Return with a bang

Organisers of the fenestration industry’s four main events have announced that they are ready to return with a bang: they have pledged to be a catalyst for change, pulling out all of the stops to deliver the very best platforms for the industry to reconnect, face-to-face, at their upcoming installments.

The collaborative announcement follows the easing of lockdown restrictions across the UK, which has resulted in the green light being given to Glass Times Race Day (Haydock Park, July 1, and Epsom, September 9), FIT Show (NEC, September 26-28), The Glazing Summit (Edgbaston Stadium, October 7) and The G Awards (London Hilton, November 26).

Andrew Scott, MD of Purplex Marketing, Insight Data and the Glazing Summit, said: “It’s time for the industry to dust itself off and take a visionary approach through this period of recovery. The winners of tomorrow are the brands who invest in their marketing now. A huge part of this is about getting out and in front of the industry at the events.

“We’re operating in different times and it’s almost a level playing field out there at the moment. There’s a real opportunity for the most ambitious brands to scale up, and these industry events will provide the ideal platform to do just that. I’m excited to see who has got the vision, appetite and ambition to go hard in 2021. These are the brands that I’ll be backing to do the biggest things in the future.”

The Glazing Summit will return to Edgbaston on October 7 and will be hosting a Glazing Summit Networking evening on Sunday, September 26 at Indigo Birmingham to coincide with FIT Show. Purplex Marketing and Insight Data are set to host the Marketing Village at FIT Show in September.

The Marketing Village will provide a central point for exhibitors and visitors to access a dedicated programme of marketing-specific learning material, all headed up by experts from Purplex Marketing, Insight Data and guest speakers.

FIT Show event director Nickie West said: “I’m proud that FIT Show sits alongside Glass Times Race Day, Glazing Summit, and the G Awards in the fenestration industry’s 2021 calendar. Together, we are committed to delivering safe and successful events for the sector. All four events should form a fundamental part within a brand’s marketing calendar.

“The FIT Show exhibitor lineup is usually a strong indicator of the brands who are set to do the most exciting things over the next 12 to 18 months. I’m looking forward to seeing who the latest trailblazers are. But the thing I’m most excited about is getting back to face-to-face business, seeing all of the latest products up close and networking with my peers at our key events.”

The Glass Times Race Day will mark the first major event for the industry to reconnect when it returns to Haydock on July 1.

Event organiser Andy Westhead said: “Our Haydock Race Day will kick-start the industry event calendar in 2021, and we are looking forward to returning to the face-to-face networking that our industry thrives on.

“We’ve only got a couple of tables left for our Haydock Race Day in July which reinforces the appetite to get back together, network and re-establish those all-important connections that underpin business success. We also have some available tables and sponsorship opportunities at our inaugural Epsom event on September 9.

The G 21 Awards Presentation and Gala Dinner will close the industry’s event calendar this year. Event organiser Tony Higgin said: “The G Awards provide a platform for everyone to come together and celebrate the amazing work that has been done across the industry throughout the year. We were very disappointed to have had to cancel our 2020 ceremony but we are looking forward to coming back with a bang later this year.

“I’m excited to see which brands have thrived throughout the pandemic and those represented at Glazing Summit and FIT Show are likely to be a strong indicator of this.”