Make a real connection
A new channel trade show is aiming to excel in networking opportunities as well as the latest tech and education, says Fleur Doidge
CRN has begun releasing the details of a brand new exhibition that has been carefully tailored to meet the needs of UK technology providers.
To be held in Coventry at Ricoh Arena on Thursday 12 May, Partner Connect will play host to the displays and networking events of thousands of channel-focused vendors, distributors, resellers, integrators and services providers.
Sara Yirrell, editor of CRN, says the new all-day trade show should be both educational and entertaining. A lack of quality trade exhibitions targeting the needs of the UK channel meant that the events people at Incisive Media had put their heads together to work out what the channel really needs and how best to offer it.
“I am excited myself about this offering, which is really bespoke and offering the best opportunities for networking and education across the diversity of the channel,” says Yirrell.
“This is following really extensive research with and on the industry and working hard to deliver an entirely new concept. Do put the date in your diaries, as we would love to see you there and believe it will be beneficial to all attendees.”
World-class stadium venue
Ricoh Arena includes, as well as the world-class stadium, the 6,000 square-metre fully climate-controlled Jaguar Exhibiton Hall which hosted 12 major events in its first six months. Power, gas, telephone, and fibre optic networking are all supported at this venue.
The column-free space offers several food kiosks, five metre by four metre vehicle access entrances, and access to Arena parking for up to 2,000 cars. Ricoh Arena is off the A444, easily accessed via Junction 3 on the M6 near Coventry. Coventry itself is about six miles away.
Ricoh Arena is centrally located, suiting more of the UK’s businesses. It has 71 rooms and suites – and a bar/bistro -- for overnight accomodation itself, with the wide range of hotels and guest houses in Coventry only a short drive away.
Several exhibitors have already put their hand up to support Partner Connect in response to a number of packages – including network security appliance vendor Celestix, and Northampton based Channel Recruitment Specialists (CRS) – and offers of different sizes being put together by the CRN sales team and events management.
“Although we put everything we have got into these events, what really makes them fly in the end is the hard work and commitment of our sponsors, who work in partnership with Incisive to deliver the best possible opportunity,” says Yirrell. “Partner Connect is really a joint industry effort. We need all of you to help us make it be as good as it can be.”
Bright ideas and suggestions for the event can still be submitted, and sponsorship opportunities as well as stand packages are ongoing. CRN sees the event as the number-one way to meet other partners, potential channel players, and vendors in the whole UK and the intent is for it to be an annual opportunity.
A previous event, Channel Expo, has been retired. That event concept did not go anywhere near far enough to meeting the needs of the UK channel today, says Yirrell.
“We inherited that concept from another events organiser. We believe – and our research has shown, both at grassroots level and through analysis – that it did not meet the needs of the bulk of the B2B channel,” says Yirrell. “So we have retired the idea of that as a flagship show for the channel. Which means that one is needed.”
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