Engineering exhibition role for Focus Consultants at V&A Museum

Ove Arup Exhibition © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Focus Consultants has played a key role in the opening of a Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) exhibition dedicated to the most influential engineer of the 20^th Century.

Revealing the untold design stories behind some of the world’s most famous buildings, such as the Sydney Opera House and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, to recent projects such as Crossrail, the exhibition is the first ever major retrospective on Ove Arup (1895-1988).

Engineering the World: Ove Arup and the Philosophy of Total Design is part of the V&A Engineering Season and is one of the most ambitious exhibitions that Focus has completed at the V&A, incorporating a bespoke mezzanine and stairlift structure, said Focus partner Eleanor Clarke. 

It is the fourth exhibition that the Nottingham-based company has worked on at the V&A in London this year alone, and follows Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear, which charted the history of underwear from the 18th century to today, Paul Strand: Photography and Film for the 20th Century and Botticelli Reimagined.

It opened just before the V&A was named the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2016, recognising the outstanding innovation, imagination and achievements of the museum throughout the preceding year. 

Focus was project manager, quantity surveyor and contract administrator for the Ove Arup exhibition, which runs until 6 November.

“Focus has been proud to have worked with the V&A on a range of exciting and informative exhibitions since 2014, reflecting our expertise in this sector,” said Eleanor. “This latest exhibition, dedicated to the work of the influential engineer Ove Arup, has been particularly ambitious and we hope visitors will enjoy the experience.

“We’re absolutely delighted to hear that the V&A Museum has recently been named as the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2016, and are so proud to have played a role in helping to provide such a rich visitor experience at this wonderful museum.”

The design and build of the Ove Arup exhibition has been project managed by the London office of East Midlands-based Focus, which opened five years ago in response to demand for its services, particularly in the museum, arts and heritage sector.

Focus, which has its headquarters at Phoenix Business Park, Nottingham, as well as offices in London, Leicester, and Boston and Aubourn in Lincolnshire, specialises in creative approaches to securing funding packages and delivering high quality projects across the UK. Since its creation in 1994, Focus has helped to secure more than £953 million of grant assistance for a range of projects and businesses across the UK and delivered more than £1.3 billion of projects and programmes – making it one of the most successful companies of its kind.

It has worked with virtually all the major museums in London, and many across the UK, providing support for capital projects, permanent and temporary exhibitions, and renovation schemes - developing and delivering award-winning heritage projects.

For more information, visit www.focus-consultants.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk 

Focus Consultants helps on the delivery of the V&A Wedding Dresses 1775-2014 exhibition

Nottingham-based Focus Consultants has been instrumental in helping to deliver the upcoming Wedding Dresses 1775-2014 exhibition at the prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum in London (V&A).

Focus was appointed project manager, cost consultant and CDM co-ordinator for the temporary exhibition which will explore the changes in wedding fashions over the past 200 years. The exhibition will open from May 3^rd 2014 until March 15^th 2015.

The contract marked the first commission for Focus since the company won a place on a framework agreement to help deliver temporary exhibitions at the V&A.

The commission has been handled by Focus London office in Holborn. Focus has its head office base at Phoenix Business Park, Nottingham, and also has offices in Leicester, Boston, and at Aubourn near Lincoln.

Senior consultant Eleanor Clarke said: “It was a high profile appointment for Focus to be on the framework for temporary exhibition work at the V&A – one which reflected our expertise in working with some of the largest museums around the country. We are very proud that the exhibition that marked our first commission is soon to be opened.”

Wedding Dresses 1775-2014 will feature more than 80 of the most romantic, glamorous and extravagant wedding outfits from the V&A’s collection. It will also include important new acquisitions as well as loans such as the embroidered silk coat design by Anna Valentine and worn by The Duchess of Cornwall for the blessing after her marriage to HRH The Prince of Wales (2005), the purple Vivienne Westwood dress chosen by Dita Von Teese (2005) and the Dior outfits worn by Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale on their wedding day (2002).

Focus Consultants previously worked for the V&A on a multi-million pound redevelopment of the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green, which houses the V&A's national collection of childhood-related objects, including dolls' houses, toys and games, furniture and clothing. As well as overseeing the redevelopment, Focus also helped secure funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), which both made significant contributions to the successful opening of the project in late 2006.

Focus Consultants specialises in creative approaches to securing funding packages and delivering high quality projects across the UK. Since its creation in 1994, Focus has helped to secure more than £925m of grant assistance for a range of projects and businesses across the UK and delivered more than £1 billion of projects and programmes.

The firm works across a range of sectors including heritage, museums, arts and culture, education and tourism.

For more information visit www.focus-consultants.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Focus Consultants wins Pro5 framework appointment

Focus Consultants has been appointed to one of the largest local government frameworks in the country for two years, with the option of a two-year extension.

Steven Fletcher, Focus Consultants

The Nottingham-based firm has won a position on the Pro5 national framework, a public sector buying consortia comprising the Central Buying Consortium, Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation, North East Purchasing Organisation and the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation.

Following a competitive tendering process, Focus was successful in being appointed to provide consultancy advice on leisure, culture and heritage services, regeneration and regional development and asset management and delivery.

Focus Consultants has also been appointed to provide consultancy support in the community research and engagement sector for local authorities and the wider public sector nationwide following the firm’s appointment to the Pro5 framework.

“This is excellent news for the business,” said Focus partner Steven Fletcher.

“We are delighted to have been appointed to the framework. It is a great opportunity for Focus and public sector clients to work in partnership and build beneficial lasting relationships.

“We were appointed following a competitive tendering process, and it effectively means that any local authority in the country and its associated services such as the police and the fire service can effectively pick up the phone and ask Focus to carry out the required work.

“To be appointed to this framework, Focus went through a rigorous vetting process. Future clients can benefit from this – reducing the time taken to procure consultants and realising major cost savings and improved efficiency.”

Focus, with its headquarters at Phoenix Business Park, Nottingham, and branches in Leicester, Boston, Aubourn in Lincolnshire and Holborn in London, specialises in funding, research and economic development, project and programme management, construction and property services and energy carbon sustainability services.

The firm has worked with both the public and private sector to secure more than £900 million of grant assistance and delivered more than £1 billion of projects and programmes since 1994.

Focus has secured a number of high-profile projects recently including being appointed project manager for a multi-million pound redevelopment at the National Army Museum in Chelsea.

Focus has also recently been appointed to the Victoria & Albert Museum framework to develop and deliver temporary exhibitions at the prestigious London museum, and is working with both Rochester and Peterborough Cathedrals on major redevelopments.

For more information about Focus Consultants visit www.focus-consultants.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

V&A Museum framework agreement for Focus Consultants

Museum expert Focus Consultants has won a place on a framework agreement to develop and deliver temporary exhibitions at the prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The company is one of three preferred suppliers to be announced by the V&A in South Kensington.

Focus, which is based at Phoenix Business Park in Nottingham and has offices in London, Leicester, Boston and Aubourn near Lincoln, has worked on a wide range of high-profile museum developments, including the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, which was last year named UK museum of the year by the Art Fund charity, and SeaCity in Southampton, which opened in 2012 – a century after the Titanic set sail from the city.

The firm recently announced it had been appointed project manager for a prestigious multi-million pound redevelopment at the NationalArmyMuseum in Chelsea.

“The team at Focus Consultants is proud and delighted to have been appointed to the framework agreement to provide services to the V&AMuseum,” said Focus project manager Ellie Clarke.

“The V&A is billed as the world’s greatest museum of art and design, and attracts around 3 million visitors every year. Its temporary exhibitions are extremely diverse, and we’re looking forward to supporting the museum with the development of these over the next three years.

“This is a very high profile appointment for Focus, which reflects our experience and skill in working with museums to create something special for their visitors.”

The three-year framework agreement is for the provision of project management, cost consultancy and CDM co-ordination. Being appointed to the framework agreement means that Focus is one of three preferred bidders to provide work on future temporary exhibitions at the V&A.

On average, the museum has around six temporary exhibitions each year. Work secured from the V&A would be handled by the London office of Focus, which is based in Holborn.

The firm previously worked for the V&A on the £7.2 million redevelopment of the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green, which houses the V&A's national collection of childhood-related objects, including dolls' houses, toys and games, furniture and clothing.

As well as overseeing the redevelopment, Focus also secured the funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), which both made significant contributions to the successful opening of the project in early 2007.

Focus Consultants specialises in creative approaches to securing funding packages and delivering high quality projects across the UK. Since its creation in 1994, Focus has secured over £800 million of grant assistance, and delivered more than £1 billion of projects and programmes.

It works across a range of sectors including heritage, arts and culture, education and tourism.

Visit www.focus-consultants.co.uk for more information.

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk