The team behind the UK’s leading event for the Independent Living and Disability sector tells Able Magazine about some of the exciting new changes coming to the Spring event…
We’re all familiar with the old adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” but, following another successful show last year (April 2015), with more than 100 speakers and over 9,000 attendees, there was a definite ‘buzz’ amongst the Naidex team about bringing in some new ideas, new partnerships and a new approach for 2016 – particularly focusing on guests and delegates from the trade as well as healthcare professionals.
With an esteemed heritage over 40 years (2016 will mark the 42nd year of the annual event), it would be easy to sit back and let the show ‘run itself’! But, with a unanimous belief that Naidex visitors deserve better than that, the event’s organisers began plans to introduce a number of new features almost as soon as the last stand was dismantled at the NEC Birmingham! As ideas and proposals were brainstormed and considered, one thing remained central to the discussions: How can we make Naidex bigger, better, bringing the very best in innovation to the trade, healthcare professionals and care providers, whilst keeping patients, families and all consumers at the very core of our show and overall ethos?
From these early consultations, the concept of introducing a “Trade and Healthcare Professionals Only Day” was born, providing visitors and exhibitors with the exclusive opportunity to schedule meetings and explore the latest technologies and developments in the market.
Speaking about this new feature of the three-day event, Portfolio Director, Alison Willis commented: “We are delighted to be introducing this significant change to a show which has as much history as Naidex. After 42 years we feel that we need to ensure we are offering the best possible networking opportunities for all our audience groups and exhibitors. This development provides a much improved platform for trade and healthcare professionals to fulfil their needs.
“The aim during this day will be to connect the professional world to help facilitate specific dialogues that are very different to consumer interactions during the rest of the event. We will offer a specialised conference programme and relevant professional activities, which will only take place during this first day.”
Naidex returns to the NEC, Birmingham from 26 to 28 April 2016, in halls 6 and 7. For more information about the 2016 Show, exhibitor opportunities or to see highlights from the 2015 Show, please visit: www.naidex.co.uk. Visitors can now also register for their free admission tickets online – as well as keeping up with all the conference news as details of guest speakers, exhibitors and workshops are announced.
