Event preview: SALTEX

SALTEX 2022

SALTEX 2022, held at Birmingham NEC from 2 to 3 November, is set to attract the very best in the sports grounds sector

With visitor registrations from over 30 countries already confirmed, a roll call of domestic and international exhibitors signed-up, and an impressive line-up of expert speakers and industry specialists standing ready to provide support, insight and real solutions to key industry issues.

Free to attend, the show includes the ever-popular Learning LIVE programme – a key element in the SALTEX offering, which has this year been extended to over 30 free sessions with influential speakers addressing a range of key issues impacting the industry. High on the agenda are sustainability and environmental issues.

SALTEX attracts the most exhibitors in the industry to one place at any one time. And new exhibitors keep coming on board weekly, with 2022 already set to be the biggest and best show yet.

Overseas visitors’ enthusiasm for the event is at an all-time high bringing with them insights into how they do things in their countries.

SALTEX is an event grounds people have always made the time to attend. Visitor and exhibitor feedback surveys confirm that the networking opportunities are a massive draw and never more so than in the post-pandemic landscape. 2021 survey data showed that almost half (46%) of visitors attend for networking opportunities; over two-thirds (68%) attend to source new products, services and suppliers; topped by an extremely high satisfaction rating of 83% voting the show as Good, Very Good or Excellent.

Geoff Webb, CEO, Grounds Management Association

The grounds sector is a people-orientated industry and SALTEX is where everyone comes to meet friends, to network with colleagues and customers

These are impressive statistics, so we asked the man who has done so much to drive the direction of SALTEX, Geoff Webb, what he believes has been the event success.

“Word of mouth is our strongest asset and always has been, looking back to the early days long before 24/7 coverage and social media. For almost eight decades SALTEX

Free to attend, all you need to do is register for the show and visit: www.saltex.org.uk

has thrived because the industry responds to what they see at SALTEX, and who they meet, making it a worthwhile and productive visit. In all those 76 years the only thing that held back the show was the outbreak of the Covid pandemic. So, to come back in 2021 so successfully with everyone ready to get back to business and with the incredible response for the 2022 show already shows that now more than ever we need that connection.

“The grounds sector is a people orientated industry and SALTEX is where everyone comes to meet friends, to network with colleagues and customers, make new contacts and see new product and innovations. Its long been a highlight of the year in our industry’s calendar.

“But it’s important we move with the times and respond to what our visitors want, and we know with authority through extensive market research that moving the show away from being an outdoor summer show in Windsor to being an indoor winter show at the Birmingham NEC was the right thing to do.

“The timing falls very neatly for both winter and summer sports staff. Renovation work in the winter sports is complete, the busy month of September for public schools and colleges has been and gone, and the cricket season has ended.

“These days the purchasing process isn’t led by demos at shows, it’s by trialling what appeals, checking it’s fit for purpose, in-situ, in real time on your own grounds. SALTEX facilitates that happening and being indoors just means everyone gets a good show whatever the weather.

“Last year stood out for re-uniting every corner of the grounds care industry. There was a buzz and real enthusiasm for business: deals were being struck, demos were being

Above: Over 400 brands will be on display at this year’s SALTEX

organised, there were lots of new launches across the halls and I expect more of the same in 2022.

“The Learning LIVE programme this year has been extended to over 30 sessions, with additional papers addressing the key issues for the grounds care industry of pay, career development, how to negotiate in the workplace and how to find out about the millions of pounds of grant funding available from sports clubs. But what’s at the heart of Learning LIVE and this year’s show is sustainability and the environment.

“Those managing and maintaining sports turf and green spaces are already having to deal with the impact of climate change and industry suppliers are doing their best to innovate and help grounds people to minimise the impact of droughts and floods. Extreme weather conditions are becoming more frequent, and we need to continue to educate grounds staff and plan now to ensure that as a sector, we are equipped to deal with what lies ahead. SALTEX I believe is the best event to help our talented workforce be ready for whatever our industry will have to deal with next.” ●

Learning LIVE is a key part of the SALTEX offering

For visitors keen to confirm their attendance at this show which is promising to be its biggest and best yet, find out more about SALTEX 2022 and register online at www.saltex.org.uk

SAPCA Members

SALTEX 2022 is worth a visit for many reasons – one of them being that the impressive speaker line-up at the Learning LIVE programme includes some familiar SAPCA faces.

Colin Corline, SAPCA project manager, will lead two sessions on subjects pertinent to the industry: Maintaining synthetic turf in 2022 and Recycling synthetic turf in the UK. Both will take place on 3 November.

Colin has worked in the sports construction industry for the past 25 years and is an expert in the field, having overseen the design, project management and testing of indoor and outdoor sports facilities across several sports in the UK and around the world.

Having previously worked at a design consultancy and at the LTA, Colin has spent the past four years at SAPCA overseeing the association’s Technical Programme, which has included the update and production of new Codes of Practice and technical guidance documents, representation on both CEN and BSI committees and overseeing the re-development of SAPCA’s Quality System.

Colin will host the Saltex sessions together with David James (MD of Labosport Ltd) and Alastair Cox (technical director at European Synthetic Turf Council).

The first talk will highlight SAPCA’s new guidance in Maintaining Synthetic Turf – in relation to sustainability – while the other will outline the options and cost for recycling synthetic turf in the UK.