Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence & A Future Full of Possibilities

17 Dec, 2024
Cook + Associates

 

Anniversaries are important milestones for every company, and celebrating 30 years is no exception. In 1994, our founder Neil Cook embarked on an exciting journey, working towards establishing an international company that has gone from strength to strength, building on Neil’s early vision of changing the model of event support and management.

Starting in the United States, the company quickly gained a reputation for creating engaging and immersive spaces tailored to the unique needs of its clients. The original objective – set new industry standards for customer service and establish a global support network that would pioneer the concept of sustainability and cost-effectiveness through local delivery.

Five years later, the UK office was established and became the official headquarters under Kim Bradbury’s leadership. This milestone set the foundation for global expansion and the diverse portfolio of projects we handle today.

Always Setting New Standards

30 years on, that original mission continues to underpin everything we do. Our reputation for client service and relationships is legendary – evidenced by the long-standing partnerships we have with numerous organisations. An example – we have provided AIA (Aerospace Industries Association) with their inspirational chalets since 1994 at the world’s premier international air shows, including every Farnborough and Paris Air Show, helping them to promote American aerospace and defence to a global audience. It speaks volumes that many of our original team members are still closely involved with the business, providing their truly individual contributions to C+A’s success.

Innovation and Inspiration

We treasure our heritage and legacy, as the touchstone for exploring new avenues and methodologies. By consistently evolving the concept of event management, it has given us the freedom to innovate and pioneer. Today, as a highly respected global brand experience agency, we bring a unique blend of creativity, inspiration and technological prowess to create unforgettable experiences at all levels.

Recent standouts include the show-stopping 60th anniversary event for Jetcraft in Dubai, featuring a branded takeover of the iconic Burj Khalifa with a 3-minute synchronised audio and dry firework extravaganza as part of an amazing VIP evening’s entertainment. Another was Qatar Airways’ Gateway to the World campaign that kicked off at ITB in 2023, incorporating a high octane launch event, an emphasis on totally immersive experiences throughout and strikingly beautiful design elements inspired by Qatar’s rich culture to create an unforgettable space.

Relationships on the world stage

From aviation and aerospace, to defence, electronics, mobile communications and luxury goods – we have covered it all! Creating massively impressive stands, chalets that deliver unprecedented levels of hospitality, awe-inspiring launch and celebratory events – all finely-tuned to deliver our clients’ expectations and beyond. Our reputation is built on the concept of partnership, working together to pinpoint the strategy, create the exceptional, execute the brief and deliver the ultimate. Our attention to detail and always going the extra mile has become the industry watchword for service excellence.

The People Behind the Company

Past, present and future – it’s the people at C+A that make us special.  Whether it’s our culture of nurturing new talent, initiated by our Creative Director Jamie Williams in 2012 with our highly successful apprentice scheme, or our incredible Operations team that tackle unbelievably challenging installations anywhere and everywhere in the world.

Since 2014, we have been operating from our new UK headquarters – built from the ground up to our own design to provide a unique environment that demonstrates all the elements we bring to our clients’ projects on a massive and permanent scale!

As we celebrate this incredible milestone, we acknowledge the contributions of our dedicated team. Today we have over 25 members of the team located in our UK HQ and countless other valuable members the US and Asia Pacific – closely aligned with a network of carefully selected partners that help us to deliver projects anywhere in the world. From the familiar faces of the day 1 C+A team, to the latest joiners, we have a culture that encourages creativity and an amazing spirit.

A Future Rooted in Our Values

And for the next 30+ years? The sky is the limit, as we embark on new adventures with clients old and new.  In 2020, we underwent a root and branch rebrand as the kickstart to an exciting era of change that is reflected across our business.

As a global brand experience agency, we provide a full-service approach, delivering strategic insight, passion, outstanding commitment and a unique perspective. We work to engage, innovate, and inspire – shaping events that always makes an impact. And underneath everything we do is the inspiration drawn from human engagement. Our objective is to create spaces that genuinely captivate and challenge the way people think and feel.

We are inordinately proud of our past and energised for a fabulously bright future.

A Heartfelt Thank You

We extend our deepest gratitude to our clients, partners, and team members who have supported us over the past 30 years. Your trust, dedication, and collaboration have been instrumental in our journey.

Here’s to celebrating three decades of success—and to many more years of creating extraordinary brand experiences together.