So the Birmingham NEC relationship with the Facilities Show comes to an end, and next year everything moves to Excell in Londons Docklands. What are your thoughts on this move, good or bad?

Personally, I am a bit disappointed, that as usual, everything ends up back in London, the BIFM conference for instance was a joy in Cambridge but not so much in London. The same was true of the Facilities Show, because you had to make the effort to get there, most people stayed for a couple of days at least, and looked hard to maximise their time, both at the show and socially around it. There was fun to be had. London does not get this, most people come and go sporadically, and decide at the last minute not to bother going (because its no real expense or inconvenience to do that), and if they do go, they only go for a few hours and the social side is non-existent, especially in the Docklands around Excell.

In terms of getting and staying there however, there are positives and negatives, the positives are that you can stay in London cheaply (I use Tune Hotels and pay as little as £55 a night at times), but then the trade off is that while flights are cheap (from Scotland at least), ground transport is very expensive, with return fairs from every airport adding to the cost of underground and DLR tickets. Birmingham NEC at least you just flew in, stayed locally (albeit expensively) and walked, or as many did, drive! You won’t be trying that in London to get to the Excell I expect.

The Facilities Show has grown into a very good show, and the free learning opportunities are in abundance, particularly this year, making attendance worthwhile and potentially rewarding. I hope UBM don’t break it by moving it to London. The semi-good news however is that Maintec (the Plant & Asset Maintenance Show) is adding Facilities Management to its 2014 Show in the Birmingham NEC in March!

So bye bye Birmingham 2013, hello Birmingham March 2014 and then London from 17th-19th of June 2014 – it all makes sense really.

What are your views, express them below, we’d love to hear them.

Here is a selection of the Social Media from today’s @Facilities_Show in the Birmingham NEC

Gareth Tancred @BIFM_CEO with with @SITAUK winners of ‘best stand’

@Look_Sharp and @LarchLucy exchange more comments about the BrightHygiene fairy

The Tweetreach on Day 1 hit 180,000+ but on Day 2 struggled to reach 80,000

The @Safelins promotion with the combustible material inside the extinguisher!

BrightHygiene caused a bit of a stir today

@Servest_UK still feeding the @Facilities_Show attendee’s

@Safelincs has a pile of ‘self maintenance’ Fire Extinguishers

@Safelincs has a pile of Fire Extinguishers

@JGurd exchanges comments with @BIFM_CEO

@FM_Coach laments lack of women in Prague at the #FMSummit

@e_bim is a very busy place with the magician on hand

@BIFM_CEO tweets from the @Facilities_Show exhibitors party

@assetskills stand

FMJ stand @monthinFM

Bright Hygienes Father Fairy and his daughter Elfin Safety

@SITAUK giving away a Kindle for catching balls!

@PARRS1886 stand

@OfficeDepot_UK stand

@Mitie_Group_plc giving away a free Nook ereader today (stand 2F80)

@MCSComms & Ennis the Hawk

@FMCoach and Grumpy Fairy

@circuitelectric man

@AmtechGroup stand

Here are another batch of photo’s from various people at the show today:

Here are a selection of the top posts from today’s Facilities Show Social Media:

An appealing offer from @7DayCatering to come and join them for some Afternoon Tea

The @BIFM_UK team taking a pause during a long busy day promoting #facilitiesmanagement

Comment from @FM_World on a question from FM veteran @cathy_magenta at the technology debate

Summary comments from @FMDay2DAy not happy about some of the attire chosen to promote FM

The panel from the @FMAssociation debate on Technology in FM

The @carbontrust Energy Management Theatre presentation from @McCarthyMyles

Here are another batch of photo’s from various people at the show today:

@BIFM_CEO

@david_kentish and @Richard_ebims

@frazclark

@MCSComms

@Safelincs

@Servest_UK

@thecarbontrust

FMA Debate 1

Ismena Clout BIFM Chair opening the show