Why Education Matters at Exhibitions

There are many reasons to attend an exhibition or trade show – high on the list is usually sourcing new suppliers, carrying out competitor research and networking with fellow industry professionals.

Education, while not always the primary reason for attending exhibitions, can nonetheless bring some of the greatest benefits to attendees and is perhaps something that deserves more of the limelight at events.

We're delighted to be partnering with The Meetings Show, the leading event for the UK inbound and outbound meetings industry, where the educational content has been placed as one of the core pillars of the show’s offering. Ahead of the event, we spoke with group event director David Chapple. to discuss what might be in store for attendees.

David began by informing us that this year, the show’s education programme has been reviewed, reimagined and redesigned with meetings and events professionals of all levels in mind, and features a brand-new Pre-Show Conference on Tuesday 26 June, ahead of the main exhibition on Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28, held at Olympia London.

Our role in the partnership has been to support David and his team by selecting three keynote speakers that will resonate with the diverse audience of attendees and deliver content that is not just interesting but sparks a whole new way of thinking.

Setting Objectives and Delivering Content

When we work with event organisers, we often ask them to describe to us who their attendees are and what their objectives for attending will be. Our  5 key tips to choosing the best speaker for your event  is a useful blog for organisers starting out on this process.

For David, it was key for The Meetings Show to provide content relevant for all attendees, regardless of their seniority.

"For junior staff or middle management, educational sessions about personal and professional development or practical advice about the latest developments in technology or marketing are likely to be of interest.

CEOs and business owners may be less interested in this and see the event they’re attending primarily as an opportunity for networking, but that doesn’t mean you can’t capture their imagination with an inspiring, engaging or unusual keynote."

Keynote Speakers Confirmed

The Meetings Show’s Pre-Show Conference will be opened by John Straw , senior advisor to McKinsey and Co and IBM. John’s talk on ‘Technomics - the end and the beginning of everything you know’, will focus on emerging technology.

Day one of the main show will see practical futurist and former IBM global managing partner  Andrew Grill  taking to the stage to talk about digital disruption, covering topics such as how companies can prepare for new innovations, the workplace of the future, emerging technologies and how to broach them with management teams and digital transformation with practical advice for attendees to take away.

Behavioural specialist and customer service expert  Jez Rose  will be delivering day two’s keynote talk on ‘Client-delighting secrets hidden inside your brain’. An internationally-renowned speaker, Jez’s energetic and humorous presentations aim to improve personal performance, help attendees achieve excellent customer service, and encourage organisations to put people at the heart of their business strategies.

With speakers coming from outside the world of meetings and events, they will be providing a fresh view and alternative opinions, with plenty of top tips and advice for attendees to take away.

We can't wait to be in attendance at The Meetings Show. We'll have our team members at both the pre-show conference and hosted buyers reception on Tuesday 26 June, as well as on stand H701 during the 2-day exhibition.

Please visit  The Meetings Show  website to view the education programme and organise your visit.

Newsletter Sign Up

If you liked this article then why not sign up to our newsletters? We promise to send interesting and useful interviews, tips and blogs, plus free event invites too.