Meet the Team - Rachel Smith

Name: Rachel Smith

Job Title: Finance Coordinator

Venue: All venues

Favourite Drink: Fizzy Vimto or Cider - depending on the time of day!

Favourite Meal: Moussaka

I started working for Creative... in 2006 at the NEC in Birmingham, I had just finished university so I was looking for a new challenge. I started off as bar staff then became a Bar Manager within a few months after which I became Staffing Manager. I had a few years off travelling and then came back as Office and Commercial Manager after the Olympics, which then turned into my current role in finance.

In a nutshell my role is... quite hectic! I process all invoices for the majority of our venues and outdoor catering department, and during the summer months I help out as a Commercial Manager by cashing up at busy festivals as well as helping out at other venues when they have busy shows on.

On an average day... I am processing hundreds of invoices!!

My most rewarding moment was... (I have a few!) Working at the Olympics, meeting Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver at the NE, watching my favourite bands at various festivals and getting to work with a great group of people.

My most challenging moment was... working long hours and for many days in a row at the Boat Show, Grand Designs and Travel Market at ExCeL Exhibition Centre. All worth it though!

I couldn’t cope without... great colleagues, they keep you upbeat when you need it most!

Best piece of advice... be nice to everyone, you may need their help in the future.

Less than 1 month until the Royal Parks Half Marathon

Having been training for the last couple of months, we are now counting down the few weeks left until the Royal Parks Half Marathon kicks off in Hyde Park on Sunday 12th October.

16,000 runners will run the 13.1 mile route through Central London and the beautiful Royal Parks. Our Creativevents Team Squirrel consists of 10 squirrels and we will be scurrying our way to the finish line in order to raise our target of £2,250 for charity.

With less than a month to go we would really appreciate any donations towards our cause: The Royal Parks Foundation, who rely on your support to keep the Parks bursting with life by funding projects in education, wildlife conservation, landscape restoration, sport and art!

If you would like to sponsor Team Squirrel, please visit our Virgin Giving Page - http://bit.ly/1tEBiGc

Introducing our new TK Artisan Bakery at Olympia!

Why not stop by at our new TK Artisan Bakery located within the charming Pillar Hall of
Olympia Exhibition Centre. We’ve made it personal by joining our TK brand with
the Artisan Bakery which has a lot of history behind it. We have some great stories to tell……

Timothy Knowles, a Creative ancestor, had four bakeries in Yorkshire and Manchester back in the 1880s. The joke at the time was that TK used to make the best ‘TKakes’ – we have his original hand-written recipe books so we’ll be recreating these and many more treats for our new bakery.

We’re also having a lot of fun hunting down props and adding the finishing touches that, with the food displays, will bring the bakery alive.

Piled high with just-baked morning pastries, lunchtime tarts, crisp wholesome salads and
handmade sandwiches – plus delicious cakes and treats for the all-important afternoon tea,
it’s a lovely spot to meet throughout the day in a relaxed and comfortable environment.
Our homemade lemonade is a must! See you there!