As the FIFA World Cup arrived in the New York–New Jersey area this summer, MetLife Stadium became one of the busiest venues of the tournament — staging eight matches in all, culminating in the final on 19 July 2026. With millions of fans converging on East Rutherford, the brand activations around the stadium had to be as ready for the crowds as the pitch itself.

Astound, working on behalf of Coca-Cola, needed a raised base for a fan experience in the MetLife car park — a levelled platform with steps and guardrails, built to turn an uneven stretch of tarmac into a clean, safe stage for supporters in the build-up to the games

 

 

The Challenge: An Uneven Car Park, Heavy Security and a Schedule Under Pressure

To carry a fan experience, the platform had to sit dead level over a 70ft × 36ft area while the ground beneath it sloped — all without compromising stability or creating trip hazards for the public moving on and off it.

The site added its own pressures. Security around MetLife was heavy throughout the World Cup, with access tightly controlled. The wider programme was running behind schedule, with the same build being rolled out in Dallas, Florida and other host cities — yet our team stayed ahead of those parallel crews and kept the New Jersey base on track.

 

The Build: A 70ft × 36ft Levelled Deck with Steps and Guardrails

Using our modular Steeldeck system, we built a free-standing base, sized and levelled across the slope of the car park. At a glance:

•  70ft × 36ft modular deck system, levelled across a sloping car park surface
• Decks set on packing and screwjacks to correct the gradient and hold a true level
• Integrated steps
• Temporary handrail systems fitted to the perimeter
• Built over client-supplied timber blocks supporting their truss, with the deck worked around them
• Two days to install the base, plus a day and a half for the rails and steps

 

 

Why a Modular Deck System Works for Outdoor Event Staging

Outdoor event staging rarely starts from a perfect surface. Car parks, fields and concourses slope, drain and shift, and the structure on top has to absorb all of that while still reading as level to the people using it.

A modular deck system does exactly that: standardised components packed and jacked to any height, configured to almost any footprint, and corrected across a gradient without pouring or fixing into the ground.

Safety is built in rather than bolted on at the end. Temporary handrail systems and temporary guardrail systems can be added to any exposed edge.

 

The Result

Coca-Cola’s scenic and fit-out partners took over a clean, stable platform, and the fan experience was ready to welcome supporters in the MetLife car park as the World Cup builds towards its 19 July final.

Planning an outdoor event that needs a levelled platform, integrated steps or temporary safety railing? Steeldeck builds modular deck systems for activations, fan zones and staging on any surface. Get in touch to discuss your project.

Arcadia, Sir Tom Stoppard’s celebrated play, transferred to the Duke of York’s Theatre this summer in a new production directed by Carrie Cracknell, required a reconfiguration of one of the West End’s most storied theatres into the round.

Theatre in the round is a staging format where the audience surrounds the performance space on all sides, rather than facing it from one direction as in a traditional theatre. It’s an immersive, intimate way to stage a production — and something of a departure from how most West End venues are typically built.

 

The Challenge: A Historic Theatre, Reimagined

The Duke of York’s is a traditional proscenium-arch theatre. Transforming it to in-the-round staging meant rethinking the relationship between stage and audience, while working within the constraints of a classical building.

Steeldeck supplied the tiered seating risers wrapping around the circular playing space, giving every member of the audience a clear, intimate view of the action.

 

The Build: Tiered Seating to Match the Stage

The tiered seating risers needed to follow the curve of the new circular stage, while integrating with the existing architecture of the auditorium. Built using our modular staging Steeldeck components, the tiered seating was configured to create a continuous sweep around the performance space, finished to a standard fitting for a major West End production.

The result is a blend of contemporary and classic — gilded balconies framing a close, theatre-in-the-round staging configuration.

 

 

Why Modular Staging Works for Productions Like This

Reconfiguring a historic auditorium is never straightforward. Modular staging gives productions the flexibility to reshape a space entirely — without permanent alteration to the building. With theatre productions, installations are always temporary and bespoke to the production.

 

The Result

Arcadia opens at the Duke of York’s Theatre on 20th June, running for a strictly limited 12-week season — a reinvention of a much-loved London theatre, bringing audiences closer to one of Stoppard’s most celebrated works.

Working on a production that needs tiered seating or a bespoke theatre in the round staging solution? Get in touch to discuss your project.

The chance to support the British Paralympic Associations need for step-free access at one of London’s most prestigious event venues doesn’t come along every day. The requested temporary ramp installation had to meet strict accessibility regulations, satisfy Westminster Council requirements, and look the part for a high-profile evening event — all within a six-hour window.

 

The Challenge: Steps, a Tight Deadline, and a Public Street

8 Northumberland Avenue is a restored Victorian landmark in the heart of Westminster, originally built in 1887 as the Hotel Victoria — a grand 500-room hotel, and the first building in the city to be fitted with electric lighting throughout.

The British Paralympic Association required two modular access ramps: one external, leading from the public street into the venue entrance, and one internal, providing access within the Old Billiard Room. Both needed to comply fully with accessibility regulations and blend seamlessly into the event’s overall aesthetic.

Guests were due to arrive at 6:00pm, and all works needed to be completed by 3:00pm to allow the venue team sufficient time for final preparations. Due to the venue’s location in a busy street of Westminster, we were not permitted to begin installation until 9:00am. That gave us a six-hour window from start to finish.

On top of that, the external ramp required Westminster Council approval to occupy the public street — a planning process we supported from start to finish.

 

The Build: Two Modular Access Ramps in Five Hours

External Ramp

The external ramp measured 11 metres in length and incorporated a turn to align with the venue entrance. It was constructed from Steeldeck modular platforms and built to a 1:12 gradient throughout, with landing platforms at intervals of no more than 5 metres.

To finish the ramp appropriately, we applied a hard fascia to the external edges, giving a clean, professional appearance to what would otherwise be an exposed structure. The fascia included a 150mm skirting detail at the base. All cladding was scribed and fitted on site by a specialist carpenter to ensure an accurate, precise finish.

Internal Ramp

The internal ramp measured 10 metres and ran in a straight configuration through the Old Billiard Room. Like the external ramp, it was built to a 1:12 gradient with compliant landing platforms.

Both ramps were finished with Pacific Blue carpet, supplied by MJ’s Event Services and carefully selected to match the carpet used throughout the venue. The result was a cohesive look that felt like part of the event design rather than a retrofit.

The full installation took five hours. De-rig the following day took three.

 

Why Modular Systems Work for Events Like This

Temporary ramp installation for events presents a different set of challenges to permanent accessibility works. The structure needs to be strong and fully compliant, but it also needs to go up quickly, come down cleanly, and look refined in the context of a formal event.

Modular wheelchair ramp systems are well suited to this because they can be configured to almost any layout — straight runs, turns, multiple gradients — using standardised components. Pre-fabricated infill sections can be made to order where the standard kit needs to meet a specific step height or ground condition.

For events at historic venues in particular, where permanent structural alterations aren’t an option, a well-designed modular access ramp offers a practical, compliant, and visually appealing solution.

 

 

The Result

Both ramps were in place and signed off well ahead of the 3:00pm deadline. Guests arrived at a venue that was fully accessible from street level, with access maintained throughout the building.

 

Planning an event that needs step-free access? Steeldeck provides modular wheelchair ramp systems and temporary ramp installation for events across the UK. Get in touch to discuss your project!

 

 

Job Description

 

No two days are the same in live events. If you want a job where you might be quoting a West End tour on Monday and standing on a festival stage on Friday, read on.

Steeldeck Rentals has been building the stages, platforms, and structures that the UK’s biggest productions rely on for over 30 years. We work across theatre, live music, TV & film, and major events — and we’re growing. We’re now looking for a Hire & Events Coordinator to join our Manchester team and grow with us.

This isn’t a typical admin role. Yes, there’s an office element — but you’ll also be out on site, working directly alongside our Manchester MD, learning the industry from someone who knows it inside out. If you’re ambitious, practical, and want to build a real career in live events, this is the job to do it in.

 

What You’ll Be Doing

In the office:

• Handling hire enquiries, quotes, and bookings for staging and event equipment
• Keeping jobs moving — paperwork, pick lists, delivery notes, invoices
• Being the friendly, knowledgeable voice clients want to speak to
• Coordinating across warehouse, operations, and accounts to make sure every job goes smoothly

Out on site:

• Joining our MD on live events and site visits
• Getting hands-on with staging systems, installations, and client liaison
• Learning how the best in the business operate under pressure
• Building the experience and confidence to take on more responsibility over time

What We’re Looking For

• Organised, adaptable, and great with people
• Confident communicator — phone, email, and face to face
• Comfortable with Excel and general office tools; rental software experience a bonus
• Some background in hire, events, or production is ideal but not essential — attitude matters more
• Physically comfortable on site and happy to get stuck in

What You’ll Get

• A front-row seat to the live events industry
• Direct mentorship from an experienced industry MD
• Real variety — no two weeks the same
• A clear path to grow as the business grows
• Company pension, holiday entitlement, and ongoing training
• A team that takes the work seriously and has fun doing it

 

Staging. Events. Real experience. Let’s talk.

Salary: £26,000–£28,000 pa

Location: Manchester (office-based with regular site work)

Hours: Full-time, 8am–4.30pm Monday–Friday

Closing date: 7th August, 2026

 

Apply by 7th August, 2026 to admin@steeldeck.co.uk with a cover letter (300 words max) and CV.

We’re proud to announce that Steeldeck Rentals has joined the SME Climate Hub and signed the SME Climate Commitment — a globally recognised pledge, aligned with the United Nations Race to Zero campaign. As an eco-friendly company, this step reflects our long-standing values around environmental responsibility.

What the Commitment Means

The SME Climate Commitment sets out three clear obligations for every business that signs it:

• Halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
• Reach net zero by 2050
• Report progress publicly, every year

These targets are aligned with the latest climate science and the 1.5°C pathway set out in the Paris Agreement. By committing, Steeldeck Rentals joins thousands of small and medium-sized eco-friendly companies worldwide taking responsibility for their climate impact.

Where We Stand

We’ve completed our first full greenhouse gas baseline, covering Scope 1 (our direct emissions), Scope 2 (energy — 100% low carbon, as Steeldeck sources electricity from PE Solutions) and Scope 3 (our wider value chain including suppliers, transport and commuting). That baseline gives us the starting point we need to measure our progress against the commitment’s targets.

Our largest sources of emissions are transportation, forklift use, and the materials we purchase and use. These are the areas we’re focusing on first — as that’s where meaningful reduction is achievable.

Against the commitment’s target of halving emissions by 2030, we have a clear reduction pathway in place. We’re following a science-based annual reduction rate recommended by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and we’ve mapped our trajectory all the way through to 2050.

Our 2035 milestone is carbon neutrality — by way of direct reductions combined with offsetting any remaining residual emissions. Our 2050 goal is net zero, which requires deeper structural change across our operations and supply chain over the longer term.

Why It Matters

SMEs represent around 90% of businesses globally and contribute more than half of total business sector emissions. Our individual footprints may be smaller than those of large corporations, but our collective impact — and our collective potential — is enormous.

The Climate Hub commitment isn’t just a box to tick. It forms part of our wider sustainable business practices — supporting better cost control, stronger procurement decisions, and a clearer sustainability message for the clients and partners we work with.

Whatever the scale of your next production, we have the kit and the expertise to make it happen. Explore our full range of staging and equipment hire and get in touch to talk about your next project.

High-performance vehicles demand a platform that’s engineered to match.

Steeldeck Rentals is trusted by leading motorsport and luxury brands to deliver staging and access solutions that combine structural integrity with a flawless finish.

Whether you need a vehicle display stage, a drive-on platform, or a bespoke multi-car installation, our modular systems are engineered to handle real loads while showcasing every detail.

Car stage hire built for vehicles, designed for impact
Automotive staging has unique demands. Weight, balance and access need to be considered from the outset without compromising on aesthetics. Our car stage hire systems are engineered to support high loads, making them ideal when you need to hire a stage for a single vehicle plinth or a multi-car installation.

From elevated plinths that command attention to low-profile builds that create a seamless floor finish, every structure is designed to:

• Safely support vehicles of all sizes
• Maintain precise levels
• Deliver a refined, minimal aesthetic
• Integrate seamlessly with surrounding environments
• Deliver staging that enhances the vehicle

Steeldeck Rentals helped bring the World Premiere of One Day: The Musical to life at the iconic Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh, transforming the space into an environment unlike anything audiences had experienced before.

Inspired by the beloved novel by David Nicholls, One Day called for a bold reimagining of the theatre’s traditional layout. The goal was to break down the boundary between the stage and audience, drawing viewers closer to the heart of the story.

To realise this vision, Steeldeck designed and delivered an intricate seating installation directly onto the stage, while also reconfiguring the auditorium seating. At the centre of the layout, our team built an elevated platform housing a revolving stage, creating a dynamic focal point that drove the dynamic production.

With limited space and a highly technical brief, the challenge was significant. Every element had to fit together seamlessly within a tight footprint, without compromising safety, performance or audience experience. Working closely with the production team, Steeldeck engineered a staging and seating solution that balanced precision, efficiency, and creativity.

Using our versatile modular system, the team created a strong, adaptable structure that met complex technical demands and integrated effortlessly with the theatre’s historic architecture.

The result? A striking, immersive environment that pushed the boundaries of traditional staging, showcasing how innovative thinking and collaborative engineering can turn ambitious ideas into unforgettable theatre experiences. This project also highlights Steeldeck Rentals’ expertise in theatre staging in Edinburgh and across the UK.

When the internationally acclaimed parody The Empire Strips Back landed in the UK, it brought a bold fusion of sci-fi, comedy, and burlesque to the stage. Behind the scenes, Steeldeck Rentals played a key role in shaping the audience seating experience at TESTBED in Leeds.

Known for hosting boundary-pushing performances, TESTBED provided a strong setting for the production. The brief required a seating solution that could be installed quickly, maximise capacity, and maintain clear sightlines within a non-traditional theatre environment.

Steeldeck delivered a flexible, modular seating system tailored to the venue’s adaptable layout. The result was a smart, efficient build that transformed the space into a fully realised performance setting, ensuring every audience member could fully immerse themselves in the show’s fast-paced, visually striking action.

Designed with touring productions in mind, Steeldeck’s seating hire system enabled rapid installation and seamless reconfiguration. By incorporating upholstered tip-up seating units, the team delivered a solution that maintained both comfort and safety without compromise. It’s this level of versatility that makes our seating hire system ideal for productions like The Empire Strips Back, where no two venues or layouts are ever quite the same.

As live entertainment continues to evolve, productions are increasingly seeking adaptable infrastructure capable of turning unconventional spaces into professional performance environments. This show is a perfect example of that shift, where creative ambition meets smart engineering.

From touring cabaret to immersive theatre, Steeldeck Rentals continues to support productions across the UK with modular staging hire and seating hire solutions that are as dynamic as the shows themselves.

Events demand more than just a platform and a few rows of chairs. Today’s productions need flexible staging and seating that are modular, sustainable and built to adapt. The right solution can help transform your event vision in any type of venue. Steeldeck Rentals specialises in engineered staging and seating solutions that are as intelligent as the ideas they support.

Modular by Design
Modular builds are a practical approach to event infrastructure. Our Steeldeck systems are made from standard components that join together to create bespoke configurations with:

• Custom stage shapes and heights
• Tiered seating for clear sightlines
• Integrated platforms for cameras, AV, lighting, and scenic design
• Ramps, treads and guardrails tailored to your site

This flexibility makes staging and seating work for your project.

The 2026 WhatsOnStage Awards once again brought the theatre industry together at The London Palladium for an evening to celebrate productions, performers and creative teams captivating audiences across the UK stage. 

As proud supporters of the event, Steeldeck Rentals were delighted to attend and play a small part behind the scenes in making the evening possible. Our team supplied staging elements including Steeldeck legs, treads and skirting to support the main awards stage, helping to create the platform for the night’s performances and presentations. 

Voted for entirely by the public, the WhatsOnStage Awards are a unique moment in the theatre calendar. This year’s ceremony featured performances from some of the West End’s most talked-about productions, alongside celebrations of major milestones and standout achievements across the industry. 

Congratulations to all this year’s winners and nominees, and to everyone who continues to make theatre such a vibrant and inspiring industry.