Healthcare Estates sees record attendance

Overall attendance to Healthcare Estates 2022 reached record levels for the two days in Manchester, increasing to over 5,000 as visitors, delegates and exhibitors flocked to Manchester for the biggest showcase of products and services in the UK Healthcare sector.

With an abundance of activities during this year’s Healthcare Estates in Manchester, including four modular units on display, a new IHEEM Members Area and a return to a full conference and awards programme post pandemic; the 2022 Healthcare Estates event enjoyed a busy two days at the exhibition, four stream conference and awards dinner.

Taking place on October 4 & 5, the IHEEM Healthcare Estates conference and dinner took place alongside the Healthcare Estates Exhibition with the event attracting representatives from many of the UK’s NHS Trusts and related organisations.

Over 520 delegates, speakers and chairs attended the conference with attendees representing all sectors of healthcare discussing key issues around the four main conference themes of Workforce, Strategic and Capital Planning, Engineering and Facilities and Net Zero/Sustainability. the conference programme delivered 34 hours of CPD accredited content across 55 presentation topics.

The exhibition featured over 200 stands offering expertise in key areas dealing with the fabric of healthcare buildings; the six free-to-attend theatres and zones on the exhibition floor had standing room only at many sessions and many exhibitors commented on this being their best event to date.

Organisers Step and IHEEM added support to attendees during the event to offset the rail strike on day 2 with complimentary parking and coaches to key destinations, Visitors, exhibitors and delegates made full use of the support which was appreciated by many and aimed at demonstrating our commitment to support people to get to the event.

The Awards Dinner held at the Kimpton Clocktower was sold out with 612 guests, entertained by after dinner speaker Kate Richardson-Walsh, the most capped female hockey player in her country’s history, who captained the GB and England women’s hockey teams for 13 years. An inspirational and charismatic leader she has been widely credited for helping build the incredible team ethos and commitment that drove the GB team to a nail-biting victory at the Rio Olympic Games. Kate along with host, Andy Powell made for a most enjoyable evening presenting awards in thirteen categories including apprentice of the year and the IHEEM lifetime achievement award. The IHEEM Presidents chosen charity for the evening, Guts UK raising a massive £8k with a thank you for everyone generosity

The event was opened with a warm welcome from IHEEM CEO, Pete Sellars and the Presidential address from IHEEM President, Paul Fenton, who after two years of fighting the Covid pandemic were keen to recognise the work of many of the individuals and companies attending and supporting the event. The conference opened with keynote speakers Sir David Behan, Chair of Health Education England, and Nick Hulme, chief Executive – East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

A new initiative for 2022 was the introduction of more keynotes over the two days, to allow for key issues to be addressed, this saw Simon Corben, Director and Head of Profession NHS Estates and Facilities, NHS England Commercial Directorate present on day 1 ahead of lunch with an update on national estates and facilities policies. Immediately after lunch saw a high-quality line-up of Nigel Edwards, CEO of the Nuffield Trust, Professor Grant Mills from University College London and David Melbourne, Chief Executive of NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board discussing Capital Planning.

Visitors and delegates responsible for running and maintaining the biggest estates in the NHS and private sector attend Healthcare Estates in Manchester to learn about the latest innovations in key areas of the healthcare estate. With the biggest attendance to date the isles were busy and exhibitors enjoyed a return to ‘live’ events with exhibitors commenting:

‘Great event, great networking, great people’. Inenco

‘An excellent event that brings together a key players in healthcare. As media partners this is a must for us’. Stable Events

‘Networking at it’s best’ David Bailey Furniture

Attendance Details

# Exhibitor staff & guests

** includes re-visits who attended both days

Number of Exhibiting companies: 200 (Not including sharers)

Six theatres on the exhibition floor provided free content in Design & Construction; Fire & Medical Gas; Facilities Management; Infection Control and Water; HVAC & Engineering and Energy & Sustainability.

Steve Webb, for organisers Step Exhibitions comments; “The exhibition area really benefitted from the new layout, the keynote theatre on the exhibition floor and improved features; some fabulous stands and great content. We worked closely with a number of key organisations to attract as diverse an audience as possible, at times it was so busy you could scarcely move in the isles.

Exhibitors were also full of praise for the event, many already reserving their place at the 2023 event.

The Exhibition is an essential part of our annual marketing and events programme – Starkstrom

Healthcare Estates provides a great opportunity to raise brand awareness, network with customers and colleagues and listen to key speakers in the field of Healthcare – Angel Guard

This is a fantastic opportunity to build relationships with people in the industry and create a network of people all wanting to better the healthcare sector – Angel Guard

The IHEEM event was back to its best! Great venue, facilities and above all fantastic and like minded NHS clients and exhibitors – Schneider Electric

Our first ever healthcare estates show was a success. we got to meet up with existing clients, introduce potential new clients to our product range, and got great feedback on new products we had launched, as well as improvement suggestions on existing products, overall the show was a great experience, and one we will definitely one we will exhibit at again – Contour Heating

Innova found healthcare estates very intuitive and it was great to meet those who are working so hard to improve the healthcare facilities provided within the UK – Innova

An excellent event – GivEnergy

A fantastic event that will enlighten & expand your knowledge about the healthcare development industry – Day Architectural

While visitors commented:

Well organised event with good opportunities for networking.

Very enjoyable day meeting existing suppliers and meeting new suppliers. Also meeting other Health Service and External staff

Best one for several years

Very Interesting

Very informative and great to see people out networking again

Very worthwhile exhibition, would recommend and attend in future years

Great place to meet new and old suppliers – look at new products

Very positive and would definitely be an event I will be attending next year.

Great to be back in person and to see how the sector is evolving and how we can all meet the needs in providing a quality NHS estate

Standard of exhibitors excellent

Outstanding

Next year Healthcare Estates 2023 will again take place in the centre of Manchester at Manchester Central the dates are 10 – 11 October. For enquiries about how to exhibit or visit contact the team on healthcare@stepex.com or call Chelsey on 01892 518877

www.healthcare-estates.com