edited from its original version. For the complete feature, please see Catering in Scotland magazine May/June 2008.
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