Full Circle and Psycho Peacock announce management buyout

Submitted by Kane Thomas of Full Circle Events

Manchester – Full Circle, a leading company in the event supplier industry and one of the country’s largest contractors, has today announced a major milestone in its development: the full management buyout of two of the Group’s companies, Full Circle Exhibitions & Events Ltd and Psycho Peacock Ltd. The management buyout is supported by two key investment partners: Panoramic Growth Equity and Shawbrook Bank.

The transformation marks a decisive step towards the next phase of growth for the company. Over the past five years, Full Circle has played an important role in stabilising the event supplier landscape at a critical time. Through strategic investment, the group has consolidated its inventory, preserved jobs and strengthened its leadership team. As the UK exhibition market continues to flourish, Full Circle and Psycho Peacock are poised to take advantage of new growth opportunities:

“It’s easy to imagine investing in uncertain times, but actually investing is another matter entirely. We did it. It transformed our business and brought us together. The UK industry is now moving fast and Full Circle is moving with it,” commented Steve Comar, MD.

The group’s decision to undertake a management buyout comes as the industry returns to growth as organisations increasingly recognise the importance of face-to-face interaction. Full Circle founder Steve Barratt, who has grown Full Circle from a start-up to a leading provider, emphasises the enduring commitment to the company’s original values:

“It’s surreal to be writing the quote you’ve imagined for 30 years, but reality always surprises you no matter what you try to plan. What I never imagined was that I would be handing over ownership to a leadership team that shares the exact same ethos that Helenya and I have been talking about from the beginning. This means so much to both of us. Full Circle has always been about people – the events industry is, at its core, a people industry – and I’m delighted to know that this fundamental value will live on in such a well-loved, close-knit team.”

Managing Director Steve Comar highlighted the key role that Helenya and Steve have played in shaping the supplier landscape over the past 30 years:

“Steve and Helenia were a dynamic duo who had an extraordinary impact. Everyone knew how hard they worked, from Steve’s key role as founding chair of ESSA to the groundbreaking innovations they brought to the systems and regulations we use today. They had a story for everything and brought so much wisdom and industry history. We will be telling their stories for decades to come, and we are forever grateful to have such a legacy in the business.”

The MBO sets the stage for continued growth and innovation, with both companies within the Group keen to emphasise their focus on attracting the best talent who resonate with the Group’s people-first ethos:

“The company is deeply committed to bringing out the best in our teams, clients and events, and putting all of Manchester’s unique energy into supporting the industry we love,” concluded Comar.

About Full Circle

Full Circle is a leading company in the events industry. Founded by Steve Barratt, the company stabilised the event supplier landscape during a critical period. Through strategic investment, the company has preserved jobs, acquired inventory and strengthened the leadership team. Full Circle is now owned by its management team and is one of the largest exhibition and event contractors in the country.

About Psycho Peacock

Psycho Peacock, a sister company of Full Circle, is a leading supplier to the large format printing industry, specialising in graphics services for a wide range of industries including events and exhibitions, retail, museums and architecture. With strategic investments in machinery, stock and a new management team, Psycho Peacock has become one of the largest print suppliers to the exhibition industry in the country.