Connection Crew

16/07/2025

It's an honour to once again be named on the SE100 list, an annual celebration of the UK's 100 most impressive social enterprises.

And it's extra special as we approach our 20th birthday!

The NatWest SE100 Index and Social Business Awards is an annual programme created and delivered by Pioneers Post in partnership with NatWest Social & Community Capital - supported by Buzzacott, Hogan Lovells, Good Finance, Social Investment Business and Impact Reporting.

“Connection Crew is a social enterprise rooted in practical action, and we see environmental progress as inseparable from our mission to build a fairer, more resilient future," says our own Charlotte Scotland.

You might recognise a few of the faces and names in the article below...

The UK’s top 100 social enterprises are named today in the 2025 NatWest SE100 list – celebrating social businesses across the UK.

25/06/2025

It's Pride's month - a time to celebrate love, identity, and the freedom to be yourself.

For us at Connection Crew, it’s also a reminder of the responsibility we carry year-round – to build safe spaces for people to feel that freedom, the safety to be themselves.

Inclusion's about much more than ticking boxes or saying the right thing for one or two months out of the year.

It’s about doing the right thing, 365 days a year (366 on leap years).

Putting people first. Treating people equally. Supporting people. Helping people. Caring for those around us.

Always.

And that's no different when it comes to the events we work on. They're only as inclusive and safe as the people involved make them.

Whether someone joins us for a day, a season, or the long haul, we want them to feel valued, safe, at home, and at ease as part of the crew. That’s the culture we’re proud of and the standard we hold ourselves to.

To all our LGBTQIA+ colleagues, clients, suppliers, family, friends – those we've had, those we have, and those we've yet to meet – we see you, we're here for you, and we’re unbelievably happy and proud to stand beside you all year round.

05/06/2025

Our director speaking at the UK House of Lords today? No big deal

(Just 'kidding – it’s a HUGE deal). 👀👏

Warren’s speaking on the panel at Big Issue’s Impact Report event — highlighting their renewed focus on 'working to end poverty', through earning and employment for the 3.8 people experiencing destitution. 💼💥

Warren’s sharing how we do things differently at Connection Crew.

⚡ Extended training, support, and mentoring through our Academy
⚡ Flexible, fulfilling, fairly paid work
⚡ Growth that keeps people at the heart of our business

We recently kicked off our first Academy of 2025, starting with a half-day Test + Build event for candidates referred by our amazing VCSE partners (with support workers in the room 💬).

For many of the people we support through the Academy, traditional jobs just haven't been accessible — especially if they’re on benefits like housing support with strict earning caps.

That’s why a few flexible shifts a month can go a long way:

💰 Money in their pocket
🤝 A sense of community
🧭 Purpose, structure, and choice

That’s one way we help people build back stronger.

So proud to have Warren in the room today — in a venue as iconic as the House of Lords — sharing our mission with others working to end homelessness and do right by people. 💪

Thank you Big Issue Invest and The Big Issue for the belief, the platform, and the partnership.

📸 Selfie from Warren in front the iconic Houses of Parliament.

15/04/2025

After clocking 1,000+ hours on site with the incredible team behind Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue, some of our crew and office team got the chance to switch roles: from building the adventure to becoming part of it.

Digging deep to make sure every element of the setup was block-solid, handling last-minute changes with redstone precision... our crew gave it everything (even when the floor was lava!).

And now the experience is live, we were invited back to enjoy the final build in all its pixelated glory.

Stepping into the Minecraft world as players was a rare treat for a team used to working behind the scenes - it also reminded us why we do what we do.

Creating unforgettable experiences, with exceptional attention to detail and a level of service that even the most discerning Villager would say “Hrrmm!” to...

Thanks to the FKP Scorpio team and Far and Beyond for having us on the journey from setup to showtime.

We had a blast! (no TNT required).

10/04/2025

We’re in the B Corp Evaluation Stage! 🚀

Big news: a week ago, we officially reached the evaluation stage of our B Corp application! 🎉

Applying for B Corp status offers a chance to deep dive into how we balance people, planet, and profit.

Now it’s time for the experts to take a look!

And we’re excited to see how we stack up through this stage.

Whatever happens next, this journey has already helped us refine how we work and push for even greater impact.

Watch this space for more updates! 👀

04/04/2025

A question we get asked a lot: "How can my company find (and spend more with) social enterprises...?"

Today we're showcasing one of the platforms doing just that!

Partners for Purpose is a free platform giving access to a network of curated social enterprise suppliers like us.

They say: "We understand the challenges buyers face in sourcing reliable social enterprise suppliers, and we are committed to empowering both buyers and suppliers to create positive change.

As a platform built by a successful social enterprise, we are uniquely positioned to address these challenges and facilitate meaningful connections."

Thanks so much to the Clear Voice team for building this space for social enterprise suppliers and (crucially) people looking to add more social impact into their procurement.

Check it out here: https://ow.ly/HM5z50VuEWc

02/04/2025

Last month, we brought our incredible team together for our annual Crew Awards—a night dedicated to celebrating the people who make thousands of events happen every year.

From Best Motivator to Newcomer of the Year, we recognised the dedication, skill, and can-do attitude our crew bring to every job. It was a brilliant evening, with our diverse and hardworking team taking a well-earned moment to celebrate one another. And of course, a big shoutout to the crew who kept things running smoothly on-site that night, making sure our clients were looked after too!

We’re proud of our team and the positive impact they make—not just on site for our clients, but in helping us drive social change and reduce environmental impact across the industry.

27/03/2025

Stepping back 3,000 years… but with some seriously modern tech!

Last night, Ben, Tom, Serge, and Charlotte had the chance to check out the Tutankhamun Immersive Experience at ExCeL London

Our crew had the privilege of working alongside the fantastic team, helping them to build it into its London home - and wow, what an experience on site and visiting the finished product!

This is next-level storytelling, bringing history to life with incredible detail.

From a museum to the AR room (pictured), to VR and holograms...

Seeing it all come alive was something out of this world.

If you’re in London, it’s well worth a visit - but don't wait, it's off on the next stage of the world tour soon:

14 weeks only, opening tomorrow 28th March!

Learn more: https://ow.ly/8SC750VpANC

20/02/2025

We’re publishing our 2024 Impact Report today, on the UN Day of Social Justice, because a just transition to a sustainable future is about making sure no one gets left behind.

Last year, we created more opportunities than ever for people affected by homelessness, and generated our highest number of social impact hours in one single year to date.

But that’s because more people needed us.

Rising homelessness means more people are facing barriers to work.

📖 Read the full report here: https://ow.ly/I5A550V3PPR

11/02/2025

We’re proud to announce that we are featured in the new We Are ALBERT Suppliers Directory!

This directory highlights our commitment to sustainability, and we are excited to be part of a community that is driving positive change in the TV and film industry.

Check out the directory to discover how our offerings can enhance the sustainability values of your production! 📋🌱🙌

https://wearealbert.org/

31/01/2025

Last night, our Director, Warren, attended the Festival Supplier Awards, where we were honoured to be shortlisted for Best Crew Provider!

A huge congratulations to the winner, and to all the finalists! 👏

Being one of just four crewing companies recognised is a testament to the dedication of our team, and the work we do across the festival industry.

Here’s to another year of exceptional crew and festivals! 💪

21/01/2025

And they're off! Our 2024 Impact Accounts have officially been sent out to our qualifying clients!

We've invited our Impact Account holders to celebrate with us on social media!

So watch out for posts with images like these in the coming weeks!

Each and every year, our Impact Accounts provide qualifying clients with a breakdown of the social and environmental impact that they've directly helped to generate.

This is a key moment for Connection Crew and our clients, as we reflect on the incredible work we’ve done together and look forward to a more impactful year to come.

These Impact Accounts cover:

Social Impact

Our clients support our mission simply by getting out on site with us. Their work generates direct social impact which we measure in hours of work delivered by our Impact Crew — individuals who have been affected by homelessness.

This is the heart of what we do: creating opportunities for people who need them the most.

Environmental Impact and Sustainability

Alongside social impact, we account for the unavoidable environmental impact of crew activities, measured in kg of CO2e accounted for onsite, so that we can aim to remove and reduce it.

In 2024, partnership with Impact Account holders helped contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future, supporting their reporting of Scope 3 emissions while demonstrating leadership in sustainability.

On the way for 2025

As we celebrate Connection Crew’s 20th anniversary this year, we’re looking to build even greater impact in 2025.

We're proud to announce that the Carbon Levy will begin funding behaviour change programs aimed at reducing emissions at the crew level. These initiatives will take us beyond carbon offsetting and into proactive reduction, amplifying the environmental impact of every project.

We want to thank every client, partner, and supporter who has been part of this journey.

We'll be sharing our full 2024 Impact Report soon, sharing more about our work and the overall impact we've generated as a social enterprise over the past year.