JustPay Group emerged from a simple observation: the UK's specialist workforce was fragmented, underserved, and disconnected from the technology that could transform their working lives. Today, our bespoke platforms - Event UK, JustPay, JustGig and LMM - connect thousands of professionals with the work they need and the tools to manage it properly.
For more than 25 years, Event UK has helped organisations simplify how they find, engage, and manage contractors. What began as a specialist service in the hospitality sector has evolved into a trusted, multi-sector partner supporting some of the UK’s largest employers.
Today, as part of the JustPay Group, Event UK continues that mission through flexible workforce solutions, contractor management services UK, and technology that improves efficiency, transparency, and control.
Event UK was founded in 1998 by Matthew Hegarty, who saw first-hand how difficult it was for hospitality businesses to source and manage reliable contractors. The process lacked structure, transparency, and fairness.
So he built something better - a service designed around people, integrity, and operational efficiency. Those principles still guide everything we do today.
Over the years, we’ve grown into a long-term partner for leading hospitality and service operators nationwide. With a network of over 30,000 vetted contractors, we support businesses wherever they operate - from major cities to regional and remote locations.
Our scale, reliability, and hands-on support are what keep clients coming back.
As workforce needs evolved, so did we. Event UK expanded beyond sourcing to deliver end-to-end contractor management, supported by smarter processes and purpose-built technology.
This evolution led to the JustPay Group - an ecosystem designed to simplify flexible workforce management through automation, visibility, and human-led support. Event UK remains a core part of that group, delivering the service our clients trust, enhanced by shared innovation.
From hospitality venues to security firms, cleaning companies to entertainment agencies, we work with businesses of all sizes. Our platforms support contractors across multiple sectors, each with their own needs and challenges.
We're expanding our reach into new sectors and deepening our technology to handle more complex workforce management. Our focus remains unchanged: making flexible work simpler, fairer, and more transparent for everyone involved.
To be the leading platform for business efficiency, enabling seamless, automated contractor engagement and transforming how companies connect with and pay flexible workforces.
We empower organisations to source, manage and approve payments to their contractor workforce through intelligent solutions that reduce administration, optimise costs, and deliver complete visibility and control.
The beliefs behind every product and decision we make.
We design intuitive solutions that remove complexity, allowing businesses and contractors to work smarter and more efficiently.
We encourage accountability and clarity in every contractor engagement, from sourcing reputable suppliers to ensuring fair and timely payments.
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Our solutions prioritise people, empowering businesses and workers with reliable, efficient, high-quality tools supported by a dedicated team.
We continuously raise the bar, delivering precision, reliability, and meaningful impact in everything we create.
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The experience and vision driving the group forward
Matthew Hegarty founded Event UK, our legacy brand, after identifying a gap in how hospitality businesses manage contractors. Originally an insurance underwriter and London DJ, he launched the company in the late 1990s and has grown it into a trusted partner for many of the UK’s largest pub groups. With over 25 years leading the business, Matt focuses on service quality, integrity and building a team culture that balances attention to detail with genuine enjoyment of the work.
Toby Smith joined the Group in 2023 bringing more than 20 years of senior leadership experience across the UK hospitality sector. He has held executive roles including CEO of Town & City Pub Company and Novus Leisure, where he led growth, turnaround and buy-and-build strategies that created significant enterprise value. For the JustPay Group, Toby oversees operations and strategic delivery, drawing on deep industry expertise and a passion for improving hospitality businesses.
Mark Bell became Chief Financial Officer in 2024, contributing extensive international finance experience across technology and commercial sectors including Sony, Ericsson and Motorola Solutions. A Chartered Accountant by including Sony, Ericsson and Motorola Solutions. A Chartered Accountant by control frameworks and long-term strategic planning. Mark has also supported mergers, acquisitions and business transformations throughout his career.
Peter Boddy is an experienced board-level adviser with a strong background in private-equity-backed leisure and fitness businesses. Former CEO or Managing Director of several successful consumer brands, he has also served as Chairman and senior independent director across multiple organisations. Peter brings strategic governance expertise and commercial insight to the Group, supported by an economics degree and MBA.
At Event UK, our people are the heartbeat of everything we do. From product development to client services, every shift booked, job filled, and invoice processed is powered by a dedicated and professional team working behind the scenes.
Our team is UK-based, hands-on, and always ready to help. When you contact us whether by email, though our in-app queries or by phone - you’ll be speaking to someone who understands your needs and moves fast to get things sorted.
We’re growing fast and always on the lookout for great people who want to be part of something meaningful. If you’re passionate about hospitality, tech, or service - and want to work in a collaborative, supportive environment - we’d love to hear from you.
ESG is embedded into everything we build and how we operate.
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What our clients say
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Get in touch with our team to find the right contractor solution for your business needs.
