The NEC has claimed its Launchpad initiative helped the UK AD and Biogas (ABDA) annual expo and conference to double in size in 12 months.
 
The second annual show took place in Birmingham from 6 to 7 July and focused on businesses in the anaerobic digestion and biogas industries. The NEC said its Launchpad consultancy service to first-time event organisers was a catalyst for the show’s 110 per cent year-on-year physical growth. It also reported a rise in exhibitors from 74 to 159 this year and a pre-audited attendance increase of 25 per cent.
 
As part of the agreement, Launchpad managed all operational aspects of the 2011 event, as well as moved the show to online exhibitor manuals and Go Green registration services.
 
“It just proves that when you combine industry knowledge, contacts and reputation with great content and a professional, well managed delivery, a new show can be a resounding success,” The NEC’s business development director Chris Hartley said.
 
As a new organisation, international resources had been limited, ABDA sales and marketing manager Louise Wallace explained.
 
“To have grown so rapidly in one year is an amazing achievement and we are really excited about this year’s show. We have benefited massively from Launchpad,” she said.
 
ABDA’s 2012 show will move into Hall 3A to allow further expansion.
 
Launchpad was unveiled by The NEC in 2010 as a project management service to assist smaller businesses to stage exhibitions and events more successfully.
 
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