Exhibitions & Live Events Experience

I accepted the post of Managing Director with Outbound Media & Exhibitions (which became JP Events & Exhibitions) in 2006 - part of local newspaper group Johnston Press PLC. 

This was my first exposure to the arena of exhibitions and live events. The company comprised a series of overseas property exhibitions (World of Property) and emigration shows (Emigrate). At their height, the combined shows ran five times per annum at various UK venues and attracted over 300 exhibitors,18k visitors and utilising over 7k square metres of space per event. This highly profitable events business was complemented by a monthly World of Property glossy magazine and a series of Emigrate country specific monthly newspapers. I inherited a team of consummate exhibition and publishing professionals, many of whom remained with the business until it was closed in May 2012. 

Over time I became something of an emigration expert, presenting some of the key seminars at the shows, devising the schedule and arranging key note speakers and panellists. I was also a regular on BBC local and national radio (and occasionally TV) when emigration stories requiring comment broke. 

In 2009, I made a proposal to close World of Property against a backdrop of a vanishing market place as the global financial downturn took hold. It proved to be a good decision as the market collapsed. To supplement the closure, with the Johnston Press board's approval, I instigated a plan to develop a series of large scale consumer exhibitions in conjunction with the various UK divisions. My initial concepts included a pet show, an outdoor pursuits show and christmas fairs. 

Over the months, LovePets was conceived and ran in 2010 and 2011 in Peterborough and Edinburgh, attracting 100 plus exhibitors and sponsorship from national brands including Direct Line and Zoflora. A highly successful Outdoor Pursuits event was launched in Edinburgh in 2011 and repeated in 2012. Several Christmas shows took place at Fontwell (Sussex), Wetherby and Sunderland. Perhaps the most successful launch event was Yorkshire Food & Drink. This show, held outdoors in Leeds city centre, was a three way partnership with Marketing Leeds and Leeds city council. The event attracted nearly 40k visitors. 

The decision by financially troubled Johnston Press PLC to close JP Events & Exhibitions in May 2012 was a shock for all involved and was a sad day indeed.