But even with that level of oversight, we don’t always get full visibility of how each part works behind the scenes, or how decisions impact other stakeholders. That’s what made Ops Foundation so valuable to me. I went into the week ready to throw myself into all things operations - and what a week it turned out to be.
Going into the course, I expected to build on what I already knew.
What I didn’t expect was how much new knowledge I would come away with or the connections I’d make along the way.
Even straight after the four days, I felt like I was already armed with a stronger understanding than when I began. It wasn’t just about learning new information, it was about seeing how everything connects across the industry and having the people to call on moving forward.
From panel sessions with experienced organisers sharing their journeys, to getting hands-on with electrics, logistics and build, it’s difficult to summarise everything into a few points, but that’s what made it so unique and valuable.
The technical sessions covering mains, logistics and rigging really highlighted how important it is to fully understand both the rules and the nuances behind them. Whether it was pulling a 60m cable, learning about power, water and waste, or even getting behind the wheel of a forklift, it brought to life what actually goes into delivery. It reinforced how important it is as an organiser to ask the right questions, understand the implications of decisions, and ensure clear communication across all parties.
A lot of operational challenges come down to interpretation. If something isn’t clearly defined, whether that’s a specification, a limit, or a process, it can create inefficiencies or risk further down the line. The course really highlighted how important it is ask the right questions, rely on the real knowledge and to ensure communication, especially when working across multiple suppliers and contractors.
Breaking the course down into different areas, from technical and build through to security, logistics and AV, and learning directly from the people delivering those services gave a clear picture of how everything fits together. Experiences like going up into the roof of Excel London in a cherry picker, building stands, working with graphics, and even getting hands-on at an AV tech desk really brought that to life. As organisers, we’re often focused on the moment the doors open. But understanding everything that happens before that point helps you make better, more informed decisions.
The structure of the course and the interactivity of the sessions really stood out.
I’m not one for long presentations or information heavy technical sessions, I really valued the opportunity to move around and get involved as it made the learning far more engaging and easier to absorb.
Hearing directly from experts and professionals was another highlight. Lou’s insights, in particular, added real-world context that you don’t always get elsewhere, and of course added some fun to what could have been a text heavy week!
One of the biggest benefits was the network I came away with.
Being able to connect with others in similar roles, share experiences and build relationships was incredibly valuable. We set up a WhatsApp group that’s still active now and I know who I can call on from across the industry – I would absolutely say this is a key attraction of this course.
Since the course, I’ve stayed involved, returning to host a Let’s Talk session with Lou and I’m hoping to join an Ops Table soon. I’ve built a strong network of industry contacts I know I can call on, and I look forward to seeing them when attending industry events.
Absolutely. When I say I can’t recommend it enough, I mean it. I’ve come away with knowledge I didn’t have before, a deeper understanding of what goes on behind the scenes, and a network of people I can learn from and rely on. This is genuinely one of the most valuable courses I’ve taken part in and a very worthwhile use of time. A huge thank you to The Ops Nest team and all of the trainers for their guidance, it really was an incredible week.
We run two Ops Foundation courses a year
