For Star Live, 2026 represents a milestone year, as the business celebrates its 50th anniversary while also securing Project of the Year at the prestigious MMC Awards for its standout Neon development at Battersea Power Station.
This dual achievement not only highlights Star Live’s longevity, but also its ability to evolve within an increasingly demanding marketplace. From its origins in staging and live events to its current position delivering major event infrastructure and complex, high-quality built environments, the company’s journey is one of continual adaptation.
Over the past five decades, it has grown into a globally active organisation delivering structures and infrastructure across entertainment, sport, brand activations and immersive environments. With a presence extending beyond the UK into international markets, including the Middle East, Asia and North America, the business has successfully scaled while maintaining the core principles that have underpinned its long-standing success.
At the centre of its offering is a distinctive approach that blends the fast-paced, solutions-driven mindset of live events with the rigour and compliance of traditional construction. As Project Director, Michael Reid, explains, this ability to operate between sectors has become a defining strength. “We bring an event-led mindset into construction. We’re used to delivering complex projects to absolute deadlines in highly public-facing environments where safety, coordination and quality are critical.”
That approach came to the fore in the delivery of Neon, the award-winning project that has helped define the company’s recent trajectory. Completed in under eight months, the 3,200 sq m structure sits in the shadow of the Grade II listed Battersea Power Station, making it one of the most sensitive and high-profile locations in London.
Delivering the project on such a site presented a series of significant challenges. Access was limited, with tight logistics requiring careful coordination throughout the build. At the same time, the development had to meet the full spectrum of modern construction requirements, including building regulations, planning approvals, fire safety strategies, accessibility standards and environmental performance. Despite its semi-permanent nature, the structure was delivered to BREEAM ‘Very Good’ standards, demonstrating Star Live’s ability to balance speed with sustainability and compliance.
The finished result is a visually striking and technically robust venue that challenges conventional perceptions of modular construction. Rather than the simplistic, functional designs often associated with the sector, Neon delivers a high-quality, immersive environment capable of sitting comfortably within one of the capital’s most prestigious developments.
“It helps move the conversation forward,” Michael explains. “Modular isn’t just about basic or temporary solutions. It can deliver high-end, experiential spaces that meet the expectations of both developers and the public in prime locations.”
While Neon represents a leap into the future, it is built firmly on decades of experience. Over the years, Star Live has played a key role in delivering major event infrastructure, including work at the Wimbledon Championships, large-scale touring stages for globally recognised artists including last year’s Oasis tour, and a wide range of brand and venue activations. The business has also applied those capabilities to projects including the Rugby Football Unions’ Women’s training facilities at Pennyhill Park and the purpose-built Mundo Pixar experience in Wembley, London, demonstrating how it has evolved beyond live events into design and build. These projects have consistently required the same core attributes that now define its construction offering: speed, precision, safety and the ability to operate in complex live environments.
Looking more broadly at the market, Star Live is increasingly identifying opportunities within meanwhile-use developments, where landowners and developers seek to activate sites ahead of long-term construction. In a climate where larger capital projects may face delays or uncertainty, the ability to deliver high-quality, revenue-generating structures within a matter of months is becoming an increasingly attractive proposition, shortening delivery programmes and enabling sites to begin generating value sooner than would be possible through conventional construction.
“These sites can sit dormant for years. What we can do is come in, deliver something quickly that creates value, and still maintain flexibility. Our structures can be fully demountable and removed when the site is ready for its next phase, leaving no lasting impact.”
The success of Neon at Battersea Power Station has already helped to open doors in this space, with further projects underway or in development, including large-scale entertainment venues and immersive experiences. This growing pipeline reflects both market demand and the company’s increasing reputation as a trusted delivery partner in this niche.
The danger that lies in wait for any company undergoing a growth surge is becoming a victim of its own success. Thankfully, Star Live has avoided this trap by supporting its expansion through ongoing investment in both its people and its infrastructure. From its facilities in Milton Keynes to its international operations, the company continues to upgrade its systems, develop its workforce and strengthen its supply chain. Long-standing relationships with specialist partners ensure consistency and reliability, particularly on high-profile and technically demanding projects.
As Star Live marks its 50th anniversary, it is not only an opportunity to reflect and celebrate past achievements, but also a chance to plan for future growth. The combination of its event-led heritage and construction expertise places it in a unique position to respond to changing client needs and emerging opportunities within the marketplace.
“We’re focusing on building on what we’ve achieved by being the go-to partner for clients who need high-quality spaces delivered quickly, with flexibility and commercial viability built in,” Michael concludes. “If the last 50 years have been about establishing who we are, the next phase is about scaling that and applying it to a whole new generation of projects.”
With a proven track record, a clear strategic direction and industry recognition to match, Star Live is entering its next chapter with both confidence and momentum, reinforcing its position as a business capable of delivering at pace without ever compromising on quality.