Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter has released the latest episode of the Talking People with Paul Borg podcast, this week featuring Lucy Nicholls, Founder and Creative Director of The PS Events Group.
Lucy joins the hotel’s General Manager Paul Borg as the podcast looks towards the creative side of people and talent, addressing the building of creative teams, finding talent beyond the events industry, and giving people the freedom to develop ideas.
“I allow my team to dream,” Lucy tells Paul, explaining the importance of creating space for imagination within the business. Her approach to a brief begins with understanding its purpose and the experience it should create. “I always start with the why. I don’t really need to know about how we’re going to get there yet. I want to know how I want to make people feel.”
Drawing on a career spanning West End and Broadway performance, television and event production, Lucy argues that encouraging creativity also means allowing people time to experience life beyond their work.
“In order to be creative, you’ve got to have time to think. You’ve got to have time to breathe,” she says. “You have to allow people to live and experience and enjoy and have human connections so they can bring that essence of their life experience to work.”
Her theatrical background also shapes recruitment. Lucy looks to stage managers, show callers, producers and directors for the imagination and practical judgement needed to deliver events. “If the lights go off, if there’s a technical fault, you’ve got to keep going,” she says. “You have this inbuilt or learnt understanding that you have to just think quickly.”
The episode continues the series’ exploration of the people, relationships and career paths shaping hospitality and events. Listen to Lucy Nicholls’ conversation with Paul Borg now via Talking People with Paul Borg.
