Inverness concerts branded ‘shambles’ by creditors still seeking payments

By John Ross

August 31 2022, 5:00 pm

Andrea Bocelli was one of the headliners at the concerts. Picture by Jason Hedges.

Creditors of the Caledonian Stadium concerts have branded the events “a shambles” as they continue to fight for money they say they are due.

Claims have been made that tens of thousands of pounds has gone unpaid since the July concerts featuring Andrea Bocelli and Duran Duran.

Inverness Caley Thistle Concert Company Ltd says it is considering legal action against a production company hired to organise the shows.

It was previously indicated that ICT Concert Co had been advised to work with an “insolvency practitioner”, and that not all money will be repaid.

Who is still to be paid?

More than 30 creditors have been contacted by Dundee-based Ascot Tax on behalf of ICT Concert Co.

Some have said they are due sums ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands of pounds.

Others have now come forward saying they have yet to be paid eight weeks after the events.

These include businesses who say they are owed figures from £7,000-£14,000.

Chris Hannam, a senior event health and safety manager, said he is due around £7,000.

Somerset-based Mr Hannam, a chartered safety consultant in the music industry for more than 35 years, said: “They were not fit to be running concerts.

Andrea Bocelli Concert — The concerts attracted thousands of people. Picture by Jason Hedges.

“The whole thing was a shambles and badly organised from the start.

“They thought they could make money from it, but they had no idea about the industry they were getting into.”

Mr Hannam said he answered an advert for a safety adviser at the concerts and expected to be paid over two instalments while in Inverness.

“The job specification changed from only monitoring on site to producing almost all the documentation.

“I was given one day to produce all the missing documentation and little or no background information. No pre-qualification health and safety assessments were available from any of the contractors.”

The next day he flew from Bristol to Inverness at his own expense on the understanding he would be refunded.

Medical company also a creditor

Mr Hannam, who is partly disabled having had bladder cancer, said he was asked if he had Covid and he said he didn’t.

However, he said he was later told that, while his references and qualifications were impeccable, there were doubts whether he was fit enough to work on site.

“I pointed out I was partly disabled and not ill and that I was prepared to undergo a medical examination.”

He was later sent home and says none of his invoices have been paid.

“I’ve been completely ignored. I’m now retired, I’m partially disabled and I’m broke and they can’t even give me back my expenses.”

Gareth Hughes, a director with Glasgow-based Event Medical Group, says a bill for £14,000 for medical cover at the concerts remains unpaid.

That figure was reduced to take account of the audience being less than expected.

Duran Duran were also star attractions. Picture by Jason Hedges.

“We found out there were fewer numbers that anticipated and we tried to adjust our costs to try to support the organisers.

“The person in charge couldn’t tell me the ticket numbers due to confidentiality. But we were the medical team and should know exactly what was going on.”

He added: “A lot of the time I try to absorb fuel and accommodation costs. But this has become very detrimental because we are now facing a massive loss.

“This is the first time I’ve been in this situation. We did the work and the fee was agreed beforehand.

“It looks to me that we are being punished for doing something right.

“It comes down to poor planning and poor management by them.”