The Electric Event is an industry ‘must see’
Can an industry show ever genuinely be billed as being too important to miss? Rarely, in the general way of things, but in the case of The Electric Event (20th-22nd June at the ICC, Birmingham), the answer would appear to be a resounding ‘yes!’.
Its organiser – the ECA – has gone to great lengths to design the show so that it focuses firmly on business in the round. Doing business, making contacts, finding new opportunities, learning new skills, keeping up with new legislation – the focus of The Electric Event is all about helping delegates to maintain profitability in a business climate that remains extremely challenging.And that’s particularly the case on the show’s second day, Friday 21st June, which is dedicated to two major events, the ‘Technology Live Workshops’ and the ‘Meet-the-Suppliers Exhibition’. The latter will allow delegates to talk face-to-face with representatives of the major movers in the market as they test the latest technology; the former will concentrate on the ‘nuts and bolts’ of electrical techniques and the acquisition of new skills.
The Workshops are spread across seven different topics: lighting; home automation, digital communication & AV; fire, security and emergency systems; electrical power distribution & control; energy solutions; ECA business services, standards and legislative updates; home automation, power distribution and control. In all, there are 35 sessions (five for each topic) and they run throughout the day so delegates have real flexibility about which session or sessions to attend.
The emphasis of all the Workshops is firmly on the practical: for example, one of the Lighting sessions concentrates on how to combine LED lighting and controls in order to save energy, while a Fire and Security session offers a complete guide to the installation of fire and emergency lighting systems. Similarly, an Energy Solutions Workshop focuses on how to reduce energy costs in both domestic and commercial installations, while a series of ECA Workshops look at a range of topical subjects from professional indemnity insurance through to the latest legislation and regulations.
The Workshops also look to the future, taking in new areas of business that are currently opening up. For instance, one Home Automation Workshop demonstrates the very considerable opportunities that exist through the national roll out of new infrastructure for electric vehicles and another explains the concept of the Intelligent Home and how increasing automation could create a profitable new market for tech savvy electrical contractors.
Running in tandem with the Workshops, the Meet-the-Suppliers Exhibition promises to be a lively interactive affair offering new product launches, new technological solutions and a useful opportunity for suppliers and customers to meet and discuss their shared future.
It’s also perhaps worth drawing attention to the fact that there are still some places available at the Electrical Industry Conference on Thursday 20th June. So, if the packed programme on Friday isn’t exciting enough, a seat at the Conference is sure to be a worthwhile investment. Subjects under the spotlight include new government regulations, future industry developments and how electrical contractors can profit from the new markets being created by developments in communications and electrical technology.
All in all, The Electric Event really does sound as if it has succeeded in its aim of setting a new benchmark for industry shows, so whether you’re in building services or electrical contracting, you’ll find that a visit will be good fun and good for business.
