On the 9th of July 2026, the industry’s finest came together to support Backup Tech. Sponsored by 5 Star Cases, Autograph, Catalyst Finance, DBpixelhouse, d&b audiotechnik, IPS, PLASA, Nexo, The Technical Department and Unusual Rigging, a staggering £50K was raised, matching last year’s record-breaking total. The Village Fete’s brand-new venue, Whilton Mill Karting Circuit, delivered high-octane racing and even more space for the stalls. Under the blazing July sunshine, every single attendee did their absolute best to not only have a fantastic day, but to raise all important funds to help Backup support those who need it most.
It was the first year in a new venue, but the change was only skin deep. The Backup Tech team know how to put on an event, and the 2026 Village Fete was a spectacular culmination of expert planning and preparation. All the annual features were front and centre, with the Flight Case Relay, Bake Off and Veg Off competitions all overseen by the ever-upstanding Parish Council. Stewart Hume, Editor of TPi magazine and long -time supporter of Backup was part of the council and took his duties very seriously.
“I'm here at the Village Fete to judge the cake competition and be part of the Parish Council,” he explains. “So many people put their heart and soul into this industry to put on events for everyone, but they're not always able to access the support they need. Thankfully, Backup is there to help people when they fall down.”
The first event of the day was the Flight Case Relay, teams competed on the National Circuit to win the coveted trophy and also the respect of the crowd. This year, Team Purple took possession of the trophy, beating the competition with exuberant style. Congratulations to Sam North, Steve Tunnicliffe, Tom Berry, Nick Robinson, Ian Caballero, Sam Gallacher and Jack Flavel!
5 Star Cases took home two of the most coveted awards, winning The Best Bake prize and Fete Game Champions. The prizes didn’t end there, Team IPS won Best Dress Fete Goers and Best Veg was claimed by Robe’s David Catterall. The sharpest shooters of the day were Creative Technology, whose team is now able to officially call themselves Top Guns.
The real action of the day took place on the racetrack and thanks to Whilton Mill’s National Karting Circuit, the teams could really show off their skills. As ever, the competition was fierce and supporters were quick to use whatever means possible to keep their team in the lead. It wasn’t enough to keep TAIT off the top spot and this year they retained their title, claiming a second consecutive year at the top of the leaderboard. Fastest lap was taken by Stanley Donaldson.
Coming together to have a great day is just part of the appeal of the Village Fete. Knowing that every penny raised during the event goes directly to funding industry friends and colleagues should they need help underpins every activity. Attendees raised a substantial amount of money, showing that their hearts are just as big as their competitive drive. EM Acoustics’ Roger Harpum summed up the feeling of catching up with friends whilst doing something positive.
“The Backup Village Fete is such a great way to connect. A lot of industry friends are here and I love seeing them, but of course, we're here because we want to support the charity,” he says. “Backup is something EM Acoustics has been involved with for years, but last year I got to see firsthand how it helped someone who was in an extremely difficult position. Whatever we can do to support, we will do, and that’s why we’re here, contributing to the silent auction and doing whatever we can for this fantastic charity.”
As Backup Ambassador, Follow-Me’s Luke Edwards highlights, making sure that everyone in the industry knows there is a charity working hard to provide assistance and access to training is a pivotal part of why the Village Fete is a central part of Backup’s fundraising activities. “It's really important for people to understand, especially as industry freelancers, that if you get ill, or you get hurt, there is a charity there for you that can help,” he says.
“It was another wonderful day, and we’re delighted that everyone embraced the new venue, huge thanks to everyone who came along.” concludes Backup Chair, Lee Dennison. “I’m ever grateful to the companies and individuals who work tirelessly in the evenings and weekends, behind the scenes to make this day run smoothly, we simply couldn’t do it without them. Whether it's access to mental health first aid training, providing a listening ear via the helpline, or delivering financial assistance when it is most needed, Backup is there for everyone in our industry and events like the Village Fete offer not just a chance to raise funds, they also raise awareness and give participants an opportunity to have some fun, too.”
