LONDON, November 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

The Leading Annual Safety and Health Event Builds on Success of Previous Years following Positive Industry Feedback

The Safety & Health Expo returns to Birmingham's NEC from 14-16 May 2013 following the growth of the annual event earlier this year.  With an increase in visitors, exhibitors, educational content and greater participation from exhibitors and visitors across the show floor, the 2012 Safety & Health Expo was another must attend event for all those working across the industry.

Independent research conducted by Fusion Communications found that 89% of visitors to the 2012 event felt that the show was excellent for finding products and services, along with over 80% confirming that the show is the best or better than most they attend. The research also highlighted that 83% of visitors to Safety & Health Expo felt that it was in tune with the evolving market.

Exhibitors in 2012 were equally enthusiastic with 100% of respondents to the survey feeling that they met with the right quality people over the three days. Additionally, 94% felt that from exhibiting at the show they generated a good number of business prospects or leads.

Heather Beach, Brand Director, Occupational Safety & Health Portfolio at UBM Live, said: "The research we conducted following Safety & Health Expo 2012 has really helped inform our programme for 2013. As the leading annual event for the health and safety industry, we are aiming to build on the great success from 2012 with more innovation, more education and the very latest products and services out in the market today on display. Safety & Health Expo 2013 promises to provide a premium platform that will address the current industry issues and seek to offer tangible solutions for health and safety practitioners everywhere."

Safety & Health Expo 2013 will return with all its most popular features including the SHP Legal Arena, Occupational Health Theatre, The Academy which this year will again be sponsored by Arco and the IOSH Stand Theatre and Networking Zone. Following the successful introduction of the Barbour Directors Club, this will also return for 2013, with the ongoing aim to continue to attract senior level visitors to the show.

New this year, leading consultants of 'Best Practice' for driver safety, Fleet21 will create The Business Driver Zone, designed in conjunction with UBM, to showcase best practice in all areas of business driver safety using lively, interactive presentations and discussions that address knowledge gaps identified by Health and Safety professionals nationwide. With so much misunderstanding surrounding certain areas of business driver safety and compliance including Health and Safety legislation and the effectiveness of different types of driver training, this new feature promises to be an informative and valuable addition to the show.

Simon Turner, Commercial Director at Fleet21, said: "We are looking forward to making our mark on the Safety and Health Expo in 2013. Our new management team who are highly experienced in the area of business driver safety and compliance wanted to create a unique event that would match our unique approach we have to this important area of occupational health and safety."

The free educational content saw a 60% growth in audience numbers compared to the 2011 programme, highlighting the increased importance in providing high quality sessions that allow visitors to maximise time away from the office.

Safety & Health Expo is the only UK health and safety show to have the support of all three leading health and safety associations: The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF), The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and The Institute of Safety and Health (IOSH).  

In 2012 the Safety & Health Expo attracted 7,951 pure visitors, a 9.7% increase year on year*, for 2013 it will again be co-located with the Facilities Show (the UK's largest facilities event, attracting facilities managers, estates, fire, security and health and safety professionals from across the industry) and IFSEC International (the world's largest annual security and fire event), along with FIREX International. All four shows make up the UBM Live Protection & Management Week, which will be held at Birmingham's NEC from 13-16 May 2013.

About UBM Live

UBM Live connects people and creates opportunities for companies across five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products, promote their brands and expand their markets.   Through premier brands such as MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show and many others, UBM Live exhibitions, conferences, awards programs, publications, websites and training and certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies across more than 20 industry sectors.