With sustainability firmly on the agenda, the Showman’s Show 2018 is practising what it preaches with some green initiatives of its own
A firm fixture in the outdoor and special event calendar for more than 30 years, the Showman’s Show will return to Newbury Showground on 17-18 October. With an impressive array of products and services on display, and initiatives that encourage and promote best practice, the show remains a must attend for any serious event professional.
This year’s Showman’s Show is shaping up to deliver in the region of 350 exhibitors, showcasing everything from state-of-the-art structures, plant and hire equipment, to entertainment and finishing touches.
In keeping with the industry’s current focus on reducing the environmental impact of events and festivals, organiser Lance Show & Publications is taking its own responsibilities seriously. It has embarked on a series of initiatives to reduce the show’s carbon footprint and promote sustainability to the wider event industry.
This includes signing up to Energy Revolution as a supplier member; the company will offset the CO2 emissions from its travel with direct investment in clean renewable energy. In addition, the Showman’s Show will also be encouraging visitors and exhibitors to make use of the GoCarShare scheme that it introduced back in 2017. Popular with festival and sporting event goers who find that the service, where drivers link up with passengers, with the latter paying a contribution to the trip, is a great way to be kind to the environment and take the hassle out of travelling.
A Vision:2025 hosted event will also make a welcome return to the showground on Wednesday 17 October. The afternoon event will be a chance for the Vision:2025 festival teams to share ideas and learn more about the new suppliers, organisations and communities that are helping the industry move towards more sustainable practices.
The event will highlight the power of collaboration and what can be achieved when festivals and suppliers work together, with updates on industry initiatives, latest research, presentations, panels, Q&As, roundtable sessions, and a chance to continue the conversation over an ethically-brewed beer at the networking drinks! This year the Vision:2025 programme will also include a live judging panel for the Showman’s Show 2018 Green Supplier Award.
Reducing single-use plastic is a key consideration for event and festival organisers. The RAW Foundation has published a ‘Guide to Reusable Bar Cups at Events’ with the core message of the campaign ‘re-use not single use’. It is working across the event industry to inspire change toward a ‘pointless plastic free’ world and will present a new conference at the show on Thursday 18 October.
Lance Show & Publications is encouraging all contractors, exhibitors and visitors to bring along their own re-usable water bottles and cups and is looking to remove one off plastic water bottles from its own catering outlets wherever possible.
OAB’s Top Picks
JR Event Services – Stand 20
JR Event Services was formed in 2009 by John Radford after working within the event indusry for the previous 15 years. The company was founded with an overriding aim of taking a client’s vision and turning it into reality, advising, assisting, communicating and collaborating to achieve the desired outcome.
Over the last eight years JR Event Services has developed a team of permanent and associate staff who can be brought together to ensure that the skills presented are those required to fulfil the project aims. www.jreventservices.co.uk
Morris Site Machinery – Stand 198
Suppliers of robust lighting towers and super silent, fuel efficient generators, fifth-generation family business group Morris used last year’s show for the first public demonstrations of Halo, a powerful anti-glare lamp head. Fitting onto the SMC TL90 lighting towers, Halo delivers 360 degrees 1200W diffused light from four 300W LED quadrants for even spread in all conditions. The company also showcased the TL60 Trolley Light, which can be handled by a single operator for indoor or outdoor use, and power generation products from SMC, Inmesol and Denyo. www.morrismachinery.co.uk
GigLoo – Stand 179
UK designers and manufacturers, Gigloo’s range of event toilets and showers are available for hire or sale. Billed as ‘tough, green and easy to clean’, toilets carry a 10 year body warranty and feature a one piece copolymer body so the walls and floors will never rot.
Smart and functional, these loos and showers look clean and inviting. The range includes units of all sizes perfect for everything from weddings and garden parties up to large public events and everything inbetween, including the Easy Access toilet pod and shower pod, which have been endorsed by leading accessibility charity Attitude is Everything. www.getgigloo.co.uk
PapaShop – Stand 271
PapaShop, sister company to PapaKåta (provider of teepees and US Sperry Tents in the UK) is launching PapaFlex, a range of durable event matting. Ideal for outdoor events, as a temporary structure floor covering and for use on external terraces, it looks like traditional sisal but is made from high-density twisted polypropylene strands so is lighter in weight and robust.
In addition to PapaFlex event matting, PapaShop also supplies furniture, lighting and accessories for events. All the products have been developed by in-house product designers and created for longevity, at affordable prices. www.papashop.co.uk
Bed-Stay – Stand 170
Portable hostel style beds for festival and events providing comfortable accommodation for attendees or crew. Features include black out curtains, lockable storage with internal electrical outlets for laptops, and bedside USB ports for charging devices or for use with compatible lamps and fans. The Bed-Stay units can be set up in almost any tent, hall or building in just 10 minutes per unit.
The concept of the traditional ‘bedstede’ or closet bed was common in the 19th century in Dutch farmhouses with many advantages. This concept has now been completely modernised providing an excellent solution for affordable accommodation at events. www.bed-stay.com
CNSE – Stand 148
CNSE Events has more than 40 years’ experience when it comes to providing mobile solutions for construction and events in France, now they’re bringing all that expertise to the UK market, launching at the Showman’s Show.
The friendly team, that has made its name in the manufacturing of mobile and static toilet and accommodation units, has a wealth of event knowledge when it comes to events. Based in Lyon, CNSE take care of everything in-house, from the design and creation of the units, to the manufacturing, transport and logistics. That means the only limit when it comes to creating the perfect unit is your imagination. www.cnse-partner.co.uk
OPAS – Stand 26
Do you own, rent or manufacture tents or marquees? If so, then you need these guys in your little black book. OPAS has been the supplier of choice for textile and marine fasteners since 1889, with a huge range of products and tools available from stock.
The company has been appointed as an authorised UK distributor for true VELCRO® Brand Hook and Loop products and is a key distributor for DOT press studs, turnbuttons, Lift the Dot and Veltex fasteners. UK-made Tenax and LOXX fasteners, Hipkiss Beaver Brand sail eyelets and rings, plus Duraflex plastic buckles, snaps and loops also feature in its huge inventory. www.opas.co.uk
