Organisers of the Fit Show – a flagship exhibition for the glass and glazing industry – have announced the further postponement of its September 2021 event until May 2022, in response to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Covid-19. The event will return to Birmingham’s NEC from Tuesday 10 to Thursday 12 May 2022.
The announcement follows delays to the easing of Covid restrictions across the UK, a rise in UK cases, a lack of clarity regarding restrictions for large-scale events and ongoing disruption to international travel. Nickie West, Fit Show’s event director, said: “We have been monitoring the ever-changing situation in relation to Covid-19 and, after careful assessment, we believe that it is best for our exhibitors and visitors if we postpone Fit Show until May 2022.
“It’s always our priority to run a safe and successful event for our audience. The sharp rise in positive cases, coupled with the ongoing ambiguity surrounding what restrictions would need to be in place by September, created too much uncertainty.
“We have worked closely with our stakeholders and the NEC to create a new timeline that we believe is both safer, and provides greater certainty for the market. By postponing until the spring of 2022, we believe that the majority of the UK will have been vaccinated, supply chain issues will have started to ease and we will be able to return to large scale events.
“I remain steadfast in my belief that no other platform can compete with the power of live events when it comes to connecting brands with the market. It has never been an option to flip Fit Show to virtual – it just would not deliver what our market wants and needs: face-to-face interaction, and to see, touch and compare all of the latest products side-by-side. We will, however, be delivering our CPD-approved learning programme, virtually, in September, as a key touchpoint in our campaign, to engage with our Fit Show community between now and May.”
The majority of the brands who signed up to exhibit at Fit Show 2021 will move over to the postponed May 2022 timeline. The new dateline will also present a more secure proposition for brands who may have been hesitant to exhibit in September. Following the postponement, Fit Show will maintain its biennial frequency, returning for its scheduled dates in May 2023 onwards.
Nickie added: “As always, we are committed to running a safe and successful event for the industry when we return in May 2022. Fit Show will follow Fensterbau, making it the first UK flagship event to reconnect the market.
“I’d like to sincerely thank everyone who has demonstrated such resilience, determination and loyalty during these most challenging times. Your support is what Fit Show is built on. As a team, and a business, we are extremely grateful. We look forward to seeing you all, face-to-face, next May.”
