Over 13,800 people attended Safety & Health Expo 2016
From 21 – 23 June at London’ ExCeL Exhibition Centre, visitors came in their thousands to see the latest health and safety solutions, including innovations in PPE, training, eLearning, occupational health solutions and working from height equipment, to name but a few.
New this year, visitors benefited from the Training & Career Zone, sponsored by Amazon, which provided sessions on delivering the perfect interview, fast tracking your career, as well as a panel discussion on ‘Which Qualification’, with Teresa Budworth, NEBOSH CEO, Shaun Lundy, University of Greenwich, and Ken Gains, City and Guilds.
Elsewhere in the show, the FPA Fire & Evacuation Theatre, sponsored by Fire Protection Association and Emergency Evacuation Association and supported by Evac+Chair, addressed, among other things, the heightened concern of evacuation during terror situations.
A recurring focal point of the event this year was the Inspirational Speaker Series held each day in the Keynote Theatre, sponsored by Honeywell. High profile speakers Colonel Tim Collins OBE, Kate Adie OBE and James Cracknell OBE shared key insights into how they have overcome adversity and challenges in their extraordinary careers to large crowds of over 400 individuals from across the security, safety, fire, facilities management and service management industries.
The inspirational speaker sessions headlined a comprehensive educational programme that covered all aspects of health and safety from practical tips on engaging the board to mitigating asbestos exposure and managing occupational road risk.
Once again Safety & Health Expo was proud to have long-standing support from all the leading health and safety associations, including IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety & Health), BSiF (The British Safety Industry Federation) and RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents), among others, all of whom contributed to the ongoing success of the show.
The 322 suppliers who took part were delighted with the volume and quality of visitors.
Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) Training Manager and Safety & Health Expo exhibitor, Dave Mosley said: “This massive Expo has proved itself again and gifted CISRS a golden opportunity to tell the industry what’s going on, especially in relation to the impending changes to courses with CPD coming into play in June 2017 and new card renewal regulations.”
For the first time this year, Safety & Health Expo partnered with the prestigious Professional Clothing Show, bringing visitors more PPE, clothing and workwear than ever before.
The Professional Clothing Show, brought new exhibitors and products to the show and drew crowds with the energetic SHE Live!, the PPE, workwear and corporate wear catwalk.
Yvette Ashby, Managing Director, Professional Clothing Show and Awards commented: “To be able to partner with such as well-established, well-respected and productive show within our industry is a true honour.”
The Rising Star Awards, a new UK Health & Safety Week initiative for 2016, celebrated the achievements of young people and those new to the profession, who demonstrated excellence in their roles. The winner of over 140 high calibre entries was James Eastham, Eric Wright Group, who was presented with his award by Lawrence Waterman OBE, Director of Health and Safety at Battersea Power Station Development. Of his win, James told SHP Online, Safety & Health Expo’s official media partner: “I was shocked and overwhelmed because of the number and quality of the other finalists.”
Ahead of the Rising Star Awards, John Cairns, Chairman of SGUK recognised winners of the LOcHER Project Awards and Teresa Budworth presented the NEBOSH Young Person Awards to the top performing under 25 students who achieved a NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational H&S and National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety. Other awards ceremonies that took place at Safety & Health Expo included the internationally recognised RoSPA Awards, BSiF Innovation Awards and Professional Clothing Show Awards.
Hundreds of eager participants also took part in #SHE1000, a networking session on day three led by Heather White, CEO, Smarter Networking. Over 250 women and men responsible for the protection and management of buildings came together for an hour to interact with each other and gain practical tips on how to work a room, how to approach groups of people and creating an impact when introducing oneself. Speaking about the experience, Heather said “What a buzz and what a brilliant group of people who came to play. We certainly raised the roof!”
The winning combination of fantastic educational content, innovative products and services and outstanding networking sessions meant that Safety & Health Expo achieved a 5% growth in attendees, with over 100 speakers and 322 exhibitors bringing heath and safety professionals from 59 countries.
Heather Beach, Brand Director, OSH said “Neither severe flooding in London nor a referendum could keep us down this year with a significant increase in visitors across the three days and a great deal of fun. New product launches, special events like Rising Stars and SHE1000, inspiring speakers, international visitors, plus the incorporation of Professional Clothing Show allowed Safety & Health Expo to be an undeniable success. Thank you to you all those who worked with us to create such a great event. It is always a partnership between us, our exhibitors, the health and safety associations and the 13,000+ visitors that attend – see you next year.”
Safety & Health Expo 2017 takes place from 20–22 June at ExCeL London. To discuss stand and sponsorship at Safety & Health Expo 2017 contact Angela Coffill, telephone +44 (0)20 7921 8536 or email [email protected].
