The UK’s largest event for the emergency services, The Emergency Services Show (#ESS2018), has reported record growth in attendance for 2018. The free-to-visit event took place at the NEC, Birmingham on 19 and 20 September and attracted a total of 8,348 visitors and buyers, representing a record ten per cent increase on its previous highest attendance in 2017.
Over 2,500 of the show’s visitors attended the programme of 90 CPD seminars running in four theatres. Among the most popular sessions were: Against All Odds – the Cave Rescue in Thailand in Lessons Learnt and Interoperability, Digital Transformation and the Connected Responder, a walk-through seminar in the Technology programme. Dr Owen Jackson, of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat at the Cabinet Office, delivered the well-attended keynote in the Collaboration Theatre Global Britain: The UK’s International CivilProtection Priorities and the Role of Resilience Practitioners. Among the most popular session in the Health and Wellbeing Theatre was Better Mental Health in the Emergency Services, given by Mind Blue Light as well as sessions on PTSD, an issue which has seen heightened awareness thanks to the success of the BBC drama The Bodyguard.
“Among the strongest new trends at this year’s show have been the growing importance of collaboration between services regionally, nationally and internationally and the emergence of technology as a key enabler of enhanced efficiency and effectiveness in operations,” said event director David Brown. “New launches from Excelerate Technology, Primetech, PCE and many others demonstrated the exciting future role for connected vehicles among our emergency services.”
Exhibitors remarked on the volume of traffic to their stands, and the quality of the visitors, while visitors commented on the value they got from a day at the show in terms of product knowledge, learning and networking.
Oliver North, Managing Director, Rosenbauer UK said: “The show has been fantastic. The footfall on the first day was absolutely manic. From start to finish we were speaking to existing and future customers non-stop.”
“It is a really great show. You can expect the very best of the emergency services, the best kit, the most experienced people to tell you the truth, the nitty-gritty, everyone is very open and honest and it is a great chance to learn from each other. That’s the biggest take away for me – the opportunity to reflect and learn with everyone,” said Helen Turner, Resilience Planning and Business Continuity Co-ordinator, British Transport Police.
“This is the eleventh show we have done and probably the best we have ever had in terms of the quality of the customers – and the interest has been absolutely phenomenal,” said Julian Williams, Strategic Business Development Director, Steroplast Healthcare.
“I have to say that this year has been exceptional. The number of people coming past the stand, the right sort of people for us to talk to has just been remarkable. We’ve had a superb show. It is a real working environment and a superb forum for recognising that you are part of something much bigger,” said Jon Hall, Managing Director, Resilience Advisors Network.
Resilience Advisor Rut Erdelyi, who presented an excellent session on psychological support for call handlers in the International Collaboration Forum, thanked The Emergency Services Show on Twitter saying: “You have created a truly unique platform where the helpers, doers and solution-creators meet to make sure there is a safer future for all.”
The indoor and outdoor exhibition featured over 450 exhibiting companies including leading names in vehicles and fleet, communications, technology, medical equipment and supplies, firefighting equipment, search and rescue, extrication, water rescue, first response, protective clothing and uniforms, vehicle equipment, training, community safety and station facilities. Over 90 companies and organisations were exhibiting at the Show for the first time, ensuring there was plenty new to discover for regular visitors.
The Emergency Services Show returns to Hall 5 at the NEC, Birmingham on 18-19 September 2019. For more information please visit: www.emergencyuk.com
