Quadrant Events: A decade of innovation and partnership
For over a decade, Quadrant Events has been reimagining what event production is and can be. In an industry renowned for its logistics and technical precision, the Nottingham-based team has created something unique: an environment founded on people and collaboration. From technical audio-visual (AV) hire to full-service event production, every project reflects the same promise: clients at the heart, quality at the core.
Since launching in 2012, Quadrant has grown from a small, specialised outfit into a multi-award-winning organisation with more than 40 employees and an enviable client list across the UK and beyond. Behind that story lies an equally longstanding partnership, one that began over 15 years ago when Quadrant’s accounting adviser at the time joined the UHY network.
Since then, UHY has supported Quadrant through its management buyout (MBO), which led to the formation of Quadrant Events as it is today, strategic growth and, most recently, a full cloud transformation of its finance systems. It’s a partnership that mirrors the very values both organisations share. Together, those principles underpin a relationship that continues to help Quadrant, and the clients it serves, prosper.
Quadrant’s story begins long before its official founding in 2012. Managing director, Andy Hogben, had spent years working at the intersection of audio-visual technology and events, watching the industry evolve from analogue tape to the digital era. By 1999, he had joined Quadrant Visual Solutions, a business that specialised in AV hire and video engineering.
“I joined the business in a video systems sales role”, Andy recalled. “Back then, the work was very technical. It was all about the kit. But I could see the opportunity to do something different, to build a business where the focus wasn’t solely on equipment, but on people and partnerships.”
When the parent company decided to pivot more towards other services, an opportunity arose for Andy and he saw his moment. In 2011, with guidance and support from UHY’s Jon Warsop, then partner at UHY’s Nottingham office, and later Chairman of UHY’s UK national group from 2014 to 2019, Andy led an MBO of the events division of the organisation. By May 2012, Quadrant Events was born.
From the outset, Quadrant’s philosophy was clear: combine technical excellence with exceptional customer care. “In AV hire, it used to be very transactional”, Andy stated. “You’d hire a piece of equipment, and that was that. I wanted to build a business where service and experience mattered as much as the technology, where the success of the event was shared between us and the client.”
That mindset became the foundation for everything that followed. From the earliest projects, Quadrant’s ethos has been defined by lasting relationships, collaborative service and an inclusive, people-first culture. The company’s commitment to quality and reliability has earned its reputation for repeat business, while its integrated model, bringing creative, technical and logistical expertise together under one roof with an end-to-end service, ensures clients receive a seamless experience from concept to completion. Underpinning all of this is a genuine belief that every event should be accessible and flawlessly delivered, no matter the scale or budget.
Over time, this commitment to consistency has paid off. What began as a 22-person team with turnover of around £1.6 million has more than doubled in size, with revenue now exceeding £6 million. Crucially, that growth has not been driven by cold calls, but by repeat business, referrals and reputation. “Almost all our work comes from word-of-mouth”, Andy shared. “It’s the relationships that truly make the difference”.
Recognition earned through relationships
In recent years, Quadrant’s dedication to its clients has been recognised at the M&IT Awards, one of the industry’s most respected accolades and, importantly, one voted for by the customers themselves.
“These aren’t the kind of awards you buy”, Andy explained. “They’re voted for by the people who work with you. That tells you everything you need to know about our approach”.
That same approach also explains the longevity of Quadrant’s relationship with UHY. Both businesses have built reputations on trust and genuine partnership, qualities that form the foundation of their shared success.
As Quadrant expanded, so did the complexity of its operations. With seasonal peaks and troughs, summer holidays and December often quieter periods, spring and autumn busier, efficiency and insight became critical. By 2023, it was clear that legacy systems were holding the company back.
“Our finance processes had become too manual”, Andy shared. “There were endless spreadsheets and little integration between our various systems. We wanted a modern, cloud-based solution that could keep up with how we worked”.
“We started by moving our rental management system to HireHop, a cloud-based solution”, Andy said. “Then, with UHY’s guidance, we implemented Xero for our accounting, integrated it with Dext for invoice processing and Pleo for expenses. Each step made us faster, more accurate and more transparent”.
That decision sparked a new phase of collaboration with UHY’s cloud accounting team. Working closely with Liz Searby, partner at UHY Nottingham, and the rest of the team, UHY spent time mapping Quadrant’s processes, understanding its structure and designing a cloud setup that could streamline everything from expenses to reporting.
Our support extended beyond technical setup. The team delivered workshops and demonstrations, some in-person, others online, ensuring Andy and Quadrant’s finance team understood every stage of the transition.
“It wasn’t just about switching software”, Andy noted. “It was about building confidence.”
The results were immediate. What once took days of manual reconciliation could now be completed in hours. Expenses that previously required paperwork and multiple systems became automated, consistent and visible in real time.
“The entire expenses process has been a revolution”, Andy shared. “Everyone uses the same app and card. Mileage claims are paid automatically, and everything feeds directly into Xero. It’s seamless.”
That transformation didn’t just save time; it also improved financial visibility. As MD, Andy can now access live dashboards, view cash flow instantly and drill into specific projects whenever needed.
“Having that insight gives us confidence. It means we can make better decisions, faster. And because UHY helped us with the entire process, we know it is robust”, Andy said.
For UHY, the transformation represents the best of its purpose, helping you prosper; empowering clients through technology, insight and partnership to operate more efficiently and achieve their goals.
A partnership built to prosper
Our involvement with Quadrant now extends across every financial touchpoint, from compliance to consultancy, tax to technology.
“It’s really a total relationship”, Andy stated. “They’re there for everyday support, strategic advice and specialist help when we need it”.
When Quadrant’s finance team changed personnel in 2024, we stepped in to bridge the gap, assisting with year-end processes and training new team members on Xero. The relationship isn’t tied to a single adviser but anchored around a network of trusted experts who know Quadrant inside out.
Among them is Ian Dickinson, who leads our tax advisory work with Quadrant. “Ian’s team has been brilliant”, Andy shared. “They’ve helped us with everything from routine tax planning to structuring share allocations when my fellow director, Hazel Burns, became a shareholder earlier this year. It’s that level of personal, specialised support that makes the relationship so valuable”.
This breadth of expertise, combined with the team’s responsiveness, is what Andy values most.
If there is one single thread that unites Quadrant and UHY, it’s a belief that success and prosperity come from relationships built on trust and empathy. Quadrant’s energy, creativity and precision are at the heart of everything it does, values that mirror our own forward-thinking, people-first approach. Quadrant’s ethos reflects a commitment to quality, inclusivity and care; ideas that resonate strongly with UHY’s own values: live empathy, make progress, be present and enjoy it.
Both businesses thrive on human connection, being present in the moment, listening closely and responding with insight and understanding. Both see progress not as a one-time project but as a continuous journey, and both recognise that joy and pride are essential parts of doing great work and building lasting relationships.
Quadrant helps its clients shine on stage; we help businesses like Quadrant perform confidently behind the scenes.
That shared mindset is what makes the partnership so natural. As Andy put it: “We’re both relationship-driven businesses. We both want to make our clients’ lives easier and their work more successful. We’ve grown together because we share the same principles.”
Looking ahead to the future
With every major system now cloud-based, from project management to logistics, Quadrant enters its next chapter on solid ground. “We’ve completed the digital transformation”, Andy said. “Every platform we use, from Office 365 to Asana, HireHop, Xero, Dext, Pleo and TeamTrack, is integrated and cloud-based. We’re in a really strong place.”
That stability allows Andy and his team to focus on what matters most: serving clients, developing internal talent and planning strategically for the years ahead. UHY remains a key partner in that journey, providing ongoing support across finance, tax and future planning.
“UHY has already been involved in discussions about our long-term strategy. It’s reassuring to know that as we evolve, they’ll be there to advise us through the next phase too”, Andy stated.
For a business built on long-term relationships, that continuity matters. Just as Quadrant helps its clients deliver events that leave lasting impressions, UHY continues to help Quadrant build a business designed to last.
And that, ultimately, is what helping you prosper is all about: meaningful partnerships, shared progress and the confidence to grow, together.
