Team GB synchro swimmer Katie Skelton brought a splash of colour to the West Midlands when she took a break from training to play a key role in producing a ‘record-breaking’ banner.
Katie, a member of the synchronised swimming squad that hopes to clinch a medal at the Olympics, is sponsored by Birmingham-based signs and graphics specialists Hollywood Monster.
She visited the company’s Tyseley headquarters to push the button starting the print run for one of Europe’s largest ever banners, which will be installed at Westfield Stratford City, adjacent to the Olympic Park, before the event begins next month.
The enormous banner is just one of many projects Hollywood Monster is working on alongside retail giant Westfield in the build up to the world’s greatest celebration of sport.
The 24-year-old swimmer, from Reading, met Hollywood Monster managing director Tim Andrews, from Solihull, and was invited to begin the print process.
Hollywood Monster was awarded the contract by Westfield, the latest in a string of high-profile projects it has completed for the retail giant. The £1.45 billion Westfield Stratford City is Europe’s largest urban shopping mall with over 300 High Street names and 50 restaurants.
Hollywood Monster employs around 80 people and works with major companies including Next, Virgin Media, LilyWhites, Ann Summers, Coach, Whistles, HMV, Westfield, Carillion, Morgan Sindall, Lovell Homes, Redrow and Bovis Homes. Sectors it is active in include commercial and residential property, construction, retail, corporate, exhibition, outdoor media, event, stadium, museum and theatrical.
Tim said: “We are really proud to be supporting Katie as she prepares for what is probably the greatest moment of her sporting career. I am also delighted that she agreed to perform the official start of the print run for the Westfield banner which will be seen by millions of visitors to London throughout the course of the games.”
The new banner will replace one produced and installed earlier this year by the company. Measuring a vast 350 metres by 14 metres the banner display, which has images with a sports theme, will be installed this month (June) at the new Westfield Stratford site, directly opposite the new Olympic Park.
Hollywood Monster director Simon McKenzie said: “It’s a huge coup for us to be working on such a prestigious project with Westfield Stratford – it’s part of the UK’s most ambitious regeneration project and of course it’s one that we’re really excited to be involved in. In addition to the record-breaking banner, we’re also producing vinyl glass wraps and fabric hoardings.”
A creative team has been working on producing the banner over the past four weeks at Hollywood Monster’s Tyseley HQ, and its rope access installation team of 20 will be positioning it at Westfield between June 28 and 30. The banner display is being printed on a HP Revolution five-metre wide press on 400g per sq/m mesh fabric.
Simon added: “The calibre of contracts we’re awarded from Westfield is very high – there’s lots of scope for creativity and flair, something our team prides itself on. We can’t wait to see the full effect of the Stratford banner – it’s going to have a massive impact throughout the world’s greatest sporting event.”
