How to Plan an Outdoor Event with the British Weather in Mind
From summer fetes to fundraising galas, spring and summer are often packed full of outdoor events, hoping to take advantage of the warmer weather. However, the British weather is known for its unpredictability, with torrential rain and strong winds a common occurrence.
When you’re planning an outdoor event, it’s important to be aware that the weather might not always be on your side.
Plan for a Rainy Day
When you’re planning an event, you should always plan for the worst-case scenario. In the case of an outdoor event, this is often bad weather conditions such as rain or strong winds. For example, in June 2020, there were over 15 days of rainfall.
You might consider hiring an indoor venue to keep on standby, should the weather go against your plans. Alternatively, you could hire marquees which could be used to protect against the wind or rain but could also be used as shade if the sun is out.
If your entertainment is based around outdoor activities, you’ll need to think of how these activities can be moved indoors or look for alternative entertainment sources which could be used if required. This will help to prevent your guests from becoming bored if the weather doesn’t hold out.
Planning for the worst-case scenario is bound to increase your overall costs, so you should factor this into either the price of tickets or your budget.
Prepare for Success
To give your outdoor event the best chances of success, it’s important to thoroughly prepare. Not only should you have a backup plan for inclement weather, but you should also ensure that you know your venue and staff like the back of your hand. Having an in-depth knowledge of your resources and location can help you to prepare for every possible eventuality.
Another way to ensure that your event is set up for success is by taking an event management course, which will teach you how to safely manage an event and prepare for various scenarios. There are many different event courses on offer which will give you the expertise that you need to safely and efficiently plan and manage your event from start to finish.
Keep Health and Safety in Mind
If the weather derails your plans and your event is forced to take another direction, it can be easy to let health and safety slip. However, you need to make sure that your event complies with UK health and safety legislation, as well as HSE event guidelines.
Before the event, you should conduct a risk assessment. This will need to include both your planned event and your backup plan. Your risk assessment should cover every possible scenario, no matter how unlikely it may seem. You can then put measures in place to eliminate or minimise these risks.
In the case of inclement weather, the risk of accidents and injuries increases. You’ll need to have first aid kits available as a minimum, but it could also be a good idea to have medical staff onsite to deal with any incidents.
Planning an event around the British weather isn’t an easy task. However, by following these tips, you can give your event the best chances of success, no matter what the weather has in store for you.