Nine months before the event opens, the Healthcare Estates 2013 conference, exhibition, and dinner, are ‘well on the way to being even more successful than in 2012’, says show director, Steve Webb.
New feature areas, increased streams at the conference covering even more topics, and some exciting new ideas, are set to be announced by the organisers and IHEEM early in the New Year.
Records broken in 2012
“Last year, attendance at the annual conference grew, with 429 key healthcare professionals attending,” Steve Webb explained. “There was also a record attendance at the Annual Dinner and Awards, while nearly 200 NHS VIP guests, representing many of the UK’s leading hospital Trusts, networked with the 170 exhibiting companies, giving a total, record attendance of 2,758. Following the feedback we received on last year’s show during a recent Advisory Board meeting held at Trend Control Systems’ Horsham offices, the theme for Healthcare Estates 2013 will be announced next month at a press launch for the event. We are delighted that, already, over 50% of the stand space for this year’s exhibition is booked.” Julian Amey, IHEEM’s CEO, said: “We are delighted that the Institute’s flagship conference, exhibition, and dinner, all showed record attendance in 2012. This is testimony to the hard work and creativity of the Conference Committee, exhibitors, and our partners, and we are pleased to report that IHEEM’s membership has also grown in 2012. In 2013 we look forward to working with Step to build on this success, and are looking at innovations which will appeal to our members and the wider industry around the UK. More details on these innovations will be announced shortly.” Organiser, Step Exhibitions, says that, in planning Healthcare Estates 2013 – which will take place on 8 and 9 October at Manchester Central – it aims to build on the success of the 2012 flagship IHEEM event. This year’s show will incorporate an exhibition with ‘sector-focused’ theatres, run in conjunction with the IHEEM conference and dinner. Return of key suppliers Healthcare Estates 2013 will also see the return of key suppliers including Aid Call, Amazing Interactives, Bender UK, Britplas, Cistermiser, Fendor, Horne Engineering, Kemper, Lorne Stewart, ProCure21+, Static Systems, SL Kids, Trend Control Systems, Vistamatic, Wandsworth Group, and Zip Heaters. Steve Webb said: “Healthcare Estates will take place for a fourth year in Manchester. We have continued to develop the event by working hard with IHEEM and the venue to provide a compelling, informative showcase for the healthcare sector. Last year saw a growth in visitor numbers from the south of England, and the show is now established as the main event for healthcare engineers, estates, and facilities managers. Typical positive comments we received from NHS delegates following last year’s show included: ‘Some really thought provoking ideas’, while another said: ‘A great venue and excellent stands. I was able to gather a lot of helpful information and see some new products.’” Steve Webb explained that the VIP scheme run for the first time for key NHS employees was also enthusiastically received – among the benefits were free on-site parking, and a dedicated VIP area for meetings and networking.
Addressing backlog issues
Looking to this year’s show, the organisers say that, working with IHEEM, they will address one of the main issues facing the sector – ‘the continuing chronic backlog of repairs in hospital buildings’. Steve Webb said: “The Repairs, Maintenance, and Improvement (RMI) market – currently valued at over £1.18 billion – is expected to slow in the short term, as overall budgets are constrained, and funding is channelled toward frontline services. However, longer term, the market is expected to return to growth, as NHS organisations increase investment in RMI works on buildings to reduce their backlog. RMI will remain relatively buoyant in comparison with new work in the healthcare sector.” Growth in healthcare RMI, he explained, is largely underpinned by investment in buildings and M&E maintenance by NHS Trusts in England, which account for around 63% of RMI output. NHS Trusts from the three other home countries account for a further 19% of the market.
‘Highly fragmented and localised’
Steve Webb added that supply of RMI services is ‘highly fragmented and localised, due in part to the wide range of services provided’. He said: “In the state sector, at newer facilities (re)built under long-term DBFO contracts, RMI services are typically provided under 25+ year concessions by large facilities management companies. However, within the context of the entire UK estate, the proportion of RMI services delivered under long-term PFI/PPP concessions remains relatively small. The market is expected to continue to show growth in the medium to long-term, with total RMI in healthcare expected to be around £1.1 billion by 2014/15, up 29% on 2004/05.”
Carbon and Energy Fund
One of the new areas for 2013 is being developed with the Carbon and Energy Fund, which is set to host a one-day event in a new ‘Energy Theatre’. The CEF will invite guests and NHS Trusts to attend. Healthcare Estates 2013 will also include the Contractors & Architects zone, and the Estate Management & Consultants area, plus key areas on Energy & Sustainability, and a New Product Showcase feature.
Partner organisations
Partner organisations already signed up include BRE, Architects for Health, Design Council CABE, The King’s Fund, Healthcare Facilities Consortium, the Design In Mental Health Network, the National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers, the Medical Gas Association, and the Carbon & Energy Fund. For more information on Healthcare Estates, contact the team: T: 01892 518877; Email: healthcare@stepex.com or visit: www.healthcare-estates.com/ www.healthcare-estates.org.uk
