International Visitors Increase for Emergency Services Show: The Emergency Services Show, the UK’s largest event for the emergency services, attracted a growing number of overseas visitors (5% up on 2018) this year, as over 8,300 travelled to the NEC last month to discover emerging technologies and learn the latest techniques and practices.
The indoor and outdoor exhibition featured over 450 organisations including over 100 new exhibitors. New technology on display included connected vehicles, satellite communications, ruggedised computers, tablets and phones, data, cloud storage, wearable tech, connectivity, UAVs or drones, hybrid and electric vehicles, body-worn cameras and other video capture systems. Other technological innovations included the latest in protective fabrics, medical equipment, fire fighting and rescue tools and equipment.
“There’s lots to be learnt not just from the equipment side but also from the presentations as well. It’s first-class, a fantastic mix,” added Russ Mount from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue. “There’s not an area of the emergency services that hasn’t been thought of. It’s quite jaw-dropping really. There’s a very positive feel about it as well. We’ve brought colleagues today and you can see their eyes lighting up. You can see them getting involved, interacting and learning.”
“I come not just as a member of a search and rescue team but with some professional interest as well,” said Emil Olutosin of Connect Group. “It’s really useful to see what’s upcoming and what the new developments are and also to meet with lots of other people and to network. You’ve got the practitioners here, the people who actually use the products. It’s been a really, really interesting show.”
“We are here to learn about new training procedures,” said Lt. Col Portela of Brasilia Fire Brigade, part of a delegation from Brazil visiting the event. “Making new contacts and exchanging experiences, knowledge and training with the UK.”
The show also attracted strong media interest with Virgin Radio’s Chris Evans interviewing event director David Brown on the morning of the first day and BBC Midlands Today reporting from the show in both its afternoon and evening news programmes.
“Our positive exhibitor feedback has been backed up by over 80% having rebooked for our 2020 event,” said David Brown of Broden Media, now part of the Nineteen Group. “This strong position will free us up to put even greater resources into developing The Emergency Services Show. Strengthening police participation in the event has long been important to us and I am delighted to announce that we will be introducing a Future Policing feature in 2020.”
The Emergency Services Show returns to Hall 5 at the NEC, Birmingham on 23-24 September 2020.
Many exhibitors testified that The Emergency Services Show also gives them a unique opportunity for customer feedback. “From our point of view, it has been good to gauge what people really want from new products,” said Stuart Goodman, Product Specialist at 3M Scott Safety. “We can then filter that information back and develop new products for the future.”
“The Emergency Services Show has been an incredible platform for us,” said Samantha D’Uva, Global Manager, Product Public Relations and Influencer Engagement at MSA Safety. “Everybody is here to learn about what every manufacturer has to offer and where technology is going so that we can help keep firefighters safer. It’s all about technology, and not just what’s available now but what will be available tomorrow. That theme has resonated really well and we are proud to have been a part of it.”
“We’ve been part of The Emergency Services Show for a very long time,” commented Nicola Savage, Managing Director of Excelerate Technology. “I have been able to talk and engage with people that have very, very simple problems that can be solved very cost-effectively and very easily. We’ve had really good quality of conversations and lots of interest in the products and solutions we have here. It is hugely important to be able to have a presence.”
“It’s probably the best show that I can recall coming to,” said Colin Hanna, Head of National Sales at St John Ambulance. “There’s a whole vibe and buzz about the show this year and there’s a lot of energy to it. The quality of the people who have come up and who are genuinely interested in what we are doing, and we can offer them a genuine benefit. It’s been a real roaring success.”
Raymond Rodgers, Owner of Rigloo added, “We’ve had really good conversations with people, mind-blowing to be honest. It’s been fantastic exposure; we couldn’t have asked for anything better.”