Reducing the energy consumed by UK healthcare buildings and facilities, and some of the more innovative and imaginative ways that healthcare estates teams can reduce their estates’ carbon footprint, will be a key focus at this year’s Healthcare Estates show.
As HEJ reports, however, the flagship annual IHEEM event (being held at Manchester Central from 8-9 October), will also cover a myriad of other important topics – from the positive impact of good building design, and effective estate and asset management, to succession planning.
As well as featuring an ‘Energy Theatre’ within a dedicated ‘energy section’ on the exhibition floor (where over 180 companies will exhibit), offering ‘free’ presentations to pre-registered visitors, and showcasing products and services designed to help reduce carbon footprints, increase efficiency, and save money for the NHS, this year’s show will feature, as a Day One conference keynote speaker, John Nangle, Crown Commercial Lead for Energy within the Cabinet Office, presenting on ‘Delivering the Integrated Energy Solution for Public Sector Users’.
Exhibition free to attend
The dedicated ‘energy section’ within the (free-to-attend) exhibition, meanwhile – supported by the Carbon and Energy Fund and the Carbon Trust – will see companies with specialist engineering expertise on hand throughout to offer practical carbon-cutting advice. Organisations already signed up include British Gas, Low Carbon Europe, GE Corporate, Sabien Technology, Whitecroft Lighting, Dalkia, E.ON, Lucy Switchgear, DPS Bristol, IRT Surveys, Sentinel Performance Solutions, Turner EPS, Damar Group, Thorlux Lighting, ENER-G, and Vital Energi. Within the Energy Theatre, meanwhile, presentations will be given by the Carbon and Energy Fund, with a ‘bidders’ teach-in’, Cynergin, Dalkia, E.ON, British Gas, Spirax Sarco, GE Corporate, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Trend Control Systems.
‘Thousands of complimentary tickets’ set to go out
Step Exhibitions, organiser of both the conference and exhibition, says it plans mailing out ‘thousands of complimentary tickets’ to potential exhibition visitors, to encourage as wide an attendance as possible at what event director, Steve Webb, dubs ‘the sector’s most important event this year’. He said: “This year’s conference, complemented by a really wide-ranging exhibition, will cover numerous topics – from engineering to estate and asset management, and from backlog maintenance to architecture and design, as well, for example, as the vital issue of succession planning. However, there is no doubt carbon and emission reduction remains a particularly pressing issue for healthcare estates teams. Many such personnel will, for example, already be aware that their organisations face paying higher fees, and potentially also bigger fines, following changes to the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. “To encourage organisations to continue cutting their energy use,” he continued, “the Government made clear, early in the CRC’s life, that the price paid for carbon allowances would increase over time. Initially the price was £12 per tonne of CO2, but this only covered Phase 1, with Phase 2 due to be introduced in April 2014, running until March 2019. It is expected that an ‘update’ to the scheme will see the price increase, the likelihood being that, in future, the allowances may be auctioned, or sold on the open market. Additionally, fines for failing to report promptly on annual emissions could rise.” CMR Consultants, part of the ENER-G Group, and a Healthcare Estates 2013 exhibitor, has published ‘A Quick Guide to the Updated CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme’ (http://tinyurl.com/qj77a74), which provides a scheme overview, and sets out ‘the likely changes that will soon come into force’.
Wide-ranging conference topics
Turning to this year’s conference, and over 80 speakers will present under the broad subject headings of: Estates & Facilities, Engineering, Energy-saving Solutions, Design & Construction, Infection Prevention, Research & Development, and Property & Premises Management. Steve Webb said: “Delegates will be able to move freely from stream to stream, and benefit from time to attend free sessions and ‘fringe’ events. The programme should afford ample time to visit the exhibition, and there will also be a number of special meeting areas, where they can network, meet new contacts, and catch up on day-to-day work. “With the whole industry together, Healthcare Estates is the perfect place to network. Visitors can participate in discussions around the hottest topics of the day, while the exhibition offers an excellent opportunity to see a wide range of products and innovations targeted specifically at the sector under one roof.”
VIP scheme to ‘add value’
“We do recognise, however, that for many, it is becoming ever-more important to be able to justify attending a conference and/or exhibition. We are thus working closely with IHEEM to ensure visitors get ‘maximum value’ from the show.” Qualifying visitors from the NHS, the Department of Health, the private healthcare sector, hospices, care homes, mental health NHS Trusts, and other key healthcare organisations, will thus again be offered a ‘VIP’ package covering the costs of parking and refreshments on site, and providing them with a dedicated area to network, and meet with key suppliers exhibiting at the show. Steve Webb said: “If requested, we can help such VIP visitors plan their day, set up meetings, and even help them find accommodation and places to eat. “Healthcare professionals registering before 21 September will be sent details on a range of benefits and information to help plan their attendance. Our team will ensure that such personnel get the most out of attending the sector’s biggest, most relevant event. If you think you qualify, and would like details, call our registration team: 01892 518877, or visit www.healthcare-estates.co.uk and ‘register now’ to be upgraded.”
Look out for complimentary tickets
Of Step Exhibitions’ plans to mail out ‘thousands of complimentary tickets’ to potential visitors to this year’s exhibition, Steve Webb said: “With a range of benefits for pre-registered visitors, complimentary sessions, ‘VIP status’ for key people, and the ability to book appointments once registered, we are again seeking to make it as easy, inexpensive, and practical as possible, for those wishing to attend this year’s exhibition to do so. Look out for one of the tickets (pictured below), and, if you haven’t yet received one, please contact us on 01892 518877, or email: healthcare@stepex.com”
Over 180 exhibitors
He adds: “This year’s exhibition will see over 180 exhibitors, and key organisations representing over 200 companies, providing information on their products, technologies, and services, and giving quality presentations. Just a single day at the event could benefit you in many ways. “Healthcare Estates is open from 8.45 am daily, and Manchester is easily accessible from most parts of the UK. The event is just a short walk from Piccadilly Station, surrounded by hotels and facilities to make your visit worthwhile.” Exhibition entrance is complimentary; visitors can either register online at www.healthcare-estates.com, or register on-site. (NB, VIP visitors must pre-register on or before 21 September).
Paralympian Gold cyclist to give Dinner keynote
This year’s IHEEM Annual Dinner and Awards, at the Manchester Midland Hotel on 8 October, will feature, as the evening’s keynote speaker, Mark Colbourne MBE, Paralympic Gold medallist in cycling for Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics. Steve Webb said: “Mark Colbourne broke his back in a near fatal paragliding accident in May 2009, and, despite being left with lower leg paralysis and drop foot in both feet, fought for 12 months to learn to walk again with walking aids. He is now a full time professional paracyclist for his country. “He won the first medal – a Silver – for Paralympics GB at the London 2012 home games on the track, in the 1km individual time trial – a 3-second personal best, and, the next day, broke the 3 km pursuit World Record twice in one day at the London Velodrome. He beat the current World Record by seven seconds in the morning, before again beating it by 0.2 seconds in the event’s ‘final’ the same night. In his preferred event on the track, he went on to win the 3 km pursuit, and obtain his first Paralympic Gold medal.” Mark Colbourne will discuss his ‘life-changing experiences’, support from the healthcare sector, and his own ‘positive attitude to life and sport’. Steve Webb concluded: “For all those involved in running, maintaining, and delivering a ‘safe, clean, and secure’ healthcare estate, Healthcare Estates 2013 is a ‘must-attend’. Book today at www.healthcare-estates.com” For more information, T: Michelle Michelucci or Belinda Walter, on: 01892 518877, or email: healthcare@stepex.com
September’s HEJ will include a full show preview covering both the conference and exhibition at Healthcare Estates 2013.
