FIT Cancelled - New Dates Announced

The FIT Show will move from September 2021 to May 2022.

The FIT Show organisers have announced the September 2021  exhibition will be abandoned with the event moving to May 2022, in response to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Covid-19.

Anyone registered to attend the September event as a visitor will be contacted by the organisers to move them to the new dates. There will be no need to re-register.

The fenestration industry’s flagship UK event will return to the NEC from Tuesday 10 - Thursday  12 May 2022.

The announcement follows potential a lack of clarity regarding restrictions for large-scale events and ongoing disruption to international travel alongside the potential for another rise in UK cases.

 

 “We have been monitoring the ever changing situation in relation to Covid-19 and after careful assessment, we believe that it is best for our exhibitors and visitors if we postpone FIT Show until May 2022.”

– Nickie West 

Event director, FIT Show

 

Uncertainty

“It is always our priority to run a safe and successful event for our audience. The recent sharp rise in positive cases, coupled with the ongoing ambiguity surrounding what restrictions would need to be in place by September, created too much uncertainty," continued FIT Show's West. “We have worked closely with our stakeholders and the NEC to create a new timeline that we believe is both safer and provides greater certainty for the market."

 

Third wave potential

West was speaking just as cases of Covid-19 have dropped dramatically after a recent sharp rise. However, exhibitors had shown concerns during the rise in case that signalled the UK might be in for a 'third wave' and even another lockdown. This coupled with the stresses on supply chain and a sense that many visitors might not want to attend a large event created a feeling that a postponement would be for the best. The organisers have worked tirelessly to consult with exhibitors and with the NEC to come to a positive conclusion.

West added: “By postponing until the Spring of 2022 we believe that the majority of the UK will have been vaccinated, supply chain issues will have started to ease and we will be able to return to large scale events.

“I remain steadfast in my belief that no other platform can compete with the power of live events when it comes to connecting brands with the market. It has never been an option to flip FIT Show to virtual, it just would not deliver what our market wants and needs - face-to-face interaction and to see, touch and compare all of the latest products side-by-side.”

 

CPD online

“We will, however, be delivering our CPD approved learning programme virtually in September as a key touchpoint in our campaign, to engage with our FIT Show community between now and May.”

 

Back to biennial

The majority of the brands who signed up to exhibit at FIT Show 2021 will move over to the postponed May 2022 timeline. The new dateline will also present a more secure proposition for brands who may have been hesitant to exhibit in September. Following the postponement, FIT Show will maintain its biennial frequency, returning for its scheduled dates in May 2023 onwards.

West said: “As always, we are committed to running a safe and successful event for the industry when we return in May 2022. FIT Show will follow Fensterbau, making it the first UK flagship event to reconnect the market."

Picture: The FIT Show will move from September 2021 to May 2022.

Article written by Cathryn Ellis
27th July 2021

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