The Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA) will start a policing exercise to ensure exhibitors and organisers are using genuine ESSA members when putting out tenders.

One key to this exercise is the issue of a new membership logo that only ESSA members have access to and can display.

"Membership of ESSA provides a design and build contractor with ESSA's unique completion bond," says ESSA chairman Steve Barratt. "The bond is something that organisers and end clients can rely upon when appointing a contractor. It is essential that it is clear who is a current member of ESSA and therefore eligible for the completion bond."

Barratt also says ESSA is actively checking that any lapsed members, companies that may be in a CVA and companies that have ‘phoenixed’ do not use the ESSA logo until formerly rejoining the association.

"The most up-to-date list of members appears on our website. I would urge anyone sending out tenders to check the list first or contact ESSA and we will confirm who is, and who is not, a current member." he adds.