Majority redundant in company’s ‘darkest day’

A Perthshire events firm that has worked for Gleneagles and Dior has made the majority of its staff redundant.

Bridge of Earn-based Catalyst cut 19 jobs from a workforce of 36 staff last week.

The firm has seen a dramatic decline in revenue as events were cancelled this year and businesses wait to commit to future events.

Directors Graeme Craig and Ronnie MacLennan said the decision to cut staff was the darkest day in the company’s history.

“We have furloughed most staff but we’ve had to look at the furlough scheme stopping in October and the cost of topping that up in the meantime,” the directors said.

“Redundancy isn’t something that can simply be announced and immediately processed.

“With no end in sight, our key needs to be to survive as long as possible in hope of our industry returning in some form.”

Catalyst has previously delivered the opening ceremony for last year’s Solheim Cup and has worked with Underbelly on Edinburgh’s Hogmanay show.

The firm, formed in 2003, had an annual turnover of more than £4 million before the pandemic hit. It now expects its sales to fall by between 75% and 80% this year.

As well as the furlough scheme, the company has accessed Small Business Support Grant funding and the Covid-19 Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund but, because it has received support, will not qualify for the new £10m Event Industry Support Fund.

Mr Craig added: “The Scottish Government created an advisory board but they don’t represent the rank and file eventers of Scotland – very few if any of those sitting on the board will stand to lose their jobs if this continues into 2021.”

The business, has found some work creating bespoke furniture for private clients.

But there is no prospect of work for skilled jobs like sound engineers, lightening technician and video engineers.

Mr Craig warned: “With the cuts happening across the industry at the moment, the public have to realise the industry is going to potentially struggle to provide support to the diverse number of events hosted in Scotland.”