It’s been a hard-hitting year for everyone across the world. For JMPUK, as a video, photography and communications agency, lockdown restrictions has certainly made it a lot more challenging to work on projects for our clients near and far. And so, like many other businesses, we immediately realised the need to adapt. Both the JMPUK team and our clients have shown resounding resilience through this process, and we have spent many hours working together to adapt projects in accordance with these times.

This has involved embracing digital and thinking more creatively when it comes to producing content; from adapting our client’s content and communication plans, creating more animated projects, repurposing old footage, to offering greater flexibility to clients.

During this time, we have also witnessed our clients going showing tremendous resilience and adapting throughout the pandemic, with Bristol Sport being a prime example.

With fans unable to attend sports events at Ashton Gate Stadium throughout the majority of the year, Bristol Sport has lent the venue to many commendable initiatives.  From providing storage space for FareShare South West, partnering with the NHS for Covid-testing at the stadium to recently opening as one of seven “super-vaccination” centres across England.

Mark Kelly, Managing Director of Ashton Gate said in a recent statement: “Ashton Gate is proud to support the delivery of this vaccination programme. The stadium sits in the heart of the community and to be able to help in whatever way we can is a real honour.”

ADAPTATION FOR SURVIVAL

Live entertainment and hospitality have been amongst the hardest-hitting industries. Venues that once thrived have been left desolate for almost a year, having significant financial impacts. The sector, which is made up of theatres, cinemas, comedy clubs, concert halls, sporting venues and more, it a fundamental puzzle piece of the economy, worth just over £70bn.

Many of these venues have been the lifeblood of our local areas, bringing together communities and raising well being. Since the pandemic hit, this industry has shown tremendous prowess and innovation in both their fight for survival and to continue serving their communities.

Independent businesses, for example,  have had no choice but to digitally transform in order to communicate effectively with their customers and broaden their service offerings to include things such as home delivery and online ordering.

COVID-19-FRIENDLY ENTERTAINMENT

Live music venues and theatres have highlighted the power of live-streaming in their adaptation journey. Amid the cancellations of major tour cancellations and festivals due to Covid-19, venues and artists have been leveraging live-streaming in order to continue to connect with fans, and in some cases, make up for lost revenue through charging for ticketing.

We have also witnessed the growth of certain types of entertainment, including the drive-in cinema model. Once associated with 1950’s Americana, this type of event has almost been reborn in the age of the pandemic, providing a way to enjoy entertainment while abiding by Covid-19 social distancing regulations. YTL Arena Complex, the future home of a 17,000 capacity entertainment venue in Bristol hosted numerous drive-in cinema shows on the disused Filton Airfield which saw huge success.

HOTELS TRANSFORM INTO HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS

Many vacant hotel rooms have been converted into emergency safe spaces to protect rough sleepers from coronavirus. With homeless people among the most vulnerable to the virus, with individuals three times more likely to have a severe respiratory problem, the need for a rapid response to helping this population was crucial. Almost 15,000 rough sleepers have been housed in hotels or emergency accommodation since lockdown began.

While it’s been a tough old year, businesses in the entertainment industry and beyond have shown immense resilience and innovation turning sour lemons into lemonade and repurposing themselves to serve their communities in awe-inspiring ways.

Discover JMPUK’s Event Photography service here.

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JMP are an agency I can trust to 100% deliver against any brief I have given them. Their communication is quick and efficient and they are always on hand to help, whatever the time frame!

Jess Wade, Content Marketing Manager

Sky Bet

JMP is a true partner for us. They have embraced our ambition and are able to offer us a full service from research to pre and post-production. In a world where brands are looking more and more for fast turnaround ‘premium social’ output that is affordable, JMP could not be better placed.

Kevin Brain, Head of Social & Content

Sky Bet

We’ve used JMP for several years and what makes them so great is not just the quality of their work, but the brilliance of their people. The culture of the business clearly shines through. The work is always a fantastic standard, on brief, on time, innovative and creative. Five stars.

Nabil Hassan, Digital News Manager & Communications Manager

England Rugby, RFU

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