Dad started 'risky' idea in Walton kitchen now it's going to Glastonbury

A couple who started a "risky" business started with one laptop are now preparing for the UK’s biggest festival.

James Kerry, 36, from Walton, worked in education for many years and specialised in working with children with special educational needs. His partner, Paul Wray, who lived in Cumbria, had 16 years experience in hospitality, working in hotels and pubs.

The couple, tired of travelling back and forth between the two places, decided to move in together in Liverpool last year. They also decided to take a massive leap into the unknown, leaving their respective jobs to set up their own business, entitled Get Outside Events.

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The business works with clients to help put on events, such as children's parties, weddings, corporate dinners and private parties. These include trailers for food, sweets and drinks. They provide furniture, crockery and entertainment for events too.

James told the ECHO: “It was a big risk starting afresh. We worked with animal charities at the start. We turned unused barn space into an event space to raise money. We helped set them up as a wedding and party venue.”

The only physical infrastructure they had in place was a laptop they shared together in their kitchen. They had big ambitions which initially didn’t come off.

James said: “When we first started, our aim was to build our own glamping site where kids could go as a retreat. That was a bit big for us to do straight away. I realised that quickly.”

However, they soon found their skills were ideal for this line of work. On what it’s like working with Paul, James said: “It has been really good. Don't get me wrong, we’re very headstrong. We’re very opinionated. Living with somebody and then going to work with them, it's pretty much 24/7.

“Paul has 16 years experience in hotels and pubs. I've been learning from him as we go. I'm teaching him different things and learning a lot from him.

“We do children's parties - I'm used to working with children. We do a lot of big events. All those aspects of my previous work are coming into play too.”

A year on, Get Outside Events has gone from strength to strength. The company's services will be present at numerous big events coming up, although James said they aren’t getting ahead of themselves. He said: “We’ve got a contract with Kopparberg. We’ve got Creamfields which we’re very excited about. The prep for that has already started.

“We‘re doing eight weeks at the Hyde Park Christmas market in London. That's a massive achievement for us.

“We were offered Glastonbury this year but we thought we’d find our feet. We’re going to be doing that next year now.”

James is delighted with what they have achieved in just a year of operating. He said: “It’s amazing to be honest. Sometimes it's a little bit daunting at times because it's so successful.

“We were sharing one laptop in the back kitchen. I'm really proud of what we've done. We wouldn't have been able to do it without the people supporting us. Even down to childcare - I have a little girl, Frankie Lilly, who’s six. People have been stepping in to help with that.”

Get Outside Events will host a one year anniversary today at the Big Padlock Self Storage site on Long Lane in Aintree, with a marquee and several food and drink trailers.

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