ESSA
Picture from this year’s G50+Conference at Silverstone
Nick Marshall Chairman GES EMEA Ltd
I find it truly amazing that already I am writing a review for my first year as ESSA Chairman. I see this as a reflection of our industry as a whole, time just seems to fly by and we move from one event to the next seamlessly and very often without a moments pause. The time to take stock and reflect is it seems becoming a luxury for us all, but I continue to stress that it is imperative
that we do, otherwise your achievements can go unnoticed and uncelebrated and dare I say, shortcomings can go unchecked.
the years deserved. Promotion to end users, marketers and organisers via exhibitions, the press, a mixture of direct and social media marketing and a brand new enhanced website, it How smooth a ride you get as a is really starting to bear fruit. Chairman is often dependent on your predecessor and the team The end of 2013 also saw two that shifts the cogs on a daily great wins in this area with the basis. I therefore owe a huge announcement by the G5 (5 of amount of gratitude to John the largest and most influential Robson for handing over an organisers in the event world) association in great shape and committing to carrying the ‘Use a secretariat who work tireless- an ESSA Member’ campaign in ly in trying to listen to, repre- all of their event collateral and sent, help shape, protect and the AEO (Association of Event lead our members and our Organisers) carrying visible great industry. I must also support of the campaign on thank the ESSA Board for their their home page. Both are huge support, a truly great set of steps forward and we hope individuals who will help ESSA 2014 will see much of the same. continue on the correct path for years to come. Secondly, ESSA had possibly its busiest year with regard to takNotably this year, ESSA has ing the lead and gaining a seat taken huge steps in three key at the table on many key topics areas. covering technical, H&S and standards. Representing and The ‘Use an ESSA Member’ protecting members and wider campaign has really started to industry interests is a daily task gain the momentum the hard for ESSA and the achievements work that had been put in over within this area often go unno-
ticed. However, in summary, in the areas of Construction Design Management, Temporary Demountable Structures, ISO20721, BS761, BS7909 and representation on bodies such as IOSH, The HSE, PLASA and the NRC, we have been there and will continue to take a lead. Lastly, and key to my initial sentiment within this review, the ESSA community. Taking stock, learning from each other and celebrating our achievements together. The ESSA community is a unique one and this year I have taken great pleasure in seeing it meet on several occasions in record numbers. Be it the AGM, the G50+Conference, or working groups. We really do achieve things as a collective and the cliché ‘stronger together’ has never been more relevant. Have a great festive period and New Year and see you all in 2014.
Nick.
Chris Skeith ESSA Director
2013 has certainly been a year to remember. We may not have had the buzz of the Olympics or the celebration of the Jubilee carrying the nations spirit on what seemed an endless high last year, but what we have seen on the back of 2012 is a year that brought renewed optimism albeit in conditions that continue test us all.
events; the AGM in April, the G50+Conference in November, both held at Silverstone. A great year for the Stand Builders Forum who now have a growing list of positive outcomes, as well as our representation on joint industry groups representing connectivity and electrics with more of these groups planned for 2014. A superbly supported summer golf event ‘In the Rough’, win after win with regard to our ‘Use an ESSA Member’ campaign a clear sign that ESSA as a bearer of standards grows in influence with representation on industry and government bodies, allowing us to protect and safeguard our members interests.
inspiring companies and individuals and it has been great meeting with a record number of you this year
broke for lunch and investigated the expert zone. Some also tried the challenging “Pit Stop Challenge”, where teams competed to change the tyres on a racing car in the shortest possible time, Following this, Luke Facey, Man- whilst others took a behind the aging Director of Alfa Displays and chair of ESSA's Stand Builder Forum (SBF), brought the conference up to date on the activities of the group and the progress made in representing the SBF with venues and organisers. One example of a change the SBF has enabled is the change in regs to allow battery powered LED lighting on exhibition stands.
The second ESSA focus came next and ESSA's Vice Chair, Andrew Kennedy, brought delegates up to date on the ESSA Strategy Sub Group's activities and the headlines from ESSA's first piece of qualitative research.
‘Reinvigorated’ has been much the buzz word amongst those I have met as we stand and take in what appears to be a different event landscape than the one that lay in front of us 5 years ago.
My Chairman and Board deserve thanks for their continued support and direction as well as the rest of the team at ESSA HQ who continue to deliver on a daily basis, most of which goes unseen, but they are there every day to see to your membership needs. We have already set our goals very high for 2014 and we are personally excited at the potential next year has on so many fronts. There will be no time or place to stand still.
As an association we have once again had a record breaking year with regard to member activity I’d like to thank you all for your Chris. and engagement. Huge increas- continued support, we’re a es in attendance at our signature unique association full of very Silverstone conference centre was the venue for this year's G50+Conference held on November 21st 2013, with 120 delegates representing 60 companies in attendance. The conference was the largest to date and heralded as the best by attendees. Delegates arriving at The Silverstone Wing were able to hear and participate in a schedule of tightly focused talks and activities from key industry experts, ESSA board members and key sponsors. After registration, ESSA's chair Nick Marshall welcomed all before the conference got underway with a presentation from Kirstie Loveridge, Vice President of HR from AEG Europe and The O2, shared the lengths to which they go, to understand their customers.
This was followed by a presentation from from Towergate Coverex on the importance of regular and comprehensive reviews of risk management.
The next address was from Hawtrey Dene, a cost reduction and procurement improvement consultancy who gave a fascinating scenes tour of the venue. and practical talk on getting the most out of your procurement Kim Myhre, Managing Partner of processes. Brand Experience Group kicked off the post lunch session. Kim With appetites roused, delegates presented a thought provoking view of the economic, technological and social trends in the industry. The international panel session followed, chaired by Andy Gibb, MD of GES UK. In this session, industry experts including Piers Kelly – Group Operations Director of Reed Exhibitions, Mariane Ewbank – IELA Board member and Sarah Cox of Mayridge discussed, from an international perspective, the challenges and solutions to working in a global event environment.
Roger Martin-Fagg is a wellknown business educator and economist turned strategist, and his incisive and illuminating keynote address drew on his extensive knowledge of behavioural economics, both entertaining and informative. The day was drawn to a close by Chris Skeith with those staying for the evening moving onto dinner and the Octonorm sponsored “ScaleESSAtric Challenge”. ESSA would like to thank its event sponsor Towergate Coverex and event partners, Toyota Material Handling UK, ASP, Aztec Event Services, FaceTime, Freeman, GES, Octanorm, Perton Signs & VividInk.
steady hand have been invaluable in where we are today.
In the Rough, the Event Industry Charity Golf Day sponsored this year by the NEC and held at the Forest of Arden Championship course near Birmingham, raised £5500 which will be shared between Great Ormond Street Hospital and Events for Namuwongo.
AGM 2013
Despite an early morning of torrential rain and thunderstorms, the clouds parted and a sunny and warm day was enjoyed by 76 golfers, representing contrac-
On Friday 26th April at Silverstone’s ‘Wing’, a record number of ESSA member companies and delegates gathered for this year’s AGM.
One key aspect of the AGM is the election and re-election of members to the ESSA Board. This year saw an election as we had 7 candidates stand for 5 vacancies, 4 by way of natural rotation and 1 by way of a board vacancy. The volume of people wanting to stand for a board position shows the membership has a great appetite for making a difference and we thank all those that stood for election and congratulations to those that were re-elected and to the new members of the board.
Photo from this years AGM
all future initiatives. This year was also Nick Marshall's first as Chair and he thanked his predecessor John Robson for passing over an association that is achieving more on behalf of its members than it ever has, communicating to wider audiences
Following the business of the AGM and in response to member’s wishes, there were 3 more presentations. Jim Curry, Project Director of FaceTime re-capped and in some cases introduced members to FaceTime, the pro-
The Vivid Ink team on their sponsored hole at In the Rough.
tors, venues and organisers. The day culminated with 100 guests sitting down for a charity dinner and prize giving.
ESSA Director Chris Skeith painted an association in very good health, excellent member retention rates, and showing a healthy balance sheet to support
and addressing more key industry issues as a collective. Nick also made it clear that although we all face our own challenges in unique and testing times, together, as an association of industry experts we are stronger and in a better position to meet these challenges under the banner of ESSA.
motional body for face-to-face marketing. Luke Facey of Alfa Display & Design and Chair of the Stand Builders Forum, gave an overview of the success story that is the SBF.
Finally, Martin Cairns of Reeds Carpets gave a quick overview of the work the ESSA strategic sub group have been doing, with David Freeman performed his the remit of steering a course for final duty as an ESSA Board ESSA in the next few years. Member and Treasurer (standing down) by taking us through Once all delegates had broken the accounts for the year. ESSA from the AGM, there was a netis extremely grateful for the sup- working lunch followed by a tour port David has given ESSA since of Silverstone. its inception 6 years ago and as a board member and long stand- All images and event reviews ing treasurer, his expertise and www.essa.uk.com/events Brand Events line up prior to teeing off.
Chairman Nick Marshall Nick is a qualified chartered accountant by profession and joined GES in 1985. More recently, Nick became Executive Chairman of GES EMEA, overseeing much of the development in more recent times with the coming together of Melville with GES. Melville and now GES have supported and represented BECA/AEC and latterly ESSA for many years, with Nick being part of the merger team and he has served on the ESSA Board since it was formed in 2008. Having served as ESSA Vice Chair for the previous two year’s he is very keen to continue the associations growth under his tenure as Chair. Vice Chairman Andrew Kennedy Andrew is a Director of Perton Signs Ltd and he has 28 years of graphics experience within the event industry. He was a council member of BECA for 4 years and was involved with the merger that created ESSA and continued to serve as a Director of ESSA for 2 years. During this time he saw many changes and opportunities and was very impressed with the way that ESSA had developed and grown in the 2 years he wasn’t directly involved. Andrew sees on a daily basis how ESSA makes a difference and he enjoys very much being a part of the team that continues to drive ESSA into the future. Pete Allen Pete is MD of 4D Design and has over 26 years of experience of working with leading clients on delivering the very best in design and customer experience. In driving 4D, Pete embraces the concept of continually evolving/improving, challenging the norm and seizing upon opportunities as being the key to the events industries future progress. Pete joined the ESSA Board in 2010 and he hopes to continue to bring elements of his own company ethos of surpassing expectations to ESSA’s future plans. Pete Bowen Peter Bowen is C.E.O. and founder of Access Displays. With over 22 years experience in the industry he is a prolific advocate of best practice and regularly contributes by submitting articles encouraging effective exhibiting
ESSA Board
to and via many media outlets both print and digital. Peter currently sits on the panel of experts for ESSA and the ESSA Stand Builders Forum and having been in sales and marketing for 30 years he is a Fellow of the Institute of Sales and Marketing Management. Martin Cairns Martin has worked in the events and exhibition industry for over 20 years at the floor covering company Reeds Carpets, holding the position of commercial director since 1999. Reeds Carpets have represented member interests on the BECA Council and then the ESSA Board for over 15 years. Martin has personally been on the Board for 4 years and has drawn great pleasure out of contributing to the strategic direction of ESSA as a fledgling association and helping it navigate a course through climatic economic conditions since its creation. Martins role at Reeds Carpets is very hands on and he is often on site, enabling him great insight into industry issues from both a supplier and contractor perspective. Martin Cottrell Martin is MD of family run business, A1 Event & Exhibition Cleaners. He has 25 years experience in the exhibition and events world and has an in-depth understanding of how to operate in a modern and continually evolving industry having worked at numerous exhibitions and outdoor events over the years. Martin joined the BECA Council in 2004, was a member of the AEC/BECA merger team and an ESSA Board member since its inception in 2008. Martin is also a member of the AEV/AEO/ESSA Sustainability Working Group and is keen to remain on the ESSA Board for the foreseeable future to ensure that the voice of the smaller run/family business continues to be represented on the ESSA Board.
Sarah Cox Sarah joined Mayridge in 2004 and currently holds the position of client services director with overall responsibility for client deliverables, from stand build to show management and digital/interactive technologies with a key focus on helping clients achieve marketing objectives through live events.
Sarah previously held positions at Hemmington Scott, IBC Conferences (now Informa) and Touchstone Exhibitions.
dustry we work in and it is this insight he brings to the ESSA Board when understanding the needs of the ESSA membership.
Sara is also a member of ESSA’s Sustainability Working Group and very active in industry promotion of best practice particularly in the area of H&S.
Simon is a huge advocate of the ‘Use an ESSA member’ campaign and can often be found preaching to the industry regarding the benefits of using ESSA members to power live experiences. Simon is also vastly experienced in the field of exhibition installations on the continent and is happy to speak to anybody seeking advice in this area.
Chris Criscione Chris has worked in the Exhibition Industry for 40 years, first as a Designer with three large design agencies and then in 1983 he decided to start Equinox Design with business partner Jim Reilly. Chris is MD of Equinox which is a privately owned company but he still keeps his finger on the pulse by keeping some key clients and looking after their day to day needs. Chris was previously on the BECA Council and became President for 2 years. The exhibition industry is set very deep within his heart, and he hopes it continues to do so for many more years. Peter Moule Peter is a fully qualified electrical technician and MD of independent family owned company Bill Moule & Sons, specialising solely on the electrical installations of exhibitions and museums. Peter became a BECA Council member back in 2002 and after playing a part in the creation of ESSA in 2008, continued as an ESSA Board member. With over 30 years experience personally, Peter’s position within the industry provides him with a clear understanding of the needs of contractors and exhibitors and the relationship they have with venues and organisers. All of this insight he brings to benefit of the ESSA Board. Peter is also the inventor of the “The Chocbox” and “The Connecta System” both used prevalently in the exhibition industry. Simon Ridout Simon is MD of Dimension 8 and has sat on the ESSA Board for the past 3 years. Combining daily responsibilities on the exhibition/workshop floor and in the boardroom enables Simon a 360 degree view of the in-
John Robson Having landed in the exhibition industry by accident 15 years ago, John found himself running an IT supplier to the industry that in time, he is proud to say, has become one of the industry’s leading AV suppliers. In 2004 Aztec became a founding member of the AEC, which subsequently merged with BECA to form ESSA and John has been on the Board since this inception becoming Chairman in 2011. John is also on the Board of the Event Industry Alliance (EIA) and has been since 2009, chairing it in 2012. John’s view of association life is that together we can make the industry a better, safer environment for all suppliers by setting and developing best practice whilst also maintaining parity of voice with organisers and venues.
David Wootton David is MD of CME Ltd and has been involved in the Exhibition industry for over 40 years. David was a member of BECA and a founder Board member of the AEC, where he served on the Board and was a member of the merger committee which oversaw the bringing together of BECA and AEC to form ESSA. David served as a Board member of ESSA from its inception until standing down in 2009, rejoining in 2011. David is an active member of the recently formed ESSA Stand Builder Forum.
Information regarding elected members of the board, how to get in touch with them or information with regard to becoming a Board member can be obtained by contacting christine@essa.uk.com.
ESSA in the headlines This year we have achieved amazing media coverage with a single focus, you the ESSA member being the most passionate about your industry and time after time reaching the highest levels of excellence in everything you deliver. At the time of print, ESSA had generated 30 major pieces of news within industry publications, a further 46 items of news also appeared in-between the headlines and digitally. ESSA contributes to the column inches a whopping 76 times.
many as you like directly from an amazing resource and not to External Representation be overlooked. us at no cost. ESSA holds a strong position within the Business Visits The use of association identity and Events Partnership stickers is often undervalued, with Chris Skeith, ESSA Dibut used in volume they will Recent news rector, having been elected really help in identifying a standard in the industry and to help Following feedback from to the position of Vice Chair you guys identify the rest of the many of the ESSA and Cross this year. ESSA community when out and Association working groups, AEO has decided to use the The BVEP is a very active group about. ESSA Technical resource, seeking progress via collaboraaka our own Lee Holloway, tion by key sectors of the events to develop technical up- industry and actively seeks to 4 things for 2014 dates for its members from lobby government and industry bodies. Every member can help January. themselves in 2014 by doing the following to get your This is a great win for the many Further to this, ESSA and its membership up and running ESSA members wanting to culti- members have been representvate closer relationships with ed in the fields of BSI Small and helping your business. Members at this year’s G50
Vehicle ID In our continued push for ESSA awareness within the event world and enabling you to further differentiate yourselves from non-members we are continuing our initiative to provide you with the simple things that collectively can make a big impact.
1 - Get your renewal documents back to ESSA asap. This includes your certificate of public liability. One of the single biggest delays in getting your renewal processed is missing supporting documentation.
organisers and will help to facilitate clearer communications between event supplier, venue and organiser communities and nurture increasingly constructive collaboration and a unified voice across major event industry challenges.
2 - Organise a visit from Andrew Harrison to go through in a 1-21 fashion how you can best use your membership and to get ESSA Discount Card brought up to date on all things ESSA has committed to the Upon renewal in 2014, we will ESSA. provision of FREE discount once again send out samples of vehicle membership stickers 3 - Commit to attending one of cards for all members and that can already be seen on ESSA’s member events next their employees for 2014. member vehicles up and down year the AGM, Golf Day or the the country. Once you have G50+Conference. Reviews of The scheme helps members to decided which sticker is right for this year’s can be seen at lower their subsistence costs whilst actually improving the your vehicles, you can order as www.essa.uk.com/events. range of food available to their 4 - Technical Services - Lee on-site teams. The greater the Holloway has a wealth of knowl- take-up the greater our opporedge and guidance to help you tunity to extend the reach of the and your business on everything scheme. from industry technical issues, health and safety matters, HR, For more information please British Standards, ISO’s and contact christine@essa.uk.com. much more. ESSA Technical is
Business Forums, the IOSH Sports Grounds and Events Group, the HSE Working Group on TDS/CDM, the Cross Party Parliamentary Group on Accessibility at Events, the Safety Advisory Group in Entertainment and the Events Industry Forum. Finally on both cross association working groups concerned with electrics and sustainability.
Dates for your 2014 diary Being the organised bunch that we are and so we have the best chance of squeezing our events into your busy diaries, please note down the following: AGM - 4th April, The O2. In the Rough Golf Day - 17th July at The Forest of Arden. ESSA G50+Conference 20th November, venue tbc.
Some felt that smaller members were somewhat side-lined by the larger companies and that the fee structure could be fairer to reflect the size of the company.
The future Around half of respondents were happy with ESSA’s current role and felt we were ‘doing a good job.’ However a 1/3 of respondents questioned ESSA’s role, suggesting more is done to effectively communicate representation of all sides of ESSA’s diverse membership.
The ESSA Strategy Sub Group was established just over 12 months ago. The group was formed during an ESSA Board strategy day with the remit to develop the strategic objectives identified by the Board. Members of the group are Nick Marshall, Andrew Kennedy, Martin Cairns, and Chris Skeith alongside David Freeman as our strategic advisor.
Respondents also wanted information that helped explain the relationship between ESSA, AEO, maintaining standards to provide AEV and that ESSA should take credibility and then promoting the the lead on uniformed industry use of accredited ESSA members responses to industry issues. (2) representing the interests of contractors (3) providing support in the form of info/advice/help Next steps We are currently analysing results The main benefits that members to enable new plans to be written feel they get from ESSA were for internal and external commuprioritised as the following (1) nications, plus development of accreditation and credibility which the ‘Use an ESSA Member’ camcan confer competitive advantage paign. In addition we will have a & help win business (2) customer new sales resource in place for
After last year's success at bringing "The Power of Live" to Marketing Week Live, ESSA's partnership with FaceTime returned for 2013, with very much the same message to marketers, ‘Do more live face-to-face marketing and use an ESSA member’. With eleven ESSA members joining forces to collaborate on the stand, visitors were not left disappointed or in anyway in two minds as to what they could achieve with their products and brands by doing more live marketing. The Power of Live is the incarnation of FaceTime, complementing its efforts in traditional and new media, and underpins the "Use an ESSA Member" campaign by demonstrating the breadth of experience and expertise of ESSA members working together in a
Courtesy of Aboveline
In year one the group reviewed all previous membership satisfaction research projects, agreed and appointed an independent researcher to conduct qualitative research primarily across the membership – but also to prospects and lapsed members too.
reassurance provided by the bond (3) information/knowledge including legal/regulatory, venue info & industry/market information (4) networking (5) other services e.g. discounts
2014 who will be looking at the different supplier types and creating bespoke membership propositions as well as prospecting existing ones.
When asked what would add more value for members in this section? Most responses were Research highlights geared towards help with generating new business and improved ESSA’s role & benefits communications of stringent Members see the key elements of criteria/auditing to raise accrediESSA’s role as (1) setting and tation and credibility with clients.
On-going Agenda Review the findings to ensure current member needs are being addressed, that future needs will continue to be addressed, to identify growth & development areas and continued development of our strategic goals.
single enterprise. The Power of Live was built by CME Ltd, MEMS International and Aboveline, with audio visual by Smart AV, Freeman and Aztec Event Services. Furniture and carpet was provided by Europa whilst Moore People took care of staffing the stand. Perton Signs produced the graphics with GES and finally Showdata provided data capture services for the stand.
tributing to change in the right way.
Congratulations to the class of 2013 123 Hire Ltd 2 Heads Global Design Ltd 24/7 Exhibition Services 4D Design & Display Ltd A1 Event & Exhibition Cleaners Ltd AA Signs AMC Exhibitions ATD Electrical Ltd Abbey Design Display And Exhibitions LtdAboveline Ltd Access Displays Ltd Advent Exhihitions Agility Logistics Ltd Aim Exhibitions Ltd Aiver Contracts Ltd Alchemy Expo Limited Alfa Display And Design Ltd Apex.co.uk Arc International Event Insurance Specialists Arena Group Aspect Exhibitions Aspect Visual Services Ltd Aston Display Limited Astro Exhibitions Aztec Event Services Ltd B Brown Display Materials BJA Design And Exhibitions Ltd Bang on Ltd Beck Interiors Limited Bill Moule & Sons Ltd Bray Leino Events CEVA Showfreight Central Display Productions Ltd Central Event Services Ltd Certain Exhibitions City Creative Ltd Clearview Imaging Services Ltd Clements & Street Ltd Clements And Street Design Build Limited Clip International Ltd Communication By Design Concept Furniture International Ltd Corps Security Courts Design Ltd Creative Marketing Environments Ltd D Donovan And Sons (Carpet Services) Ltd DB Systems Ltd DD Exhibitions DHL Trade Fairs & Events (UK) Limited DMN Ltd T/a DMN designbuild DSA Limited DT Structures Ltd Dalesgate Exhibitions Ltd Damn Good Limited DataLead - Registration Division of Index Decrofloor Ltd Design Craft Exhibitions Ltd Diamond Exhibitions Ltd Dijon Exhibition Design Co Ltd Dimension 8 Ltd Display Graphics Duncan Sword Construction ELS Displays Ltd EPM Ltd (Event And Project Management Ltd) ESM Ltd EVENTSHARE EXSA (Exhibition Association of Southern Africa) East Coast Exhibitions Ltd Edge Exhibition Design Limited Elevations Exhibition Design And Management Enigma Creative Solutions Ltd Envisage Equinox Design Ltd Etherlive Limited Europa International Exhibition Services Ltd Event Exhibition And Design Limited Event Exhibition Services Ltd Evention Design & Build Ltd Evolve Creative Solutions Exhibit 3 Sixty Ltd EDPA Exhibition Services Ltd Exib Ltd Exmedia Ltd Expo Floors Ltd Extreme Exhibitions Ltd Fallowfield Partnership Ltd t/a FPL Finesse Group Ltd Floorex Carpets Ltd Focal Exhibitions Formula Exhibitions Ltd Freeman Freightlink Solutions Ltd Full Circle Events & Exhibitions Ltd GL Events Owen Brown Genesis 3D Design Ltd Global Displays Ltd
Global Experience Specialists (GES) Hart Wilcox Production Company Heckford Advertising Ltd Hirex Ltd Hytex Communication Services Ltd Hytner Exhibitions Icon Exhibitions And Display Ltd Iguana Exhibitions Limited Indalo International Ltd Index Group Interchange Communications Ltd Interlink Design And Display Ltd International Lifting & Shipping JMT Indisplay Ltd JNM Exhibition Services Ltd Joe Manby Ltd Jungheinrich UK Limited KR Exhibition Services Kingston Smith Korten Ltd Kristal Design Ltd Lawford Exhibits Ltd Lea Valley Colour Limelight MH Exhibitions & Display Systems Ltd MS Connexions Ltd Maelstrom Event Solutions Limited Maison Ltd Markey Coffee Communication Mems International Moore People N200 NJM (UK) Ltd NUSSLI (UK) Ltd Nest Studios New Dimension Exhibitions Ltd Nimlok Ltd Norland Managed Services Ottimo Digital Ltd Pakflatt (UK) Ltd Park Display Ltd Penny Banks Ltd Perton Signs Ltd PICO EUROPE Precision Exhibitions & Shopfitting Ltd Promotions Exhibitions Ltd Qdos Event Hire Ltd Qdos Exhibitions Ltd Quality Registration Services Ltd Quattro Display Ltd R S Displays & Exhibitions Ltd RJA (UK) Ltd RLH Ross, Levenson, Harris Ltd RTD Systems Red 4 Exhibitions Reeds Carpeting Contractors Ltd RefTech Services Ltd Resolutions Ltd Rocket Exhibition And Events Rocket Graphics Ltd Russell & Twining Blooms Ltd SDD Exhibitions Saturn Exhibitions Schenker Fairs & Exhibitions Service Electrical Wholesale Ltd Service Graphics Ltd Sharman Shaw Exhibitions Ltd Show Data Systems Ltd Showlite Ltd Sirius Conference And Events Sistemas De Exposicion Skyline Whitespace Exhibitions Ltd Smart AV UK Ltd Sodem UK Solutions2(UK) Ltd Spaceworks Furniture Hire Ltd Splash Design Ltd Standit Displays Ltd Symbiosis UK Ltd T2 Display Ltd Target Promotions Ltd T/A DiscountDisplays The Barista The Event & Exhibition Partnership Ltd The Intershell Group The Mayridge Group The Oasis Graphic Co The Private Health Partnership Ltd Thorns Group Towergate Coverex Toyota Material Handling UK Ungerboeck Systems International GmbH United Aluminium Ltd T/a Unibox VeriFone VividInk Ltd West End Studios Ltd White Rose Exhibitions Ltd Whitwam Ltd Worldwide Exhibition Specialists Ltd X-Venture Global Risk Solutions Ltd Zero 1 Exhibitions Zing Insights Ltd
The group is already seeing wins and greater insight within the areas of battery powered LED lighting, traffic management and wider logistics, electrics, floor plan information and ESSA Checked.
The SBF has been up and running for just over 12 months now and testament to its success is the interest from other sub-sections within ESSA membership (registration, AV etc) wanting to set up their own forums to discuss and tackle industry issues that affect them.
Ongoing Agenda To refine ESSA Checked in light of CDM 2014, to find ways to reduce service costs to exhibitors, to find ways of justifying service costs where they can’t be lowered and to collectively voice concerns over short build and break times A huge thank you from ESSA to those who have attended and the groups Chair Luke Facey.
SBF Chair Luke Facey presenting at the recent G50+Conference
Background If you would like details of how For the unacquainted, the SBF to join the SBF, please contact was formed to discuss and pur- Christine@essa.uk.com. sue solutions to stand build challenges, to cultivate better cooperation with event organisThe ESSA Team ers and to find more ways in which ESSA members can differentiate themselves from the competition based on standards. In the first 12 months the group has met 4 times with 23 companies representing themselves and 3 guest speakers from the world of main contractors, logistics and venues having presented and taken questions from the group. For those that have attended it really has become a platform for discussion that wasn’t previously there. A way of formalising views with a collective approach and gathering broader industry insight from guest attendees and the group are definitely con-
Chris Skeith Director 01442 285 804 chris@essa.uk.com
Andrew Harrison Deputy Director 01442 285 808 andrew@essa.uk.com
Lee Holloway Technical Advisor 01442 285 805 lee@essa.uk.com
Christine Hasler Membership Executive 01442 285 807 christine@essa.uk.com Follow us!
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Simon Perry Sales Manager 01442 285 207 simon@essa.uk.com
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New Website
your ability to find this content done face-to-face, over email, in and for prospective customers telephone conversations, or via 2013 saw ESSA develop and of yours to find you. independent member research, launch a new website with you have helped us create new two key objectives in mind, The new site has a far cleaner, priorities for a key area of our make it easier for you the fresher design with enhanced digital presence. member to find what you navigation, taking you to what Overall, you told us that ESSA need and for organisers, ex- you need in a far more direct exists to set and maintain indushibitors, marketers and end and intuitive fashion. It was also try standards whilst providing users to find you. created with enhanced SEO fea- members with credibility. That tures, which over time will be- we exist to promote our memThe old website, although it had come a feature of our 'Use an bers and to help them grow served us heroically for 5 years ESSA Member' campaign. their businesses via our 'Use an and was in itself a huge step ESSA Member' campaign. We're forward in our online presence Key to this project is that every here to represent you on all key back in 2008, it had started to area of the new site has been industry issues and to provide become 'an unwieldy beast' in reached with consultation from support via information and adterms of content management, members. Whether this was vice. We hope that our new
We have grown!
membership. Simon Perry previously worked for the AEO and ESSA now has a dedicated is really looking forward to helpsales resource. ing ESSA in what are exciting times. For the first time in our 7 year existence and due to the increasing demand to respond to Introduction Scheme new member enquiries, we have invested in a Sales Manag- Introduce your clients, parter to work with our marketing ners and associates to ESSA team to proactively grow ESSA and you will receive John Lewis Vouchers to the value of ÂŁ100 when they become members. If you actively assist in putting a prospective member in touch with our Sales Manager, Simon Perry, and you are the first person to have done so, then you will receive this thank you from us as soon as their application is received, with payment, and is
successfully processed.
website puts a digital tick in all of these boxes. So what can you do? The website is a shop window and your member listing needs to be up to date and interesting. Our web stats prove that those who do, return more visits from prospective clients than those that don't. Lastly, we would very much appreciate it if within your own company websites, you link back to the ESSA website. This is a great way to underline your ESSA credentials to clients.
information to be submitted with regard to the prospective new There is a set process for taking member. Please contact part in this scheme and it re- simon@essa.uk.com for more quires the provision of certain information .