14 minute read
RISE @ THIIS event overview
from THIIS June 2022
by THIIS
Visitors to the event enjoyed views of the Stadium MK football ground
How RISE @ THIIS rose to the challenge
Mobility trade exhibitors and retailers alike came together for the RISE @ THIIS event in Milton Keynes last month to make connections in a relaxed and fun environment…
Leading manufacturers in the mobility and access trade came together for the RISE @ THIIS event in Milton Keynes last month, enjoying a successful day meeting up with both new and existing retailers, with some coming together to enjoy a few laughs the night before.
The trade-exclusive event, which was sponsored by Motion Healthcare and delivered in partnership with the British Healthcare Trade Association, THIIS Magazine and RISE4Disability, took place at the Hilton DoubleTree Hotel in Milton Keynes – a hotel built into the impressive Stadium MK football ground.
LAUGH-OUT-LOUD FUN In addition to the trade exhibition and conference on 10th May, the industry had a chance to connect in a more relaxed way the night before at the celebratory gala dinner.
A drinks reception prior to the gala dinner, sponsored by Handicare Stairlifts UK, took place first, offering smartly dressed visitors the chance to network and connect with their fellow trade professionals in a relaxed and informal setting.
The guests were then seated in the gala dinner room, where they were served up a three-course meal while the good times continued.
In-between courses, entertainment
The good times continued in the gala dinner room
came in the form of hilarious standup comedy team Abnormally Funny People, a collective of mainly disabled comics and actors who have done much to prove that humour is a powerful tool for changing attitudes towards disability.
Simon Minty, who regularly appears on Channel 4’s Gogglebox with his sister Jane, was the host for the evening, and he hilariously entertained the crowd with his thoughts on life as a small person.
The laughs kept on coming with left-wing comedian Don Biswas, who took to the stage to entertain the audience withhis razor sharp one-liners and amusing observations about living with dyspraxia and Asperger’s Syndrome.
His quirky take on how those with learning difficulties cope with the workplace and a flawed benefits system, along with the expectations of atraditional middle class Indian family, certainly had the audience in stitches.
Completing the comedy line-up was Steve Day, with his warm, witty and engaging banter on the dilemmas of being a deaf man in a hearing world. Steve describes himself as Britain’s only deaf comedian [apparently, if there are any others, he says, he hasn’t heard!]
The evening was topped off with a spot of karaoke, with mobility and access trade professionals belting out songs such as Sweet Caroline and a few Tom Jones classics.
Michelle James, Head of HR at EA Mobility, commented on “a very enjoyable” evening. She said: “It was a positively delightful evening spent with respected colleagues in the field, celebrating our individual contributions to assisted living whilst making new connections to further strengthen our customers experiences.”
Darren Macey, Business Development Manager at Lifestyle and Mobility, agreed adding: “The RISE @ THIIS gala was a fantastic night, with great comedy too. Well done to all those that organised it!”
Reflecting on a successful gala evening, Helen Kitchen, PR and Communications Director (Global Brand) for Handicare Stairlifts UK, stated: “Handicare was proud to support the BHTA Gala Dinner, which proved to be an entertaining evening
Below (left to right): Simon Minty, Don Biswas and Steve Day provided the laughs
in an impressive venue.
“It was good to see such a wide variety of organisations represented at the event, reflecting the diverse membership.”
AN IDEAL LOCATION Exhibitors from across the industry showcased their latest offerings to buyers, installers and distributors from across the sector for the next day’s main event.
These included some exciting product launches, such as Motion Healthcare exclusively launching its new Evolite car boot scooter at the event, and the latest model of its foldable mLite lightweight scooter.
Meanwhile, Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare’s launched its new AirFold Carbon Fibre Powerchair, and Karma Mobility showcased its lightweight Agile wheelchair.
Mark Duffield, General Manager for Karma Mobility UK, commented: “I enjoyed speaking to our customers in a relaxed environment. The show wasn’t huge, so we had some great discussions with our retailers.”
Certainly, many retailers were happy that they stopped by at the event. Haley Evans, Marketing Manager for Snowdrop Independent Living was impressed with the location.
She said: “It was lovely to meet so many industry peers for the first time and tick off another football stadium! It was a fantastic event with great, thought-provoking sessions. I leave Milton Keynes having gained new knowledge, which will only help me and Snowdrop Independent Living.”
Craig Vernon, Chair and Seating Specialist for Derbyshire Mobility, also remarked on an “enjoyable day”. He commented: “It was great to catch up with familiar faces such as Calvin Barnett, the Head of Marketing and Communications at BHTA, and new faces from the manufacturers we deal with on a daily basis.
“It was a very informative
HELEN KITCHEN, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR (GLOBAL BRAND), HANDICARE STAIRLIFTS UK
Exhibitors showcased their latest offerings
CONFERENCE SESSIONS ROUND-UP
See below for a taste of what was discussed at the RISE @ THIIS conference sessions…
‘Expanding your products and services into public sector frameworks and public and private sector commissioned service contracts’ – By Andrew Stevenson, Chairman of the BHTA
Andrew discussed how the selffunding assistive technology sector is growing and how this presents a significant opportunity for businesses in the industry. Sustainability should be a primary focus for providers looking to get products and services in front of the NHS and local authorities, as the sectors continue pushing towards ‘net zero’.
‘Industry-focussed business management with RISE Consult: How to generate leads and have customer traceability’ – By Jade Godier and Alan Wallace, Directors of RISE 4 Disability
This talk focused on the importance of using an effective CRM system to improve customer trackability and time efficiency. Attendees learned about marketing, task automation, campaign reports, and integrating appropriate marketing channels into CRM systems like social media and mail campaigns.
‘An insight to social care funding: The process of product procurement and order processing from the occupational therapist’s perspective’ – By Jane Miller, Principal Occupational Therapist for Kent County Council
CRAIG VERNON, CHAIR AND SEATING SPECIALIST, DERBYSHIRE MOBILITY
conference with lots of products and presentations on display from Karma Mobility UK, DIETZ Mobility UK, Motion Healthcare, Access Your Life, and plenty more.
“A big thank you to British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) and THIIS Magazine for organising and sponsoring the event. I can’t wait for the next one!”
ENGAGING CONFERENCE SESSIONS The RISE @ THIIS Conference proved to be very popular among show attendees, who were spoilt for choice with a range of insightful and educational sessions for business leaders.
From the importance on inclusive marketing in reaching a wider consumer base and how to get your services and products into public sector frameworks, through to what occupational therapists look for when ordering products and how to generate high-quality leads, there was something for everyone at the comprehensive conference programme.
Retailers, marketeers, suppliers, and installers all enjoyed the bustling conference programme, and the speakers enjoyed sharing their knowledge and connecting with attendees.
Conference speakers also benefited from great interaction with their audiences and found the event to be valuable.
Andrew Stevenson, Chairman of the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA), gave attendees invaluable insights into the booming assistive technology market for his conference sessions.
Reflecting on how his presentation went, Andrew said: “I enjoyed the conference session, the audience was engaged with the topic, and we covered a significant amount of ground in a market channel which product and service suppliers should be focusing on over the coming years.
“There is a major opportunity for product and services on both local,
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Jane’s presentation explored what OTs look for in terms of product suitability at equipment review groups as part of the procurement process. She advised all suppliers to take on any feedback OTs give them about their products, as they have very in-depth knowledge of what works – and what doesn’t – for end-users.
‘Effective Content for social media: Why your marketing content should speak to your client base and how to effectively reach the consumer market through inclusion in branding’ – By Lauren Matthewson and Felix Ledger-Beadell, Directors of Access Your Life
Lauren and Felix’s session explored how mobility and independent living can more effectively and accurately serve their customer base with inclusive marketing on social media by using positive images of younger disabled people.
‘Putting your products to test with recognising quality solutions: How an efficient product evaluation can help enhance your company’s credibility within health and social care’ – By Sharon Rindsland and James Smith, Founders of Recognising Quality Solutions (RQS)
Sharon and James explained how RQS can give suppliers an efficient and clinical product evaluation to help them get their products in front of the NHS and end-users. The service provides a ‘stamp of approval’ that products are fit for purpose along with a full risk assessment.
‘Sleep posture: A cheat’s guide to good sleep’ – By James Leinhardt, CEO of Levitex
James discussed why getting a good night’s sleep is important for enhanced productivity and optimising sales performance.
Jane Miller, Principal Occupational Therapist at Kent County Council takes to the stage
regional and national levels and this demand will remain constant.”
Jade Godier and Alan Wallace, Directors of RISE 4 Disability, who discussed the importance of using an effective CRM system to improve customer trackability in their sessions, also enjoyed presenting at the event.
Commenting on how their joint session went, Jade said: “We had a really good interaction with our audience. It was great for us to learn that CRM systems are becoming more recognised as a need for business process.
“There was a genuine interest in developing overall data management and customer lineage within our audience attendance.
James Smith, Founder of RQS
“We hope our attendees gained an insight on how to improve their customer trackability, lead generation and time efficiency by utilising an effective CRM data management system.”
Visit rise4disability.com/rise-consult to find out how RISE Consult can assist with lead generation and CRM set-up, or for any further information or advice.
Jane Miller, Principal Occupational Therapist for Kent County Council, explored what OTs look for in terms of product suitability at equipment review groups in her session.
She also found the chance to speak at the conference to be fruitful, as she connected with company representatives and discussed how they can better work with OTs.
“It was fabulous to have the opportunity to speak at the conference direct to suppliers and company reps, regarding how to work with the therapist in health and social care, explain the process for authorising equipment orders behind the scenes and how to get their product evaluated and considered for inclusion on the ICES contract catalogues,” she said.
“It triggered a lively debate on how to create and promote new products which are cost effective and robust (i.e. can be recycled many times therefore providing maximum effectiveness and value for money),
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‘Do you know the score?’ – By Mike Glynn, Retail Consultant at MG Retail Consulting
Small business learned how to find the key numbers that drive the business and the importance of keeping a scorecard. Mike highlighted the relationship between numbers and how they influence others.
‘Introducing a new accreditation scheme for suppliers of AT: DLF’s Trusted Assessor scheme aligns to the national qualification recognised and used UK-wide’ – By Janet Seward, Programme Manager at the Disabled Living Foundation (DLF)
Suppliers heard how they can reach thousands more end-users and prescribers every month with free product listings with the DLF. A key focus of Janet’s talk was the announcement of a new scheme to accredit suppliers as Trusted Assessors, which is based on the national framework recognised by health, social care and housing providers. and hopefully offer some handy hints on how to make the best use of company time with rep visits and team contacts.”
The session by Lauren Matthewson and Felix Ledger-Beadell, Directors of Access Your Life, discussed the use of inclusive marketing on social media.
Lauren recalled: “It was really an honour to be invited to speak at the RISE @ THIIS trade expo earlier this week.
“It was not only important for us to connect with other industry experts in person, but to share our unique perspective of being both a wheelchair/service user and a disability industry business owner.
“This was particularly helpful during our Effective Content for Social Media conference session, as it allowed us to advise other businesses on how to create realistic content, adverts and campaigns that are both inclusive and enticing for all ages.
“We know how it feels not to be represented by the companies we rely upon, so we are looking forward to helping others make positive changes within their business!”
A message from the organiser...
“We would like to thank all that came out to support the RISE @ THIIS trade event. It was a delight to see the industry back together at our ‘Back to Business’ gala dinner, enjoying some delicious food and side-splitting humour while having the chance to reconnect with contacts, new and old. And it was a pleasure to hear some great conversations were had between suppliers and buyers at the exhibition, along with the conference content being well received.
“Importantly, none of this could have happened had it not been for all the exhibitors and sponsors that committed to making it happen. In particular, our gala dinner drinks sponsor, Handicare UK; BHTA VIP ticket sponsor, Verlingue UK; and especially our overall show sponsor, Motion Healthcare.
“We would also like to thank all the attendees that made the trip around the multiple roundabouts of Milton Keynes to visit the event, meet suppliers, pick up some new business insights and brave the karaoke at the gala dinner!
“Additionally, thank you to our partners at RISE4Disability for their hard work and commitment delivering the event. Calvin Barnett,
“As the BHTA’s Head of Marketing and mobility and Communications access sector continues to evolve, it is clear that the trade benefits from having a platform to connect and network face to face. We look forward to seeing what we can do to help facilitate this need in the future.”
