Bolton-based security and crowd management company KSS NW LTD has won best crowd management and security at the Festival Supplier Awards 2026, following a standout year delivering safeguarding-led operations across some of the UK and Ireland’s most complex live events.

The award was presented on Thursday 29 January 2026 at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London, recognising excellence across the outdoor events and festival industry.

Judges praised KSS for its “outstanding scale, consistency and safeguarding impact across complex live events”, stating that the company has “set benchmarks for best practice in crowd management and security.”

The win follows a landmark 2025 season in which KSS delivered large-scale security and crowd management operations across 57 festivals and major outdoor events, protecting millions of attendees. Deployments included Glastonbury Festival, BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Reading & Leeds, Electric Picnic, and major greenfield concerts across the UK and Ireland.

KSS’s approach places safeguarding at the centre of event security delivery. The company has been a leading champion of the Ask for Angela initiative since 2021 supporting hundreds of welfare interventions each season through discreet, compassionate engagement.

Speaking after the win, Floyd Allen, head of operations at KSS NW LTD, said:
“This award is a huge moment for our business and, more importantly, for our people. It recognises the professionalism, care and consistency our teams deliver in some of the most challenging live environments in the country. Safeguarding isn’t an add-on for us it’s fundamental to how we operate.”

Garry Longthorne, chairman of KSS NW LTD, added:
“I am incredibly proud of the entire KSS team. This award reflects years of hard work, investment in training, and a culture that puts people first. Setting the benchmark for best practice is something we take seriously, and this recognition reinforces our commitment to raising standards across the industry.”

Jack Longthorne, director at KSS NW LTD, said:
“Winning this award is a testament to the trust our clients place in us and the standards our teams uphold every single day. Our focus has always been on delivering calm, professional and people-first security in high-pressure environments. To see that approach recognised at a national level is incredibly rewarding, and it motivates us to keep pushing forward and evolving how crowd management and safeguarding are delivered across the live events sector.”

Alongside operational delivery, KSS has invested heavily in professional development and innovation, including Level 5 crowd and spectator safety qualifications, the rollout of its myKSS digital platform for training, briefings and real-time operational support.
The Festival Supplier Awards are regarded as one of the most prestigious accolades within the UK live events industry, judged by a panel of senior experts from major promoters, producers and event organisations.

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