Pick a show at random and you will see, in the days preceding it, hundreds of companies preparing for their particular task within the exhibition hall or event centre, all with a common aim – to build the best event they can - but in my experience there is a real lack of clear communication and coordination that compromises safety and raises the risk of a serious accident.
Hardly a day goes by without a heated discussion on the news regarding Brexit and our future trading with the rest of the world. Whether you see our exit from the EU as a positive, or view it as Britain turning its back on a market place, one thing is certain – we, in the events industry, will have a part to play!
This time next year the world of consumer data will look very different as the full effects of new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will be enforced across the UK and Europe.
Live events fulfil many functions, from bringing together large groups of people for learning and information sharing purposes, to raising awareness of issues or bringing customers and businesses together. If you’ve ever organised an event for local or central government, you’ll already appreciate what a complex business it can be. Whether it's a conference, service launch or internal staff function, you only have the one opportunity to get it right. You need to simultaneously choreograph all the services and supplies needed to make your event a complete success and ensure the guests or visitors know where and when to arrive. Then you have to be the ringmaster that brings it all together on time and within budget.
Consider the exhibition industry – it’s a busy, creative and vibrant industry whose raison d’etre is to bring products, services and brands to the attention of a wide variety of audiences. So why is it, when I speak to a room full of young design students, fewer than three percent of them are even vaguely considering exhibitions and events as a career or even a first job?
