Halo Solutions is proud to be supporting a pioneering PhD research project at the University of Northampton focused on improving decision-making standards in live event environments.

The ongoing research, led by doctoral researcher Claire Drakeley, looks to explore how on-event decisions — often made under pressure and scrutiny — can be strengthened through clearer frameworks, structured thinking and applied learning. The research addresses one of the most critical challenges facing event professionals today:

How can on-event decision making be improved?

Bringing Real-World Systems into Academic Research

The 3-year partnership between Halo and the University brings collaborative development of student learning experiences and research activity linked to events and venue management.

As part of this collaboration, Halo is providing a dedicated, ring-fenced version of the Halo Incident Management System for use within the University’s simulation exercises, alongside hands-on system training for participating students. This ensures students not only learn how to use industry standard software, but understand how structured incident management and data capture supports effective decision-making in high-pressure environments.

Halo is also supporting the design and delivery of the live simulations, advising on how professional event control rooms operate in practice — from incident logging and escalation to task allocation and maintaining clear audit trails.

Rather than engaging solely with theory, students are working directly with the same type of operational tools and workflows used by security and event management teams across the industry.

“Decision-making in live event operations can be a bit of a dark art, caught between creating extraordinary experiences and keeping everyone safe, in a high pressure context with significant consequences.  Not only that, but this process hasn’t been researched previously so the study, simulation and use of Halo are all part of enabling us to make better decisions, preventing escalation of issues into crises.”
– Claire Drakeley, Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead

Supporting Operation Nexus+

A key component of the collaboration is Operation Nexus+, a large-scale simulation exercise based on Silverstone Circuit; one of Halo’s most renowned motorsport partners.

The project brings together students from Events, Hospitality, Marketing, Criminal Justice, Policing and Tourism to simulate the coordination of a major live public event.

Within the exercise:

• Events students operate a simulated Event Control using radio communications, staff networks and Halo
• Other disciplines manage media response, investigations, guest impact and stakeholder liaison
• Participants respond in real time to evolving incidents and operational pressures

Halo’s system underpins the control room element of the exercise — enabling incident logging, task allocation, escalation tracking and decision recording in a way that mirrors real-world practice.

By basing elements of the simulation on one of Halo’s live customer environments (adapted for academic use), students gain exposure to authentic operational workflows while remaining within a safe, structured learning space.

Investing in the Future of the Industry

For Halo Solutions, this partnership reflects a broader commitment to supporting the long-term resilience and professionalism of the events sector.

Live events are complex, high-stakes environments and decisions made in moments of pressure can carry significant safety, reputational and financial implications. Supporting research that seeks to strengthen how those decisions are understood and applied is something we believe benefits the entire industry.

“If we want safer, more resilient events in the future, we need to invest in the people who will be leading them. Supporting applied research and realistic simulation is one of the most meaningful ways we can contribute to that goal.”
– Lloyd Major, CEO & Founder of Halo Solutions

Looking Ahead

Halo Solutions believes that meaningful industry progress happens when technology providers, academics, legislators and practitioners work together.

By supporting this research and embedding real-world incident management practice into higher education simulations, we are proud to play a small part in shaping a more prepared, more confident and more capable next generation of event professionals.

Because better preparation today leads to better decisions tomorrow.