TWO Huddersfield businessmen are helping to stage some of the UK’s biggest sporting and entertainment events.

Andy Roebuck and Charles Webb have provided events management and corporate hospitality for a wide range of spectaculars this summer – including the BBC Proms in the Park and a star-studded celebration of the music of ABBA.

The business partners, who are based at Railway Street, rubbed shoulders with ABBA songwriters Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus at the celebration, called Thank You For the Music, which was held at Hyde Park.

The event, hosted by BBC Radio 2, featured performances from stars including Kylie Minogue, Lulu, US songwriter Chaka Khan, Sharleen Spiteri, Elaine Paige and Jason Donovan. Hosts included Sir Tim Rice and stars of the West End musical Mama Mia!

Andy and Charles organised VIP for the event, which included providing a glass-fronted pavilion with viewing balcony for the performance, cocktails, canapes and food.

Bjorn and Benny also held a private after-show party for the artists, orchestra and VIP guests.

The ABBA celebration followed the BBC Proms in the Park when Andy and Charles organised corporate hospitality for VIPs among more than 40,000 people enjoying a big screen presentation of the performance from the Royal Albert Hall with comperes Barry Manilow and Katherine Jenkins.

They arranged the hospitality for the BBC and event supporter National Savings and Investments, including a cocktail and canapes reception and three-course meal.

The Hyde Park performances marked the culmination of a busy summer for Andy and Charles – who operate as AR Events Ltd and CPW Events respectively and have more than 30 years in the hospitality and events industry.

The duo have helped provide corporate hospitality for prestigious occasions such as the Burghley Horse Trials, the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival and the Aintree Grand National Festival to name but a few.

They have also helped stage a corporate golf tournament for a Canadian gold mining company at The Old Head Links in Ireland, where guests joined West Yorkshire-based professional Georgina Simpson on the course and heard a keynote speech from author William Dalrymple.

Said Charles: “We are already looking at other projects for next year.

“While the recession has had an effect on the corporate hospitality industry, we are also noticing that more companies are seeking more unusual types of corporate events which also involve some element of charity fundraising or bring benefit to worthy causes.”

Andy had previously run sales teams for major ranging from the British Grand Prix to Elton John concerts.

Before setting up his own business, Charles was managing director of Sellers Hospitality and has chaired the Corporate Hospitality and Event Association.