ESSA has refreshed its existing Aims report for 2026, setting out a practical framework to help the UK exhibition industry respond to the operational, safety, sustainability and commercial pressures shaping event delivery todayacross build-up, break-down and the wider exhibition supply chain. 

The updated charter is not a change in direction, but an evolution of ESSA’s long-running work to define “what good looks like” across the exhibition supply chain. It focuses on four connected priorities: earlier information transfer, stronger gangway management, smarter scheduling, and fairer build and break times. 

The refreshed Aims build on ESSA’s structured work in this area, which began in 2015, and reflect the ongoing challenges around tight timeframes, rising compliance expectations, sustainability, workforce pressures and the need for more consistent good practice across the sector. 

Andrew Harrison, CEO of ESSA, said: 

“Exhibitions are complex operational environments, and the way we plan, build, manage and break them must keep pace with the realities our industry faces today. 

“The refreshed ESSA Aims are not about blame. They are about raising the baseline, making responsibilities clearer, and helping organisers, venues, suppliers, contractors and exhibitors work together to deliver safer, smarter and more sustainable events. 

“There is excellent practice across the industry. The opportunity now is to make that good practice more consistent.” 

The refreshed charter calls for wider collaboration across the organiser, venue and supplier communities, including practical progress on read-only open access exhibitor manuals, shared gangway management standards, improved scheduling frameworks, and best practice guidance for equitable build and break times. 

ESSA has also published a full blog from Andrew Harrison exploring why the Aims have been refreshed, how they respond to today’s industry climate, and what practical collaboration is now needed. 

Download the refreshed ESSA Aims 2026 charter HERE.