10 questions for Sarah Thackray of Beaconhouse Events

Sarah Thackray is originally from London and moved the North East to study modern languages at Newcastle University. She has spent more than 17 years working on a range of conferences and events across the UK as well as in the Middle East. In 2014 she co-founded Newcastle-based Beaconhouse Events.

What was your first job (and how much did it pay)? If you don’t count babysitting, probably waitressing from age 15 for a friend of my mum who had a catering business. I have no memory of what I got paid but at the time I thought it was decent, London hourly rates!

What is the best advice or support you’ve been given in business? Believe in your convictions if you’re sure something has potential. Look to collaborate at every corner; you are stronger if you have support and alignment with other like minded people. Don’t get hooked on the opinion of one person who doesn’t think you’re doing the right thing – focus on the 100 others.

What are the main changes you’ve seen in your business/sector, and what are the challenges you’re facing? Our industry is fast paced and one that suffered badly in Covid but due to our resilience as event professionals we quickly moved to a new solution and pivoted to deliver everything in a hybrid world. Sustainability and delivering responsible, regenerative events is now one of the key priorities for many in the events world, to ensure we do our part to decrease carbon emissions, as well as adopting more community focused, audience led, purposeful experiences.