Education at the forefront of The Facilities Show

The Facilities Show, the UK’s leading FM event was a hive of activity when it took place 11-13 May at the NEC Birmingham. In its 11th year, The Facilities Show offered more educational content, industry renowned exhibitors and innovative features than ever before. Winner of the 2009 AEO Award for Best Trade Exhibition, The Facilities Show 2010 built on the success of 2009 when more than 19,000 professionals descended on the NEC Birmingham.
    
Produced in association with the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM), the 2010 event built upon the previous years’ successes and was attended by industry professionals looking to explore the latest offerings from leading FM manufacturers, distributors and suppliers at the extensive exhibition. A wide range of industry renowned companies launched and demonstrated their latest products at services including Anabas, B&Q, Buderus, Bosch, CLM, MG Lites, Nickleby, Screwfix and Shred-it.
    
Education has long played a vital role at The Facilities Show and the 2010 event offered the most comprehensive, free-of-charge programme to date. Visitors had the opportunity to attend more than 30 hours of complimentary seminars to learn about the latest issues facing the industry and receive best practice advice from facilities management leaders.
    
Two seminar theatres
There were two dedicated seminar theatres on the exhibition floor; The Facilities Show Seminar Theatre, sponsored by Moneypenny, addressed topics including managing maintenance, best practice techniques in secure management destruction, benefits of a web based permit to work systems and career pathways and qualifications in facilities management to name but a few. The Sustainable FM Academy, sponsored by FMX, featured seminars delivered by key industry figures covering a range of topics to help reduce carbon footprint and help organisations work towards a more sustainable future.
    
Adrian Newton, portfolio director of Safety and Building Management at UBM Live, organisers of The Facilities Show, said: “The reason the Association of Event Organisers (AEO) recognised The Facilities Show as the best trade exhibition in 2009 is because of our commitment to driving this exciting industry forward. We offered our most comprehensive programme to date for 2010 and we were in no doubt that visitors would get all the information they need to drive their businesses forward.”
    
Education once again took centre stage at The Facilities Show with two dedicated seminar theatres on the exhibition floor. The Facilities Show Seminar Theatre, sponsored by Moneypenny, housed an extensive programme that focussed on the latest industry developments. In addition to a keynote presentation by Ian Fielder, chair of BIFM, there was a raft of topical presentations, including:

• ‘The cowboys are facing their alamo’: The British Parking Association/UK Parking Control Ltd, Richard Hilton, BDM and Rupert Williams, MD
• Managing maintenance: The opportunities and pitfalls with outsourcing building maintenance and compliance services: CLM, Paul Caddick, MD
• Double your money: FM and Construction Act 2009: Nickleby, Nick Smale, director
• Saving money and lives; the benefits of a web based permit to work systems: Banyards, Simon Oliff, MD.

The Sustainable FM Academy, sponsored by FMX, allowed visitors to hear from industry leaders who shared best practices in order to make workplaces greener and more sustainable.

Seminar topics included:

• Voltage Optimisation – Can you afford not to?: powerPerfector, Angus Robertson, CEO
• Low Energy Air Filters (CIBSE CPD Acredited Seminar): Camfil Farr, Peter Dyment, energy consultant 
• Energy efficient buildings – Web based real time energy monitoring, The first step to energy efficient buildings: Building Sustainability Ltd, George Bartley, managing director
• Green roofing and refurbishment – The sustainable solutions: Bauder, Paul Munley, regional manager.

Energy management
At a time when facilities managers are taking greater responsibility for the energy management of their buildings, The Facilities Show 2010 launched the Energy Management Zone, sponsored by powerPerfector. Following research, it was apparent that 30 per cent of visitors had responsibility for energy management or supply. Therefore to address this growing requirement, the new zone housed some of the leading providers of energy products and services to give visitors the opportunity to address all their energy management needs in one dedicated pavilion. Camfil Farr, Energy Intelligence Group and IM Serve are just some of the names that exhibited within the first ever Energy Management Zone.
    
Today, organisations are seeking more efficient, productive and sustainable FM solutions so The Facilities Show highlighted such products to its visitors with a dedicated trail. New for 2010, the Prop IT Trail highlighted market leading companies offering cutting edge products in computer aided facilities management (CAFM), document management, resource booking software, security and fire services, mobile communication and systems integration. FSI, Serco – FM Easy and Qube Global Software are just a few of the companies that participated in the Prop IT Trail.
    
The Green FM Trail returned once again for 2010 to highlight exhibitors offering advice, product and services in response to the ever growing green challenge. This year’s trail featured:

• Alupro
• Anabas
• Balcas Brites
• Bauder
• Biodrier
• Camfil Farr
• Cleardrains
• CLM Ltd
• Cory Environmental Recycling Services
• Energy Intelligence Group
• Environmental Waste Management
• Hoval Ltd
• IMServ
• Integrated FM Ltd
• LSI Independent Utility Brokers
• Magnatech Energy Ltd
• Mechline Developments
• Mil-tek GB Ltd
• Ministry of Ecosystems
• Overton Recycling
• Plexus Altitude
• PowerPerfector
• Pulse Commercial Utilities
• Signature Aromas Ltd
• Vokes Air
• Wincanton

Visitors to The Facilities Show also had the opportunity to relax and unwind at The Facilities Show Bar, sponsored by PPL.

Exhibitor highlights
To mark their first appearance at the Facilities Management Show, CP Plus launched their bespoke ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) service into the FM market.
    
In addition to their current FM service offering – a flexible one-stop solution to help clients increase efficiency, cut costs and reduce the number of suppliers – CP Plus can now provide their FM clients with the ability to improve security, customer familiarisation and congestion processes, using proven ANPR technology. ANPR can also offer facilities managers greater staffing flexibility and data capture capabilities, as well as providing effective solutions to restrict unauthorised use of public and private parking areas.
    
Developed in-house and designed with features including permit management, enforcement processes, patrol logging and vehicle tracking systems, CP Plus’ ANPR services ensure that clients and their customers benefit from a superior parking experience. State-of-the-art technologies such as mobile phone and Internet-based payment systems are also available.
    
Grahame Rose, development director at CP Plus, commented: “We use technology where there is a proven need and where it adds real value to the service we offer our clients – not because it’s the latest thing. We never underestimate the simple approach. Where the situation demands it, we employ uncomplicated, traditional systems – in fact we utilise whatever is needed to ensure that our client receives the very highest FM service.”
    
Swallow Evacuation and Mobility Products Limited launched the first Mobile Goods/Cargo handling product that can also evacuate a wheelchair user in their own wheelchair.
    
Working in conjunction with the Arcadia Group, the Goods Mate can carry goods up to 100kg, up and down stairs, at the touch of a single button with no operative balancing requirement. The unit can also take a wheelchair user in their own non motorised wheelchair, thus enabling the Arcadia Group the ability to have one product that fulfils different purposes.
    
Firstly, staff can take goods in tote boxes, up and down stairs, in a safe manner without any lifting or manual handling on the stairs. Secondly, should the need arise that a wheelchair user needs to be evacuated from above or below ground, the unit can allow safe egress from the building without the need to transfer the occupant out of their own chair, this also eliminates the need for manual handling of the occupant as well.
    
Thirdly, with the nature of lifts, they will break down on a regular basis, therefore this product allows the company not to be reliant on a lift engineer again. Finally, this product helps with compliance of the Fire Reform Order, Disability Discrimination Act & Health and Executive Manual Handling Guidelines.

For more information
The Facilities Show returns to the NEC Birmingham from 17-19 May 2011. Visit www.thefacilitiesshow.com for further information and follow us on twitter @facilities_show for the latest updates.

Companies interested in exhibiting at The Facilities Show 2011 should contact Fergus Bird, 020 7921 8660 or e-mail fergus.bird@ubm.com