Vision 2016 – An interview with Matt Underhill, Event Director

In this, the second in a series of exclusive interviews, UK Construction Online speaks to Matt Underhill – Event Director for Vision 2016 – about the two day showcase and the feedback from last year’s inaugural event.

What feedback did Vision 2015 receive from visitors and exhibitors? How has this feedback informed the 2016 event?

Vision launched in 2015, in response to a demand in the industry for an event specifically targeted at architects, specifiers and their clients. Feedback from both visitors and exhibitors on the 2015 event was excellent. We had a lot of positive comments from visiting architects and specifiers who said how great it was to attend an exhibition where all the products were specifically targeted at them rather than more generally across the construction industry. They also commented on the strength of the education programme that ran across the two days of the event. This was hugely popular with several sessions oversubscribed. Feedback from exhibitors was also very positive, the majority felt that the show really delivered on, and often exceeded, their expectations and a large number re-booked their stands for 2016 at last year’s event.

One of the main pieces of constructive feedback that we received from visitors was that they wished the show was open later into the evening, so that they could attend in the late afternoon or after work. So this year we have taken that feedback on board and will be offering extended opening hours on day one. On the 7th June Vision will be open from 10am until 9pm, with an evening drinks reception running alongside the exhibition from 5.30pm. This is an excellent chance for busy architects and specifiers to come along with their clients and enjoy a glass of wine whilst looking around the exhibition of products and suppliers. There’ll be special events running during the evening too, including the Pecha Kucha presentations run by New London Architecture.

We’ve also developed our 2016 daytime seminar programme in response to the positive feedback we received from visitors, with additional seminar streams added, building on the comprehensive content we had last year.

How many exhibitors are expected this year? What kind of organisations will be exhibiting?

We’re expecting around 150 exhibitors at Vision 2016, a 50% increase on last year’s number. You can expect to see a wide range of companies who are all promoting their products and services to architects, specifiers and their clients. On the water management and infrastructure side Graf UK and ACO will be returning, and we have a wide range of roofing and cladding and insulation products on display from companies such as VMZINC, Renson, Aperam and KME who are all returning after a successful event last year. The likes of Tobermore and Marshalls will be showing paving products and we have a lot of timber solutions on display from Wiehag, Cygnum Timber Frame and Munster Joinery. We also have a number of innovative windows solutions from companies such as Mumford & Wood. New exhibitors for 2016 include AkzoNobel, Soprema UK and Jacksons Fencing. Our exhibitors range from large international companies to SMEs, showcasing the full spectrum of products, solutions and new innovations available in today’s market.

Approximately how many visitors attended last year? Broadly speaking, what professions did attendees account for?

The launch event last year attracted just over 3,000 visitors and this year we are well on course to grow that to over 5,000. The professions that our visitors came from broadly speaking were architects, developers, local authorities, contractors, housebuilders, engineers and their clients from retail, heath and education.

Do you feel that Vision London succeeded in bringing professionals from across the built environment together?

Vision was launched with the aim of bringing architects, specifiers, their clients and suppliers together at one event and it certainly achieved that aim. It is the only show in the UK specifically targeted at this market. An opportunity for our audience to come together over two days to discover the latest innovations and solutions, to expand their knowledge and discuss ideas. As well as the exhibition and comprehensive seminar programme, Vision 2015 also included several organised networking opportunities, which we will be increasing further in 2016. For example, this year we’ve got Enterprise Europe hosting a matchmaking event for us, with the aim of creating partnerships at the show between suppliers and distributors. We’re constantly looking for ways to improve and develop, to create an event that reflects and grows with the needs of the industry.

Vision 2016 takes place at London Olympia on 7th and 8th June 2016.  To claim your free visitor pass visit http://ift.tt/25fjzWI

To enquire about exhibiting, contact Adam Redmayne on 07985 587 634 or adam.redmayne@visionlondon.com

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