UBM EMEA, owners of the annual IFSEC International exhibition, have hailed the 2018 show, describing it as the inaugural year of change after a customer-led insight project. UBM now describe the show as a ‘high level integrated security summit’. The 2018 three-day event in London Docklands welcomed 27,353 visitors and saw a 10pc increase in visitor density.
Gerry Dunphy, Brand Director of IFSEC International said: โItโs a privilege to let to the global security industry guide the direction of the show. Ultimately, itโs created to provide solutions to the worldโs most pressing problems โ whether that solution is a new piece of technology, an expert answer to an anxiety about security or a tried and tested piece of physical equipment. IFSEC International held every answer under one roof.โ
The show organisers spoke of a shift from advertiser to educator’ with panel debates, training sessions and keynote talks. IFSEC says attendance from some of the most senior security professionals was a testament to this, and overall, the organisers say, the event attracted a higher quality of visitor than in previous years.
A new Keynote Arena heard Christian Horner, Team Principal of Aston Martin Red Bull Racing; Frank Gardner, the British BBC TV journalist assigned to cover the ‘War on Terror’; Michael Chertoff, the former United States federal Homeland Security secretary; and Silvino Schlickmann, Director of Cyber Crime at the policing body Interpol.
Created with City Forum and the business forum London First, the Securing the Open Society of 2030 programme also saw masterclasses and summits. The show also had a newly exclusive partnership with Newbridge Events, who brought in some of the biggest security buyers, with budgets of over ยฃ1m to the show as part of the Hosted Buyers Programme. David Woodbridge, Managing Director of Newbridge Events said: โWe are delighted to be working with IFSEC and FIREX International to deliver the VIP Hosted Buyer Programme for IFSEC and FIREX. This bespoke and high-level programme offers carefully selected buyers a personalised schedule of meetings to allow them to maximise their time at the event and proactively enhances the process of meeting the right people. For exhibitors it brings highly relevant buyers onto their stands and delivers real lead generation where every meeting has a purpose.โ
The Government Pavilion welcomed The Joint Security and Resilience Centre (JSaRC), Defence and Security Organisation (DSO), the Department of International Trade (DiT) and The Department for Transport. Visitors had the chance to pose questions to governmental bodies behind their legal guidelines.
Also new were โShow Me Howโ features across the show floor. The customer-insight project was for security visitors to be shown how to make use of emerging technologies with the terms โShow me how to install the latest kitโ, โShow me how my business can move into new areasโ, โShow me the capabilitiesโ commonplace. IFSEC introduced Speakers Corner, which gave businesses the chance to pitch their products in ten minute slots before Q&A sessions.
Likewise, tailoring to the growing demands of installing security equipment, The Future of Security Training Theatre, powered by Tavcom and sponsored by Panasonic UK, offered jargon-free training into cloud, cyber convergence, smart IoT and fully integrated building management systems.
Also new to showโs educational programme was The Converged Security Centre, brought by Vidsys, while The Home Automation Theatre sponsored by CEDIA and KNX returned for another year.
Jeremy Rees, Acting CEO, ExCeL London, said: โWe were delighted to welcome IFSEC to ExCeL London. Our teams are working closely with UBM to support their ambitions for growth and we are delighted that they had another successful event with us. This event, together with the wider P&M series, is playing a vital role in maintaining and creating safe and secure environments, something that resonates strongly with us. We look forward to welcoming visitors and exhibitors again next year, when they will be able to travel to ExCeL more quickly than ever before via the Elizabeth line.โ
IFSEC 2019 runs from Tuesday to Thursday, June 18 to 20, at ExCeL London. Visit www.ifsecglobal.com.
