Connection Crew
Connection Crew is a London-based B Corp-certified social enterprise (CIC) supplying skilled labour for live events, film and TV productions, corporate functions, and construction across the UK, recruiting crew from people affected by homelessness through its Academy and a charity partner network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Connection Crew does
Connection Crew is a London-based social enterprise operating as a Community Interest Company (CIC) that supplies skilled labour for live events, exhibitions, film and television productions, theatre, corporate functions, and construction sites across the United Kingdom. Founded in 2005 as part of The Connection at St Martin's charity and incorporated as a CIC in 2010, the company provides stage building, technical installations, rigging, infrastructure setup, and logistics staffing through a workforce of 298+ crew members, supported by a 24-hour booking operation and dedicated account management for enterprise clients.
The company differentiates itself through a workforce pipeline built around people affected by homelessness. The Connection Crew Academy (launched 2016) runs a three-day employment preparation programme with guaranteed job interviews, and a peer mentoring scheme supports new starters through their first 6-12 weeks. Crew recruitment is sourced through a network of 10+ charity partners including Beyond Food, Change Please, St Mungos, and Crisis. Proprietary operational tooling includes an in-house scheduling system that has tracked over 1 million crew hours, an Inclusive Venue Survey for client site accessibility, and a Carbon Levy mechanism (launched 2021) that adds a per-shift offset charge to invoices and achieves over 90% client participation.
Revenue is generated through professional services fees for crewing labour, with bespoke per-engagement quotes rather than published pricing. The company serves 436 clients (as of 2022), including enterprise customers such as massive (Coronation, London Marathon), LarMac Live (festivals), CBRE, Johnson & Johnson, and Wates Group. The company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, B Corp (first in the events crewing sector, certified 2026), Living Wage Employer, Constructionline Gold, and Cyber Essentials certifications. A sister company, Stitch, extends the offering into production services and circular-enabled production. No external funding rounds, parent company, or equity ownership structures are disclosed.
Connection Crew firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Connection Crew
- Legal name
- Connection Crew CIC
- Website
- https://connectioncrew.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Connection Crew is a London-based B Corp-certified social enterprise (CIC) supplying skilled labour for live events, film and TV productions, corporate functions, and construction across the UK, recruiting crew from people affected by homelessness through its Academy and a charity partner network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Connection Crew industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Event Staffing Services
- SIC
- Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Event Technical Production Management & Crew (MPAGAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Event Stagehands & Production Support Crew (HSACAEAJ), Crew & Labor Services (Production Staff, Unions, Payroll) (MPADAFAA), Touring & Event Logistics (Trucking, Freight, Backline, Crew) (MPAGAAAH)
Keywords
Where Connection Crew is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Connection Crew business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Event Crewing Services: Providing skilled crewing services for events, exhibitions, film/TV/theatre, corporate events, construction, and facilities management. Services include building stages, technical installations, rigging, logistics, and infrastructure set-up. Revenue generated through service fees charged to clients for crew labor.
- Training and Employment Programs: Connection Crew Academy provides employment preparation training with guaranteed job interviews for graduates. Programs include mentoring scheme supporting new crew members through first 6-12 weeks of work.
- Impact Account / ESG Reporting: Annual personalised impact reports for clients detailing social and environmental impact generated through their projects. Supports clients' Scope 3 and CSR reporting requirements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Living Wage Commitment |
| Other | Per shift | Carbon Levy |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Connection Crew product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Connection Crew provides skilled events crewing labour for stage building, complex technical installations, rigging, infrastructure set-up, and logistics across events, TV and film, live production, and corporate industries. Crew are hand-picked and matched to client needs, with services delivered on a quote-based, per-shift model to enterprise clients. Revenue is generated primarily through service fees charged for crew labour, supplemented by an add-on Carbon Levy covering unavoidable emissions.
Product overview
Connection Crew is a B Corp certified social enterprise providing full-service events crewing and labor services rather than a software product. Their core offering consists of skilled crew services across events, TV and film, live production, and corporate industries, complemented by social impact programs including the Connection Crew Academy (employment preparation training), Mentoring Programme (peer support for new crew), and Impact Account/CSR Account (annual ESG and carbon reporting for clients). Additional offerings include the Carbon Levy (offset service for unavoidable emissions), ESG Impact Reports, #215Fund (community donations), and the Inclusive Venue Survey tool. Their sub-brand Stitch provides circular-enabled production services. All offerings work together to create living-wage work opportunities for people affected by homelessness while delivering professional crewing services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Stitch: Sister company providing production services and circular-enabled production services.
Products and services
- Events Crewing Services Full-service events crewing for events, TV and film, live production, and corporate industries: stage building, complex technical installations, rigging, infrastructure set-up, and logistics. Sold on a quote basis to event organisers, venues, production companies and corporate clients.
- Impact Account / CSR Account Annual personalised impact reports for qualifying clients (those generating 37.5+ hours of work), detailing direct social impact (hours delivered), environmental impact (kg of CO2e), and carbon emissions data to support clients' Scope 3 and CSR reporting.
- Stitch — Production Services Sister company / sub-brand providing production services and circular-enabled production services for clients seeking diversified social impact alongside event delivery.
Quantifiable outcome
- 508 people affected by homelessness supported into living wage work since 2005
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Connection Crew
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Connection Crew technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Connection Crew partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- islaminorNon-profit industry body founded by event professionals focused on building sustainable future for events through education, action, and collaboration. Over 185 businesses are members.
- Mayor of LondoncoreNew Deal for Young People funding recipient. Partnership to support young people into employment and training opportunities.
- Octopus Energycore100% renewable energy tariff provider. Connection Crew signed up to green energy tariff as part of Net Zero commitment.
- Heart of the CitycoreCharity providing 'Climate for SMEs' course funded by City of London Corporation. Connection Crew graduated from first cohort, developing Net Zero action plan aligned to ISO 14001 and GHG Protocol methodology.
- We Are Albert / EcologicoreCreative offset scheme partner for carbon offsetting unavoidable emissions from crew activities. Previously partnered with Natural Capital Partners (until 2021). Funded verified carbon avoidance projects including Tambopata-Bahuaja Biodiversity Reserve, solar power in India, wind power in Thailand.
- Social Enterprise UKcoreUK membership body for social enterprises. Steering group partnership for universal framework of best practice to help social enterprises and charities work together more effectively to employ ex-homeless people. Facilitated pilot including Beyond Food, Change Please, St Mungos, Crisis, and others.
- ConstructionlinecoreConstruction procurement specialist providing prequalification for construction sector. Connection Crew achieved Constructionline Gold certification, opening doors to construction sector work for modular installs and welfare area builds. Partnership facilitated through Supply Change for social enterprise verification.
- Supply ChangecorePlatform helping businesses develop social procurement processes and access trusted social suppliers. Verified Connection Crew's eligibility for Constructionline membership.
- Charity Referral PartnerscoreNetwork of 10+ charity partners including Beyond Food, Change Please, Connection at St Martins, House of St Barnabas, St Mungos, Crisis, Restart for recruiting people affected by homelessness into crew positions.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Connection Crew competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sodexo Live!: Global provider of hospitality, catering, and event services for sports, entertainment, and corporate venues. Competes in event staffing and on-site services though focused on hospitality and concessions rather than crew labour.
- GL events: International event services group providing venue management, exhibition services, and event staffing across Europe. Overlaps on UK event crew work though operates a far broader portfolio.
- Hawthorn: UK-based integrated technical production company supplying staging, lighting, audio, and crew for live events. Wider portfolio than Connection Crew but overlaps on event crew and production services.
- Freeman: Global experiential marketing and event services company. Competes in corporate events and exhibitions, offering broader services but with overlapping crew and production requirements.
- PRG (Production Resource Group): Global provider of event production services and crew with extensive equipment inventory. Competes in the events production segment though at much larger scale and with broader geographic reach.
- Encore (formerly PSAV): Global event technology and production services company serving hotels, venues, and corporate events. Competes on enterprise corporate event crew and production, though from a much larger equipment-and-service platform.
Direct peers
- Showforce: UK-based specialist event crew provider offering stagehands, production crew, and event staffing across live events, exhibitions, and corporate clients. Direct competitor with similar core service and customer overlap.
- Crewsaders: UK-based events crew company providing stewards, stagehands, and event staff to festivals, exhibitions, and live events. Directly comparable service offering and target market.
- Gallowglass: One of the UK's largest dedicated event crew companies, providing skilled crew for corporate events, exhibitions, concerts, and conferences. Closely comparable model, scale, and target customer base.
Emerging players
- Stitch (Connection Crew sub-brand): Sister brand of Connection Crew offering production services and circular-enabled production. Included as the closest adjacent services brand within the same ownership, useful for benchmarking expansion into production.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Connection Crew social profiles
Digital presenceConnection Crew compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Connection Crew financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Connection Crew leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Connection Crew subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Connection Crew funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Connection Crew M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Connection Crew
What does Connection Crew do?
Connection Crew provides skilled events crewing labour for stage building, complex technical installations, rigging, infrastructure set-up, and logistics across events, TV and film, live production, and corporate industries. Crew are hand-picked and matched to client needs, with services delivered on a quote-based, per-shift model to enterprise clients. Revenue is generated primarily through service fees charged for crew labour, supplemented by an add-on Carbon Levy covering unavoidable emissions.
Is Connection Crew a public or private company?
Connection Crew is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Connection Crew founded?
Connection Crew was founded in 2005. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Connection Crew based?
Connection Crew is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Connection Crew make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Event Crewing Services are the primary driver. The others are training and Employment Programs and impact Account / ESG Reporting.
Who are Connection Crew's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sodexo Live!, GL events, Hawthorn, Freeman, PRG (Production Resource Group) and Encore (formerly PSAV). Direct peers are Showforce, Crewsaders and Gallowglass. Stitch (Connection Crew sub-brand) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Connection Crew have an API?
No public API is recorded for Connection Crew.
What industry is Connection Crew in?
Connection Crew's product category is Event Staffing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAKAH, Event Technical Production Management & Crew, with a secondary code of HSACAEAJ, Event Stagehands & Production Support Crew. Its SIC code is 7819.