Live event safety and wellbeing challenges are inherently interdisciplinary, spanning engineering, health, physics, architecture, software, policy, music, and psychology. The HELA Research Co‑op brings together experts across these fields to address the impacts of live events on audiences, staff, and neighbouring communities. Its goal is to develop practical, research‑driven solutions that improve on‑site sound quality and safety, reduce off‑site noise pollution, and strengthen relationships between venues and local residents.

A major focus is improving the built environment—both venue design and nearby housing—to minimise sound egress and support community wellbeing, including promoting the Agent of Change principle for new developments near music venues. Because venues function as both workplaces and leisure spaces, and often operate at late hours, the Co‑op will work closely with the public and end users to ensure solutions are realistic and sustainable.

By advancing sound exposure monitoring, hearing health awareness, and noise‑control technologies, the Co‑op aims to set new standards for safe listening environments and community wellbeing. The work will fill key knowledge gaps and support long‑term innovation across acoustics, engineering, health, and urban planning.

The Co‑op operates within the wider HELA Initiative, with research priorities shaped jointly by industry and academia and informed by government and community stakeholders.

Based at the University of Derby's Electro‑Acoustics Research Lab, it is also supported by additional hearing health expertise and facilities at the Universities of Nottingham and Manchester.

The HELA Research Co-op will have three initial funding rounds, the first in June/July 2026 with the aim of encouraging the facilitating new research collaborations through pilot studies that initiate and drive forward meaningful and necessary research related to the live event sector.