Contributing Towards a Bigger Cause | Tom Harper

This perspective calls for a shift in how we view our workforce—not just as employees fulfilling roles but as a community of people united by a shared journey. Everyone should feel that they are part of something bigger than themselves and have the opportunity to impact the world positively. By fostering this sense of purpose, the company can build a culture where every team member thrives—professionally and personally- with a sense of belonging and contribution.

While policies and protocols remain crucial for maintaining structure and ensuring continuous improvement, Tom believes that true evolution within a company comes from nurturing a deeper connectionwithin respectful and appropriately compassionate boundaries. His personal experiences with loss and grief have further fuelled his belief that every team member should feel they are contributing to something meaningful—something more significant than just their tasks.

Functioning As a Family

Tom’s journey began with the desire to apply the principles of the circular economy while pursuing an MBA in Innovation, Enterprise, and the Circular Economy from the University of Bradford and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. This academic foundation allowed him to explore how Unusual could transition toward a circular business model, focusing on better management of resources—both for the company and its clients.

But Tom’s vision goes beyond resource management. He is also committed to examining the social aspect of the business, ensuring that every individual within the community feels driven by purpose. As the world faces a climate emergency, Tom recognises the responsibility to ensure the company, in all its actions, supports the shift toward an economy that restores more than it consumes. With the support of the senior leadership team, he aims to empower every team member to offer insight from their unique perspective, helping Unusual contribute commercially and meaningfully to a regenerative future.

Ultimately, this holistic, purpose-driven approach ensures that each person, process, and resource align with a broader mission: creating an economy that benefits both people and the planet. This is a journey that calls for collective effort, continual learning, and an unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on the world.

Unusual Rigging believes that great ideas and creative thinking can come from anyone, regardless of their role or position within the company. “We aim for our team to function like a close-knit family and community, where everyone is encouraged to contribute and collaborate,” says Tom. “We understand that innovation thrives in environments where people feel supported and valued, which is why we foster a culture of mutual respect and encouragement. In our community, no idea is ever dismissed as a “bad idea.” Every suggestion is seen as an opportunity for growth and improvement.” By embracing this open-minded approach, Tom creates a space where creativity can flourish, and their collective strength as a team can lead to groundbreaking solutions. “We genuinely believe that when we support one another, share ideas freely, and work together, we can achieve extraordinary results,” adds Tom.

Becoming A Dynamic Leader

In 1983, after ten years at the National Theatre, Alan Jacobi (AJ) recognised the opportunity to provide bespoke Rigging and engineering solutions to a nascent theatre industry bursting with a wave of new writers, musicians, and creatives – such as Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Cameron MacIntosh. Slow and steady tenacity ensured that AJ and the founding team were available to provide an exceptional service – which, over time, grew into an organization that helped produce VE day, the Royal Tournament, VJ day, and many more internationally recognized productions. Unusual grew reputationally and as an organization due to the resilience and tenacity of the founding team. Without the vision, passion, risk-taking, sense of fun, and can-do attitude, Unusual would have struggled to develop into the world-class rigging provider it is today.

In the years since AJ’s passing, Tom has shown outstanding leadership. He has made his mark on the company, forming a team of directors to support him in his endeavours and taking bold steps to realize his vision for the company’s future while paying homage to AJ’s long-term goals. Since 2022, the company’s senior leadership team has been undertaking an executive coaching program led by Alan Mullett of the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) and developed with the input of leading trauma psychologist Derek Farrell, drilling down the concept of what it means to create a community lead by the principles of ‘ethical citizenship.

Alan’s program is based on understanding and applying knowledge of the human condition and realizing that people are not just leaders but human beings. To be better leaders, individuals need a better understanding of what makes them human. The new building, the leadership program, and the company’s future direction are all intrinsically linked.

Offering Unique Solutions

Customers face several significant challenges in the events, entertainment, and construction sectors. These include the increasing demand for safety and compliance, the need for precise and efficient installations under tight deadlines, and the pressure to create innovative, visually impactful experiences that stand out in a competitive market. Unusual Rigging addresses these challenges with cutting-edge solutions that set them apart. They prioritize safety by adhering to the highest industry standards and continuously innovating their practices to exceed compliance requirements. The company’s team is known for its expertise in delivering complex rigging projects with precision, even under the most demanding conditions. Additionally, they leverage advanced technology and creative engineering to provide bespoke rigging solutions that meet the customers’ needs and push the boundaries of what is possible in design and execution.

Unusual Rigging’s mission is to deliver creative and technical rigging solutions for events, venues, and performances – ensuring safety, innovation, and excellence in execution. They focus on supporting complex productions, from theatre shows and live events to architectural installations, with innovative rigging technologies and equipment.

“We specialize in providing innovative solutions for suspending, elevating and moving equipment, scenery, and people. Our installations can be either permanent—offering long-term infrastructure—or temporary, tailored to meet short-term needs,” explains Tom. “Drawing on experience across a variety of industries, we bring a multidisciplinary approach to every project. We have been a key player in the international Motor Show industry for years, managing the Rigging for all major Ford Motor Group presentations.” In the Museums and Heritage sector, they are recognized as the leading company for suspending large-scale artifacts such as aircraft and automobiles.

The company’s portfolio of capital installations includes notable projects such as the Convention Centre Dublin, The Drury Lane Theatre and the Stockholm Waterfront Congress Centre. They also take on unique, one-off projects that push the boundaries of what is possible, such as the Liverpool Spider and ElizabethStreb’s performing aerial dancers safely coordinated on the London Eye. “Our reputation for tackling complex challenges has led us to work on some of the most remarkable and ambitious endeavors of the past decade, including the Garsington Opera and the Harrier and Jaguar installations at Tate Britain, London,” states Tom. “As we acknowledge the difficulties of the past few years but celebrate the positive developments – such as achieving a Circular economic business model, acknowledged by the WEF Circularsas well as our net zero HQ, we are extremely optimistic about the future of Unusual Rigging. With our forward-thinking approach to leadership, the environment, and how we deliver a first-class service to all our customers, we are excited to see what the next 40 years has in store.”