PRODUCTION company SHMS has won the contract to stage six Cancer Research UK Race for Life meetings in Yorkshire in 2013.

The business, which is based in Barmby Moor, near Pocklington, will produce the sound stage for the charity race, including in York where the event attracts more than 4,000 people to Knavesmire.

Simon Hudson, managing director of SHMS, said the contract was the biggest contract they had ever won and signalled a good step forward for the company.

He said: “We will have to invest in new equipment specifically for these six events, which we will mean we’re able to produce concerts for over 4,000 people. That will be quite a significant investment for us in 2013, but will mean we can put on bigger events in future.”

The new outdoor speaker system that will comfortably play to more than 4,000 people uses the latest digital amplifiers to reduce the amount of electricity needed to power it, also reducing the carbon footprint of the events that SHMS produce, in line with the company’s continual work towards British standard BS8901 for producing sustainable events.

Simon said the company would provide music and commentary for more than 12,000 women raising money for the Race for Life in Yorkshire. “We are extremely proud to be involved with the six events in Scarborough, Bridlington, Doncaster, Rotherham, Harrogate and our home town on Knavesmire in York.”

As well as the commercial aspect of the contract for SHMS, the York event also has a personal connection, he said.

“My mother passed away in 2007 from cancer. A year earlier we were so proud to cheer my mum on as she completed the Race for Life in York after just having her treatment.”

The company employs three full-time staff and takes on local freelance engineers and riggers for specific contracts.