Did you know, we host over 400 events each year including Trade Shows at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre?
We caught up with Graham Thompson, Head of Venue Operations at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre to learn a bit more about what goes into delivering events here and asked him to share his top tips for planning your trade show.
“My role is very much to be a problem solver; to turn a dream event into a reality. I’ve been with the Great Yorkshire Events Centre for over 19 years now, so if you think it, we’ve probably hosted it here!
“I still firmly believe every day is a learning day. The team and I are always looking at ways to improve on every event; what went well, what could have gone better, how could we do it differently, we offer bigger and better solutions.”
Planning a trade show? Here are Graham’s top tips:
Pick the right sized space
“At the Great Yorkshire Events Centre we are very lucky to have 250 acres of bookable space including the Pavilions of Harrogate which can host up to 450 delegates and visitors, The Halls which is ideal for large-scale events and not forgetting The Grounds if outside space is required.
“As soon as you see the capabilities of the space, it’s often tempting to go all guns blazing, booking the largest space you can. But then reality sets in when you have to sell on that space and make it work for your event.
“At the outset we always recommend sitting down with the team, working out your objectives for your event. What do you want to achieve from it? How many attendees are you expecting? From there we can make recommendations that are tailored to your requirements. The benefit of the Great Yorkshire Events Centre is that, year-on-year, as your event increases in popularity and prominence, we have the space and options to grow with it.
“We host trade shows from small and intimate, through to industry-wide events taking over The Halls, such as The British Potato Event which sees the whole potato industry come together bi-annually for this unique ‘seed to shopping trolley’ trade event.”
Plan how you’ll use the space
“It can be really daunting, faced with having booked a large empty space, to know how best to utilise it. My absolute top tip is, before you start selling that space on, work with the Great Yorkshire Events Centre team to plan the best way for you to use it.
“We have a wealth of experience in delivering events. In fact, Colin our Operations Manager has now been here 25 years, so I’m positively new compared to him! The team is keen to share their experience and find solutions that deliver on planners’ dreams.”
Marketing the event
“We have an in-house marketing team who can help you promote your event. From drafting and sharing press releases, through to social media and our newsletter database, they can support in getting word out there to help you make the most of your event.”
Make it easy for attendees
“Any event lives or dies by getting attendees through the doors. You’ve done the hard work creating this fabulous event and you want to make it as easy as possible for attendees to get to you, taking away any logistical hurdles.
“Communication is key, sharing the ease of visiting your event. It’s one of the things event bookers and visitors love most about events at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre. Our prime location means we’re just two miles from Harrogate Train Station, 14 miles from Leeds Bradford Airport and seven miles from the A1(M). What’s more we have free parking for up to 2,000 cars and multiple EV charging stations located across the site.
“Easy access by road and rail and the vast amount of free parking on-site have been some of the main reasons The Knit Show, an annual trade event created by the UK Hand Knitting Association returns to the Pavilions of Harrogate year after year. The event draws delegates from yarn and craft retailers from across the country to explore the latest collections, meet suppliers and gain valuable insights through workshops and demonstrations, so convenience is key for them.”
All profits from events booked at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre fund the charitable work of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society. To speak to the team and find out more about how we could support your event, contact our Sales and Events team on 01423 544544 or enquiries@eventscentre.co.uk.