Barcelona is one of Europe’s most thriving event hubs, and as such, is home to its very own team of Gallowglass crewmen who provide invaluable support to some of the city’s biggest events. However, while our Barcelona office has been growing ever since its inception, the ties between our Barcelona team and UK Head Office are still as strong as ever and serve to provide unique opportunities for team members both at home and abroad. Read on to discover more about life at our Spanish HQ and the experiences shared by our collaborative workforce.
Where it all began…
In 2006, the very first UK-to-Spain Gallowglass collaboration took place. A team of skilled crewmen from various offices across our home region travelled to Barcelona to support one of the city’s most renowned events: the Mobile World Congress (MWC). Their task was to build a selection of two-tier marquee structures in a very limited time frame. Thanks to their can-do attitude and consistent hard work, the team completed the job quickly and were highly praised for their on-site efficiency and professionalism. It made perfect sense to have a permanent base in Spain to meet the high demand for event crews in Europe, so the Gallowglass Barcelona office opened the following year. This produced a solid working relationship with our MWC clients, and this has continued to flourish ever since, enabling us to support this globally-renowned congress and exhibition on an annual basis.
The Barcelona office today
Over the years, Gallowglass Barcelona has matured, and the requirement for UK crew and crew chiefs has gradually diminished as our Spanish workforce has expanded and developed its skill sets. However, the opportunity for inter-company resourcing still arises regularly and as such, has bred a very close relationship between our UK operations and overseas crews.
In the past, our multi-base operations system has allowed Gallowglass teams from the UK and Barcelona to collaborate on a number of exciting projects across mainland Europe - from festivals and concerts to exhibitions and sports events. However, as previously mentioned, MWC and VMworld - two major events showcasing the latest technological innovations from across the globe - are by far the most demanding shows for this collective workforce.
Twice a year, Gallowglass crew chiefs and plant operators from our UK offices are sent to support the Barcelona team at both MWC and VMworld. While this versatile crew varies year-on-year, reinforcements are sent from the UK to work on these projects for as long as two weeks, presenting a unique opportunity to experience working overseas alongside a friendly new team headed up by Regional Manager Mauricio Lopez Moran. With over 400 different clients, including Cirque Du Soleil, European Parker Tour Ltd and WRG, there’s always plenty to do! However, it’s not just our UK crewmen who are required to travel at times…
The 2018 Exchange Programme
Last year, Gallowglass experienced an incredibly busy summer, jam-packed with exciting events across the UK. Consequently, this demanding portfolio presented us with the perfect opportunity to trial our new exchange programme and acquire a little extra manpower. A large team of Barcelona crewmen took part in the scheme and travelled to the UK to provide support on different projects.
Not only did the programme provide a unique chance for our Spanish team to extend their skill sets by working on a diverse range of events, but it also enabled crewmen to work at some of the UK’s most iconic venues for an extended period, as well as the opportunity to explore them in their own free time. Two crewmen enjoyed the experience so much that they decided to stay for good and have now made the UK their permanent home!
Due to the success of our 2018 exchange programme, Gallowglass will be replicating the scheme again this summer, with the expectation of welcoming a few dozen of our Spanish team members who will have the chance to carry out event crew jobs in London for between one and three months.
If you’d like to know more about our Barcelona office or get involved with our 2019 exchange program, why not get in touch today to see what opportunities could be awaiting you?
