Push The Button Ltd
Push The Button Ltd is a UK-based specialist electrical and technical installation contractor serving theatres, performing arts venues, and cruise ships with LED lighting retrofits, dimming systems, stage engineering, and bespoke panel manufacturing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersBristol, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Push The Button Ltd does
Push The Button Ltd (PTB) is a UK-based specialist electrical and technical installation contractor serving the entertainment industry. Founded no later than 2012 and headquartered in Bristol, the company delivers electrical design, installation, project management, and test & inspection services for theatres, performing arts venues, and cruise ships. Its core offering covers LED houselighting retrofits (often without re-wiring), production lighting and dimming systems (ETC, GDS ArcSystem), stage engineering, AV and paging infrastructure, emergency lighting, and bespoke facility panels and powerlock distribution units. PTB's specialist positioning centres on navigating heritage and Grade-listed building constraints while working around live performance schedules and tight closure windows.
The company operates on a project-by-project professional services model, winning work through competitive tenders, direct appointment by venue operators and theatre groups (ATG, Nederlander, National Theatre, Royal Academy of Music), and repeat engagement across the cruise ship fleets of Carnival UK (P&O Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line). The team of 11 design and engineering professionals holds combined industry experience exceeding eighty years, anchored by Managing Director Nick Ewins. Notable credentials include the world's first GDS Fade to Warm ArcLamp installation at Bristol Hippodrome and a triple RIBA award win for the Royal Academy of Music project with Ian Ritchie Architects.
Push The Button is a privately held limited company registered in England and Wales, with no external funding rounds, no parent company, and no disclosed institutional ownership. The firm generates revenue through one-time project contracts that bundle design, equipment supply, installation, and commissioning, with pricing negotiated per engagement rather than published. Geographic reach spans the UK mainland, Ireland, and international maritime deployments, with all marketing and customer acquisition driven by an extensive portfolio of public case studies, industry reputation, and relationships with venue operators, design consultancies (Charcoalblue), and equipment OEMs.
Push The Button Ltd firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Push The Button Ltd
- Legal name
- Push The Button Ltd
- Website
- https://ptb.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Push The Button Ltd is a UK-based specialist electrical and technical installation contractor serving theatres, performing arts venues, and cruise ships with LED lighting retrofits, dimming systems, stage engineering, and bespoke panel manufacturing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Push The Button Ltd industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Theatrical and Entertainment Venue Electrical Installation Services
- NAICS
- Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)
- SIC
- Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Studio Lighting & Grip Infrastructure Services (MPADAIAF)
Keywords
Where Push The Button Ltd is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bristol
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Push The Button Ltd business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Electrical Design and Installation Services: PTB provides expert electrical design, installation, project management and test & inspection services for entertainment venues. Revenue is generated on a project-by-project basis through competitively tendered contracts and direct appointments. Projects range from single-system upgrades (e.g., LED houselighting) to comprehensive electrical overhauls spanning multiple theatre systems. The company also designs and manufactures bespoke facility panels and powerlock distribution units as part of its service offering.
- Product Supply (Integrated with Installation): PTB supplies lighting fixtures, control systems, and equipment (GDS ArcSystem, ETC Paradigm, ETC Sensor dimmers, custom panels) as part of its installation projects. Equipment supply is bundled with design and installation services rather than sold separately.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Push The Button Ltd product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Push The Button provides expert electrical design, installation, project management, and test & inspection services for entertainment venues, including West End theatres, regional producing theatres, performing arts venues, and cruise ships. Core offerings cover LED houselighting retrofits (often without re-wiring), production lighting and dimming systems, stage engineering (split stages, flying systems, motor rewiring), AV infrastructure, emergency lighting, and paging systems. The company also designs and manufactures bespoke facility panels, powerlock distribution units, and custom-built solutions tailored to each venue's requirements.
Product overview
Push The Button Ltd is a technical services company providing expert electrical design, installation, project management, and test & inspection services for the entertainment industry. The company offers bespoke facility panels, powerlock distribution systems, and custom-built solutions. Their service offerings cover house lighting installation and upgrades, production lighting systems, dimming solutions, stage engineering, audio/AV infrastructure, paging systems, and emergency lighting systems. They specialize in LED retrofits and upgrades for theatres, venues, and performance spaces, working with equipment manufacturers such as ETC, GDS, and various other theatrical equipment suppliers. PTB does not offer a unified software product or platform; rather, they deliver installation and design services as discrete projects tailored to each client's venue requirements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PTB: Common abbreviation used throughout the website for Push The Button Ltd
Products and services
- Electrical Design, Installation and Project Management Services Turnkey electrical design, installation, project management, and test & inspection services delivered as discrete projects for entertainment venues. Covers full electrical overhauls including mains distribution, MCCB panels, and stage door refurbishments. Targeted at theatre operators, venue managers, property services teams, and cruise line entertainment departments.
- LED Houselighting Retrofit and Installation Specialist LED houselighting retrofit and installation service for theatres and performing arts venues, often delivered without re-wiring existing infrastructure. Replaces tungsten houselights with LED solutions that replicate tungsten dimming characteristics. Targeted at theatre operators and venue technical managers seeking energy-efficient LED upgrades compatible with Grade listed building constraints.
- Stage Engineering Services Stage engineering services including re-wiring of existing stage motors, encoder installation, safe edge system upgrades, and electronic proportional valve controls for revolve systems. Targeted at theatres and opera venues requiring stage machinery brought to safe and operational standards.
- Bespoke Facility Panels and Powerlock Distribution Manufacturing Design and manufacture of bespoke facility panels, powerlock distribution units, and one-off custom-built solutions tailored to each venue's requirements. Bundled with installation projects rather than sold separately. Targeted at entertainment venues requiring custom electrical distribution hardware.
- AV Infrastructure and Paging System Installation Installation of audio/visual infrastructure, show relay speaker systems, working light control systems, and PAVA paging systems for theatres and performing arts venues. Targeted at venues requiring integrated AV and life-safety communication system upgrades alongside electrical infrastructure projects.
- Test and Inspection Services Circuit testing, pre-planning verification, and compliance testing to British Standards (BS7671) for entertainment venue electrical installations. Delivered as part of project handover or as a standalone compliance service. Targeted at theatre operators requiring documented electrical safety compliance.
Quantifiable outcome
- World's first installation of GDS 'Fade to Warm' ArcLamp at Bristol Hippodrome — enabling LED retrofit using existing wiring while replicating tungsten dimming characteristics
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Push The Button Ltd
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Push The Button Ltd technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Push The Button Ltd partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CharcoalbluecorePTB works closely with Charcoalblue, a leading theatre and acoustic consultancy, on projects where Charcoalblue leads the architectural and technical design and PTB implements the installation. This partnership is evident across multiple projects including Barbican Theatre (auditorium lighting) and The Arts Theatre Cambridge (major refurbishment). Charcoalblue's design authority combined with PTB's installation expertise delivers integrated theatre solutions.
- GDS Pioneering Light LimitedcorePTB is a specialist installer of GDS (Pioneering Light Limited) products including ArcSystem, ArcLamp, Fade To Warm, ArcPro, and IPM technology. PTB has installed the world's first Fade To Warm ArcLamp (Bristol Hippodrome) and numerous ArcSystem projects. GDS provides the LED lighting technology and drivers while PTB handles design adaptation, custom engineering, and installation.
- ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls)corePTB specifies and installs ETC products across its projects including Paradigm architectural control systems, Sensor and ColorSource dimmer racks, ArcSystem drivers, ThruPower modules, and ETC touchscreen controllers. ETC's product ecosystem is central to PTB's lighting control solutions at venues including Old Vic, Barbican, Arts Theatre Cambridge, and Marlowe Theatre.
- Nederlander TheatrescorePTB has delivered multiple projects for Nederlander Theatres including the Dominion Theatre electrical overhaul. This represents a key client relationship within the UK theatre operator sector, with repeat engagements across the Nederlander estate.
- Osborne ConstructionminorPTB worked alongside Osborne Construction Management on the Royal Academy of Music project, where Osborne served as the main contractor and PTB delivered specialist theatrical and electrical installation. PTB has also worked with Cocksedge Building Contractors on The Arts Theatre Cambridge project.
- ATG (Ambassador Theatre Group)corePTB is a preferred contractor for ATG venues, delivering projects at Ambassadors Theatre, Gillian Lynne Theatre, and other ATG-managed West End theatres. The relationship spans multiple venues and project types including LED houselighting, production dimming, and technical upgrades.
- Carnival UK (P&O Cruises, Cunard)corePTB maintains an ongoing relationship with Carnival UK for entertainment system upgrades across their cruise fleet (Arcadia, Oceana, Aurora, Koningsdam, Seabourn Ovation, Queen Elizabeth). Projects span dry dock periods and in-service upgrades, with PTB acting as the specialist entertainment installation contractor.
- Ian Ritchie ArchitectsminorPTB worked with Ian Ritchie Architects on the Royal Academy of Music Susie Sainsbury Theatre and Angela Burgess Recital Hall project, which was a triple RIBA award winning scheme.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Push The Button Ltd competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SFL Group: UK-based AV integration and live-events services company supplying venues, theatres and broadcast — comparable to PTB's AV infrastructure and production systems upgrade work for entertainment venues.
- Hawthorn: UK theatrical services provider covering lighting, rigging, set and AV rental and installation for theatres, concerts and corporate events — directly comparable to PTB's entertainment-venue installation offering, with a broader rental inventory.
- J&C Joel: Global manufacturer and installer of stage engineering, drapery, tracks and soft goods for theatres and performance venues — directly comparable to PTB on stage machinery (flying systems, revolves, encoders) and venue fabrication work.
- White Light: UK-based theatrical lighting and AV systems integrator serving West End, regional and international venues — overlaps directly with PTB on production lighting, control system and AV infrastructure installation for entertainment venues.
- Unusual Rigging: UK specialist rigging contractor for theatre, live events and venue installations — comparable to PTB on the structural and motorised stage-engineering component of entertainment venue projects.
- Stage Electrics: Long-established UK specialist electrical contractor for theatres, concert halls and live-event venues, offering design, installation and supply of lighting, audio and rigging systems — the closest like-for-like competitor to PTB in the UK heritage venue market.
- A.C. Entertainment Technologies: UK distributor and systems integrator for entertainment lighting, control and audio brands, supplying theatres, venues and broadcast — adjacent to PTB on lighting specification and integration services for entertainment venues.
- Triple E Ltd: UK designer and manufacturer of theatrical track, rigging and motor systems, with installation services into theatres and venues — overlaps with PTB's stage engineering and bespoke motorised installation capability.
Others
- Charcoalblue: International theatre and acoustic design consultancy that partners with PTB on projects including Barbican and Arts Theatre Cambridge — comparable as a specialist in the same heritage venue ecosystem, but operating upstream as consultant rather than installer.
Broad incumbents
- PRG (Production Resource Group): Global entertainment technology company providing lighting, video, audio and rigging across concerts, theatre and broadcast — a much larger incumbent in PTB's entertainment-venue space with broader geographic reach and rental-led model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Push The Button Ltd social profiles
Digital presencePush The Button Ltd financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Push The Button Ltd leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Push The Button Ltd funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Push The Button Ltd 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 Push The Button Ltd
What does Push The Button Ltd do?
Push The Button provides expert electrical design, installation, project management, and test & inspection services for entertainment venues, including West End theatres, regional producing theatres, performing arts venues, and cruise ships. Core offerings cover LED houselighting retrofits (often without re-wiring), production lighting and dimming systems, stage engineering (split stages, flying systems, motor rewiring), AV infrastructure, emergency lighting, and paging systems. The company also designs and manufactures bespoke facility panels, powerlock distribution units, and custom-built solutions tailored to each venue's requirements.
Is Push The Button Ltd a public or private company?
Push The Button Ltd is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Push The Button Ltd founded?
Push The Button Ltd was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Push The Button Ltd based?
Push The Button Ltd is headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Push The Button Ltd make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Electrical Design and Installation Services are the primary driver. The others are product Supply (Integrated with Installation).
Who are Push The Button Ltd's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SFL Group, Hawthorn, J&C Joel, White Light, Unusual Rigging, Stage Electrics, A.C. Entertainment Technologies and Triple E Ltd. Charcoalblue is listed as an others. PRG (Production Resource Group) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Push The Button Ltd have an API?
No public API is recorded for Push The Button Ltd.
What industry is Push The Button Ltd in?
Push The Button Ltd's product category is Theatrical and Entertainment Venue Electrical Installation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAIAF, Studio Lighting & Grip Infrastructure Services. Its NAICS code is 334512 and its SIC code is 3822.