‘Tis the season of the Expo! Who would have thought we’d be saying/singing that 12 months ago. Go back in time a year and anyone suggesting we would have three trade exhibitions to attend over the next couple of months, may well have been labelled as some kind of lunatic. ‘This market can barely support one,’ may have been the stock response given the somewhat lukewarm reaction to what was available back then (certainly from the major lenders) however we now find ourselves in an altogether different environment.
Which all means that, starting with Financial Services Expo (FSE) on the 1st and 2nd October, moving to the Financial Professional Show (FPS) on the 6th November, and ending up with Mortgage Business Expo (MBE) on the 13th and 14th November, advisers and intermediaries can ‘pay their money and take their choice’ when it comes to industry exhibitions. Of course, these events are free to attend so there’s no need for any money to change hands at all.
So, where once there was one – MBE – now there are three, although judging by the legal action that has been taking place recently, MBE organisers, Clarion Events, would have preferred there to be just two. However, it would seem its attempt at an injunction against FSE organiser, James Prosser, has failed and all three are good to go.
I, for one, am delighted about this – not least because BrokerConveyancing.co.uk is exhibiting at FSE – because what we all need in this marketplace are options and competition. Indeed, having read an interview a month ago with those now running MBE it would appear they felt the same way. ‘Bring on the competition’, they appeared to be saying, although perhaps not one that was going to steal their thunder, they might have added.
Our own opinion on the shows available is probably obvious from our decision to exhibit at FSE. It’s first in the calendar, has a strong mix of mainstream lender exhibitors and key players from other sectors, has a quality seminar line-up including the FCA speaking on both days, and it is being held in Central London. The first point regarding the timing of the show to my mind is crucial – I’m afraid to say that, in terms of impacting on 2013 business levels, November is too late in the day. Plus we want to be exhibiting at a show which offers the most attendees the best chance of easy travel arrangements and quality content. To my mind, FSE has got this right.
FPS appears to be a slightly different type of show given that it is an association with the NACFB and certainly has a strong bridging/commercial focus. In that sense it is carving out its niche in two niche sectors and I’m sure will do well in that regard. It is difficult to give an opinion on MBE at present given that (as yet) there is no detail regarding exhibitor and seminar content available. I did read the organisers were not going to focus on the Mortgage Market Review at all in the show – I think this is a big mistake given the ramifications of this regulatory change and how it important it is to the market, but particularly lenders and brokers. However, I will reserve judgement on MBE until we see more detail – clearly its decision to cancel MBE Manchester at the last minute will not have gone down well with Manchester exhibitors and may have tempered the enthusiasm of those who may have looked at exhibiting and attending London. That decision may be one they come to regret but we shall see.
All in all though, advisers certainly have plenty of choice in the next two months and I feel it’s important for all those who can, to attend at least one exhibition. We will be there at FSE hoping to see large numbers of attendees and for those who register with us on the day, they have a good chance of winning a tablet computer. We’re giving away one on the hour every hour.
So, let the exhibitions (and competition) begin – let’s go on with the show(s).
Harpal Singh is managing director of Broker Conveyancing
