Visitor numbers up at Civil Engineering top event

Civils 2008 attracted more visitors and exhibitors this year, confirming its place as the number one networking event for the civil engineering sector in the UK.

Initial figures (subject to audit) show that 4,011 people visited Civils 2008 at Earls Court 2, London from 18 to 20 November.

This was an increase of 12% in visitor numbers from 2007 and such was the show's success that just under half of this year's 194 exhibitors have already booked to return in 2009.

As a showpiece of innovation in Civil Engineering, Civils also saw the announcement of the winners of the Civils 2008 Innovation Awards, open to companies throughout the UK industry.

Terravac won the Innovative Service Award for its Six Phase Heating array used for in-situ cleaning of heavily contaminated sites.

The technique allows early access for construction work to commence for residential development.

Cable Detection won the Innovative Product Award for EZiDIG, the world's first excavator-mounted buried service avoidance tool.

EZiDIG alerts the operator to the presence of buried services for greater safety and reduced project downtime.

"An increase in visitor numbers against the background of economic downturn is a testament to the resilience of the Civil Engineering industry and to the many improvements we brought to this year's show," says Civils event manager, Gerry Sherwood.

"The free-to-attend Civil Forum conference offered genuine thought-leadership from leading UK figures, while major projects exhibitors like Crossrail, BAA, The Highways Agency, Sellafield, Magnox South and Metronet Rail were showcasing projects worth over GBP50bn".

Civils combines an exhibition with a conference programme; CPD seminars; industry awards and key note addresses.

Every aspect of the civil engineering industry is represented at the exhibition from major industry clients through to top contractors, consultants and suppliers.

No other event brings together the whole industry in one place to network, educate, promote, learn and recruit.

"Crossrail will be the largest civil engineering project in Europe, so it is vital for us to engage with the industry," said Peter Hawes, Events and Internal Communications Manager at Crossrail.

"Civils 2008 provided us with a unique opportunity to keep a range of stakeholders from across the industry fully informed of the project's latest developments".

"This is the first time I have visited Civils and definitely not the last," said Michael Hughes, a civil engineer from South Africa.

"I came to see what is new in the market and what has been updated".

"The stands are full of people with a depth of knowledge that they are happy to share and the seminar quality is excellent".

"It is clear that the speakers have worked very hard preparing their presentations".

"Visiting Civils has proved very useful indeed"".

""The response to the new products and Fischer's overall technical offering at the Show was magnificent," said Steve Line, stand manager, Fischer Fixings".

"We had a constant stream of high quality leads and excellent new contacts"".

"We've met a lot of graduates as well as other companies who want to work with us.

Gemma Jackson, recruitment advisor at Amey said.

"One of our directors said he'd had a better response on the stand in the first two hours of being at the show than he'd had all day at another show in Manchester".

Civils 2009 takes place from 24 to 26 November 2009 at Earls Court 2, London.

Entry to the exhibition and conference is to remain free of charge.

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