Scotland braced for 1,800-strong ‘drone swarms’ with event firm’s £2.1m expansion push

Bosses at 21CC Group said the investment planned over the next 18 months would see SkyShows’ drone fleet quadruple in size, making it Scotland’s largest drone display operator and positioning the business as a major player in the UK market.

Alongside bringing SkyShows’ specialist expertise into the wider group, the investment will expand the fleet and supporting infrastructure, enabling the delivery of shows featuring up to 1,800 drones. To support this expansion, 21CC Group has recruited its first senior drone pilot, with five employees also set to undertake a structured training programme to become qualified pilots.

Founded in 2000, 21CC Group has grown into a leading event delivery business, with a portfolio spanning major international sporting events, national celebrations, cultural experiences and festivals. Highlights include the UCI Cycling World Championships, BBC Live at Edinburgh Castle and music festivals including Download and TRNSMT.

Established in 2021, SkyShows is a specialist drone display company delivering aerial light shows for events across the UK.

The acquisition will enable 21CC Group to integrate drone displays with its range of in-house event services, spanning the likes of technical production, AV, lighting, pyrotechnics and special effects.

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Geoff Crow, managing director of 21CC Group, said: “We’re always looking for ways to grow and bring something new to our clients. Drone technology is evolving rapidly, and we see huge potential in what it can bring to live events, from corporate activations and large-scale public celebrations, to festivals, bespoke brand experiences and private celebrations.

“We want to be at the forefront of that growth, creating bigger, bolder and more memorable experiences for audiences, and this acquisition will enable us to do just that.

“But this is also strategically about something much bigger. Scotland has a fantastic reputation for delivering world-class events, and if we’re to continue building on that, we need to keep investing in the businesses, people, skills and technology that make those events possible.”

He added: “This move is also about investing in Scotland’s events industry. Bringing SkyShows into the group, investing in new technology, creating opportunities for our people to develop new skills and bringing specialist expertise into the sector is all part of that.”

Clive Coombes, founder of SkyShows, said: “Having pioneered drone light shows, where we were the first UK company to hold official permission to fly drone swarms, we are incredibly proud of the reputation for high-quality innovation we’ve built over the last five years.

“Joining 21CC Group is an exciting next chapter for SkyShows. It gives us the perfect platform to build on everything we’ve achieved so far, opening doors to new audiences and providing the infrastructure, support and investment to take on new and innovative drone displays at a vastly increased scale,” he added.

“This is a truly positive new chapter for SkyShows, and I am delighted we are becoming part of this outstanding sector leading brand.”