Railway Children’s Night at the Station 2026
On Thursday, 26th March, some of our Rail Family members took to Liverpool Street Station for the Railway Children’s Night at the Station 2026. This
31 March 2026
More than 700 senior leaders from across the UK’s security, facilities management, and other support services sectors gathered on 5 March in Liverpool for Carlisle Support Services’ Innovation Lab 2026, a leading industry forum designed to spark new thinking around service delivery, safety and operational excellence.
Hosted at ACC Liverpool, the event brought together over 40 exhibitors alongside buyers, policymakers and frontline professionals to explore the evolving challenges facing organisations responsible for managing and protecting complex public environments. Now firmly established as one of the sector’s most anticipated gatherings, the Innovation Lab reflects Carlisle’s growing role in helping set the right direction for the industry, bringing together operational insight, technology, and leadership to address real-world challenges facing modern FM and security services. The exhibition creatively highlighted practical innovations, from robotics and automated cleaning machines to smart solutions for FM services and X-ray security screening, two way radio, advanced body cams, CCTV solutions, real-time situational awareness software and AI fleet telematics to predict and eliminate risks.
Opening the event, Carlisle’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Evans, reflected on how the Innovation Lab has grown from a modest internal forum into a major industry platform.
“What started as a small group of people sharing ideas has grown into an event bringing more than 700 people under one roof,” he addressed the attendees.
Evans emphasised that collaboration and continuous improvement remain central to Carlisle’s long-term strategy. Looking ahead, he outlined the company’s ambition to expand its capabilities further across the FM and security sector, including developing Hard FM services and business consulting, while continuing to maintain Carlisle’s 99% client retention rate through consistently high standards of service delivery.
Innovation and mindset formed a central theme of the day, reinforced by keynote speaker Jason Bevan, whose keynote Rocketfuel Your Innovation and Creativity explored how the principles behind creative leadership can unlock new thinking in operational industries. Drawing on decades of experience shaping global film franchises at Warner Bros. Studios, Bevan demonstrated how creativity, culture and environment drive high-performing teams.
The event also addressed key responsibilities facing organisations that manage public spaces with a wide range panel discussions focusing on both FM and security spaces, reinforcing the shared responsibility to create greener, safer, and high-tech environments.
A highlight of the day was Carlisle’s Challenge Innovation session, where our employees pitched frontline-driven ideas to improve safety, efficiency, and customer experience.
Cheered by 700 industry peers, Gemma Barry and Ashley Hulse won £50,000 in innovation funding for their Virtual Reality Training Hub concept, designed to deliver immersive training scenarios and help bring the idea to life.
Alongside innovation and operational excellence, the event also demonstrated Carlisle’s commitment to sustainability and social value. The Innovation Lab itself is sustainably produced, reflecting the company’s wider environmental commitments, while charitable initiatives formed an important part of the day.
Through our social value programme, Carlisle initially donated £7,500 (one pound per family member), with the charity auction generating an additional £2,750 taking the grand total to over £10,000 which will be split between Mind and The Railway Children.
As the day concluded with Carlisle’s annual recognition of frontline excellence at the evening Superstar Awards Ceremony, the Innovation Lab 2026 has set a clear message that the future of the FM and security sectors will be shaped not only by technology, but by organisations willing to lead conversations, empower their people and collaborate across the industry to raise standards for everyone.
On Thursday, 26th March, some of our Rail Family members took to Liverpool Street Station for the Railway Children’s Night at the Station 2026. This
At Innovation Lab 2026, Carlisle Support Services will once again convene the leaders shaping the future of Security, Cleaning, Facilities Management (FM), and other support
At 3:00 AM, innovation looks quite different: It showcases some practical realities of innovation in security and FM spaces. Our industry does not lack ideas;
Providing flexible, on-demand support to help organisations build resilience, mitigate risks, and adapt to the ever-changing political, socio-economic, and environmental landscape to deliver seamless event experiences.
Managing trees and vegetation for the UK’s public infrastructure and commercial spaces.
Delivering aesthetically pleasing environments whilst eliminating potential hazards and operational disruptions caused by vegetation.
Provide fully vetted, accredited officers equipped with the latest technologies to secure and protect your people, premises, assets and the wider public.
Providing bespoke services that identify site specific vulnerabilities and address complex challenges to mitigate risks.
Maintaining high facility standards and minimising service disruptions across the UK rail network.
Delivering exceptionally clean environments at optimal cost and positive environmental footprint with unrivalled quality control across nationwide operations.
Delivering seamless passenger experiences whilst protecting revenue and achieving operational excellence.
Providing flexible, on-demand support to help organisations build resilience, mitigate risks, and adapt to the ever-changing political, socio-economic, and environmental landscape.
Deploying balanced crowd management strategies for optimal safety and seamless visitor experiences.
Delivering seamless visitor experiences across the UK’s biggest venues, stadiums and exhibition centres.
Transforming customer journeys with innovative car parking solutions that maximise operational control and revenue.
Enhancing and maintaining site aesthetics for optimal nature, commercial infrastructure, and community harmony. We aim to deliver beautiful scenery whilst eliminating potential hazards and operational disruptions caused by vegetation.
We streamline cleaning and facilities services that help organisations maintain exceptional standards across single and multi-site operations.
We offer a total turnkey solution from initial design and product selection through to installation and commissioning. Our customers benefit from benefit from around-the-clock protection for optimal peace of mind that comes from working with a trusted alarm monitoring service.
Our range of fire life safety solutions are designed to prevent, detect and contain fire and where necessary enable a safe and timely escape.
From the initial Fire Risk Assessment through to the design and installation of fire detection and fire suppression systems and ongoing maintenance and monitoring contracts, we provide you with a one stop fire protection solution.
From security-cleared operations with MOD-affiliated organisations to supporting the UK’s rail infrastructure and securing the Highest Court of the British Isles alongside countless major venues across the UK, we provide fully vetted, accredited officers equipped with the latest technologies to secure and protect your people, premises, assets and the wider public.
Fulfilling the most complex single and multi-site cleaning requirements at an award-winning standard for over 30 years.
Providing an extensive range of Soft and Hard FM services to help you streamline management and eliminate operational disruptions.
Undertaking routine cleaning to maintain the highest standards in cleanliness and hygiene for exceptional environments.
