UK attractions trade body BALPPA, is organising a new trade event and awards to be held at Drayton Manor Park in November.
The one day event, organised in-house by BALPPA, will take place on 27th November and will be open to members and non-members alike. It will include a series of seminars and educational sessions and will be followed by a drinks reception and then the gala awards dinner.
The awards will focus on different sizes of attractions and will also include a suppliers’ award as well. The categories are: Excellence in FEC Food & Beverage; FEC Attraction of the Year – under 6,000 sq ft; FEC Attraction of the Year – 6,000 sq ft to 12,000 sq ft; FEC Attraction of the Year – over 12,000 sq ft; FEC Employee of Excellence; FEC Trade Supplier of the Year and BALPPA – Standards of Excellence Award (Non-member specific award)
BALPPA’s FEC consultant, Tracey Bancroft, told GAP: “This is totally new for BALPPA. It’s something we have talked about for a while but we’ve now made the decision to do it.
“It’s a celebration of existing play centres but also focuses on what we can do to support the industry further. It’s the first time we’ve done a trade show in the FEC market. We felt that for smaller suppliers some of the existing trade shows are a bit prohibitive and it’s the smaller suppliers that provide the real innovation in the marketplace.
“We work hard to provide opportunities for people to network and have those sorts of conversations where ideas are exchanged that can move the industry forward.
“We will have up to around 50 exhibitors but obviously if it grows and there is the opportunity to take up more space in the future we will look at that. It’s our first one so we are quite realistic but it would be good to see it grow.”
It is hoped that the seminar programme will be available to visitors for a minimal cost or free, depending on the level of sponsorship.