IFSEC 2022: good things come to those who wait…
And didn’t we all have to wait! As IFSEC closed its doors in June 2019, we were eagerly looking forward to returning in June 2020 with the added excitement of a brand new launch in Europe in September 2021. But Covid-19 had very different ideas. As the pandemic began to unfold, it was immediately apparent that large scale gatherings were one of the first areas of concern, which included sporting events, concerts and tradeshows. Frustratingly we had to postpone the events three times as we tried in vain to second guess the Government’s lockdowns and seek a gap where we would have permission to host the events in a safe and practical way.
So it was with immense relief and pride that we were able to bring IFSEC back to ExCeL from 17-19th May, welcoming over 20,000 customers back to a shows which hadn’t traded for nearly three years. In the intervening period we’d maintained a constant and purposeful dialogue with the exhibitors, many of whom understood our frustrations and were happy to work with us towards the day when we could finally re-open the doors.
The shows this year had a single focus which was to provide an overwhelming sense of reunion. We wanted exhibitors and visitors feel they were attending dynamic and energised events which connected professionals once again, where they could pick up the conversations and continue with their collaborations. It was also a unique opportunity for the security and fire safety professions to see and experience new technologies, many of which had been launched during the Covid period so hadn’t been seen in public. The headline exhibitors on show this year included Hikvision UK & Ireland, Texecom, Advancis, Paxton Access, CAME BPT, Dahua, CSL, Provision ISR, BT Redcare, Cisco Meraki, Abloy UK and Commend.
It wasn’t all work and no play either, we were delighted to be able to host a Reunion Party at the Indigo venue at the O2 which welcomed over 1,000 exhibitors and guests for a brilliant night of celebrating and reconnecting- it had really been far too long.
We’ll continue with the celebratory theme in 2023 as we’re excited to host IFSEC’s 50th Birthday Party which is a major milestone for the show, so look out for the important messages and themes throughout the year.
2023 is also an exciting time for the IFSEC portfolio as we’ll be introducing IFSEC Europe which will take place at the RAI Amsterdam from 2nd-4th October. It’s a great opportunity for customers to have the IFSEC experience in one of the world’s most exciting and accessible cities with the added chance of meeting and discussing solutions with leading European and UK manufacturers.
For more news updates, check out our May issue here.
Media contact
Rebecca Morpeth Spayne,
Editor, Security Portfolio
Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922
