In an era where the scale and ambition of live events continue to soar, the desire for highly trained and reliable on-site personnel has never been greater. Meeting that demand head-on is THE Production TEAM – a UK-founded company, part of Spendlove Group, rapidly expanding its footprint across the region.
At the helm of the Middle East Operation is Ann Dacumos – an experienced events professional with a track record of successful projects in the region, supported by Daniel Clark, the Group General Manager, whose global perspective continues to shape the company’s delivery,
“Our knowledge of the industry is undoubtedly our core strength,” Dacumos proudly informed TPiMEA. “We understand client needs from a technical production, creative and site perspective which is invaluable. Our freelancers aren’t just CVs from a recruitment box – they’re real people, known to us, with tangible skills and experience.”
Clark echoes this sentiment, emphasising THE Production TEAM’s operational knowledge: “Whether it’s supporting every home game for Dubai Basketball Club or deploying Olympic-standard graphic installation freelancers for branding work in Paris, we don’t just turn up – we deliver. The brief changes, the geography changes, but the outcome must be world-class every time.”
Unlike many recruitment and workforce solutions providers, THE Production TEAM is determined to set a new benchmark for transparency within the freelance landscape. “There’s been a lot of talk lately about freelancer rates being absorbed or ‘marked up’ without clarity. That’s not how we operate,” Clark explained. “For ad hoc projects, the freelancer’s rate is exactly that – their rate. We negotiate it on their behalf based on a deep understanding of the brief. Then we apply a clearly stated management fee that’s borne by the client, never deducted from the freelancer’s pay.”
Dacumos added: “We are present to support both our clients and our freelancers. For the Paris Olympics, we had a dedicated account handler and operations coordinator monitoring the team’s performance throughout the four-month run, ensuring everyone was onboarded correctly and properly accredited.”
While THE Production TEAM’s permanent workforce sits at a modest 10 full-time employees involved in operations, logistics, and client services – its extended freelance network is vast and rigorously vetted. Across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the UK, the company boasts a global pool of over 6,000 individuals on its database, with 750 fully approved and actively deployable at any given time. “These professionals are tested, supported, and known to us,” Clark noted. “From theatre technicians delivering shows across the region to creative producers leading high-profile awards in Jeddah, our freelancers operate at the top of their game.”
Over the past 12 months, THE Production TEAM has been involved in the delivery of exceptional projects, showcasing the company’s consistency, speed, and capacity to adapt. “Delivering full floor operations for Dubai Basketball Club across the season was a real highlight,” Clark recalled. “In Oman, we successfully deployed skilled freelancers into harsh, remote conditions with minimal turnaround, and we’ve just supplied ten follow spot operators in KSA with less than 48 hours’ notice. That kind of responsiveness is only possible when your team is trusted, tested and ready.”
Dacumos reflects on another standout moment: “Paris 2024 was a huge undertaking, but it built upon our experience at EXPO 2020, Sea World Abu Dhabi, and COP28. This year marked a shift for us – we went beyond contract placements and ad hoc projects. We’ve placed long-term project managers and marketing staff, building greater continuity for our clients.”
Looking forward, Clark sees the challenge not in demand – but in sustaining quality delivery. He elaborated: “As the region’s event calendar accelerates, compliance, logistics, and welfare are under pressure. Our response is to stay ahead – digital onboarding, real-time support, and ethical pay structures. We’ve seen too many freelancers underpaid or kept in the dark. That’s not who we are.”
Dacumos is frank about operational complexity in KSA: “Compliance requirements there are constantly evolving. Some sites impose restrictions on certain nationalities, which impacts not just us but our clients. We work closely with partners to navigate this landscape.”
Saudi Arabia isn’t just a growth market for THE Production TEAM – it’s the cornerstone of its regional strategy. “KSA isn’t just the next frontier, it’s a foundational part of our long-term vision,” Dacumos stated. “We’re not flying in and out. We’ve built a strong local base of freelancers – from runners and HSE officers to project coordinators – and we’ve already delivered on major roles thanks to that local network.”
With the backing of parent company, The Spendlove Group, and the recent launch of Showforce’s Riyadh office, THE Production TEAM now has a permanent base in the Kingdom, reinforcing its commitment to in-country capability and regional talent development.
“The goal is to help define what a modern, sustainable career in live events looks like for Saudi nationals,” Dacumos said. “That means a modicum of care, mentorship, and growth – not just jobs. We want to be part of the infrastructure, not just a supplier. As a group, we deliver world-class results, but we measure our success by what we leave behind.”
Photos: THE Production TEAM
