The Cardiff based Orchard Media and Events Group is looking to sustain its significant business growth with the appointment as Business Development Manager of Paul Butterworth, a well-known events figure in Wales and the UK.

Paul’s remit covers the events, audio visual and exhibitions elements of the Orchard Group, promoting the accomplishments of the team, and pushing new services such as Cardiff Conference Bureau. Paul brings with him a wealth of events experience with the Welsh Rugby Union, Wembley Stadium, Live Nation, and the Rugby Football Union, working on the likes of the Champions League Final, three Rugby World Cups, 6 Nations, FA Cup Finals, Play Off Finals, along with numerous UK & European tours. He was most recently with Events International.

Paul said:

“I’ve known Orchard for some time, and worked on the client side as they’ve grown into a significant player in Wales and internationally. It’s a mouthwatering prospect to build on their already impressive events portfolio, and I’m really enjoying getting stuck in.”

Providing award winning creative communications to Wales and the world for nine years, Orchard is undergoing another growth spurt, adding Orchard Connects, and Rescape Innovation to their impressive portfolio, establishing Orchard TV and CardiffConferenceBureau.com, and rebranding Orchard Live for their extensive entertainment programme.

In the events sphere the Orchard team was responsible for the UEFA Champions Festival in Madrid in their third year of involvement with the UEFA Champions League Final; they worked on the NATO Summit and for the likes of Qatar Airways and Johnson & Johnson, while the Exhibitions team handles Welsh produce at trade shows around the world, and is currently setting up the Welsh Government immersive tech presence in Tokyo for the Rugby World Cup.

Jim Carpenter, Head of Orchard’s Business Development said:

“Paul’s a great fit for us, and we’ve worked well with him in our various collaborations over the years. He’ll be cementing our events status in Wales, while exploring blue chip opportunities throughout the UK and the rest of the world.”

Orchard has launched CardiffConferenceBureau.com in conjunction with hotels and venues in the city as a catch-all for a global audience looking to bring their business event to the city. The website flags all the Orchard services clients would require, from event and delegate management to destination and professional conference management.

Orchard Connects is a new partnership agency collaboration with highly respected commercial operator Kerry McDonald, who has over 15 years’ experience across sport in the UK and internationally. Kerry has worked with and advised a number of leading rights holders, national governing bodies and blue-chip brands including Nike, Mercedes-Benz, the European Tour, and Red Bull, and currently sits on the boards of Welsh Netball, Celtic Dragons and Active Surrey.

Rescape Innovation is an Orchard spin-out immersive technology business, a new dimension in healthcare that is breaking down barriers in the health sector and creating brand new, innovative products that aim to improve the anxiety and stress a patient faces pre and post-surgery. The virtual reality system has already achieved impressive results in its work with Velindre Cancer Centre and Cardiff & Vale University Health Board through its treatment of Cystic Fibrosis patients.

Orchard Group turnover is now in excess of £15m with a staff roster of 85 full timers, with hundreds of freelancers employed on a range of projects throughout the year. The firm recently established a foothold in west Wales, taking space in the creative and digital hub Yr Egin in Carmarthen, alongside S4C.  The Group also comprises Orchard Live, a three-time winner of the UK Regional Promoter of the Year in the Live Music Awards, staging Noel Gallagher in Cardiff Castle, Van Morrison in Bath Festival, and Pete Tong and Jess Glynne in Singleton Park, Swansea this summer alone; Orchard TV, a TV & film content creator, producing programmes for National Geographic in the US and Asia, BBC 3 and regularly for all broadcasters in Wales; alongside Media Planning & Buying; PR and Social Media; Design; and Immersive Tech.