GlassCon takes on Glazing Summit

The GGF, FENSA and the FIT Show have launched a new, two-day industry conference – called Glass Conference – that is scheduled to debut on the same day as the 2024 Glazing Summit.

Taking place on Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th October, at Telford International Centre (the Glazing Summit is currently booked for 17th October at its usual Edgbaston venue in Birmingham), the new ‘GlassCon’ event has been introduced to fill the gap between FIT Shows and also build on the success of recent GGF members days.

And by including FENSA, it also opens up a high-profile forum for the UK’s installers, a large proportion of the industry that will now have the opportunity to contribute to – and learn more about – the big issues impacting the fenestration community.

You can read more about what GlassCon has to offer here.

And while it looks set to be a worthwhile couple of days, the first question is – why launch directly against an existing and popular event?

The official line is that the idea for GlassCon has been brewing for some time, and with FIT Show finally reverting to its original format, 2024 was the year to get it up and running. Available exhibition venues were, I’m told, limited as were dates that would suit all parties involved and potential headline sponsors.

There will no doubt be a great deal of scepticism that the only date available was one that would clash with the Summit, but there it is.

So, the next question is, will the Glazing Summit go ahead, or reschedule to a less confrontational time and place? It is, after all, under new management for 2024 following a buyout last year, and the new owners will surely not want to lose face – or money – by pulling out of the game completely.

GlassCon may be a new event, but it has the backing of the GGF, (which would have made up a significant percentage of Summit attendees) and many big brands will also naturally gravitate towards the FIT Show.

Ultimately, there may well be room for both events in a calendar year – but it’s hard to see both going ahead on exactly the same day.