Discussing key industry issues

In today’s tough economic climate when trade exhibitions are being cancelled there is one transport industry exhibition that is going from strength to strength and is on target to have another successful year in 2009

Every year the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS) plays host to the biggest event in the UK & Republic of Ireland oil distribution industry’s calendar and year on year the exhibition has grown in both exhibitor numbers and visitors. 1 April 2009 will see the start of the 29th FPS EXPO at Harrogate International Centre and all indications point to an event that will yet again break both visitor and exhibitor records.

Visitor numbers
In 2008 the event was held in Dublin and saw over 1,900 of visitors during the two-day event. This was an increase in pure visitor numbers on 2007 and reinforced the growing interest in this oil distribution industry focused exhibition. The importance of technology together with key industry issues and meeting face to face with potential buyers means this is the only dedicated event for discovering all the latest technology solutions, services and products in the one place.
    
It is an event very much on the agenda for senior executives with 86 per cent of visitors being of owner and manager level or above and more importantly the show attracts visitors with real spending power with several deals being completed over the two days.
    
1-2 April, FPS EXPO 2009 will host approximately 200 stands across four halls, and with visitor numbers expected to break the 2,000 barrier, it looks like being another record year. With just over one month to go, over 85 per cent of the exhibition stands have already been booked with 50 per cent being secured during FPS EXPO 2008. New to the show are LAS Europe and Navman Wireless exhibiting alongside FPS EXPO regulars Alfons Haar, BP, Central Welding, The Environment Agency, OAMPS UK Ltd and William Tanker Services.
    
FPS EXPO 2008 heralded the introduction of the FPS Workshops dealing with current issues in place of the traditional Distributors Conference, which was held in September. The more intimate atmosphere of a workshop was popular with the participants and yielded truly useful round-table discussions. Due to demand, the FPS Workshops at FPS EXPO 2009 will include Credit Control and Contracts of Employment.
 
CPC Training
FPS EXPO 2009 will see the launch of the new FPS CPC Training for tanker drivers. The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence is required for all lorry drivers from 10 September 2009. From that date, just holding a vocational driving licence will not be sufficient for someone who wishes to drive such vehicles for a living.
    
The Driving Standards Agency is taking the lead in implementing EU Directive 2003/59, which requires all professional lorry drivers to hold a CPC in addition to their vocational driving licence. It comes into force across all EU member states on 10 September 2009 for lorry drivers.
    
The main benefit is road safety and better qualified drivers to help reduce road casualties. Driver CPC should also bring an improved professional and positive image to the profession, attracting more people to drive buses, coaches and lorries for a living. It is aimed not only at improving the knowledge and skills of LGV and PCV drivers when they start work, but also at ensuring these skills are maintained and developed throughout their working life.

Annual awards
In addition to the workshop programme the FPS also hold an annual awards dinner, which is always held on the final evening of the exhibition and is a very popular event with over 580 tickets sold for 2009. The guest speaker at this year’s dinner will be David Kendall, a former bank manager from Barclays Bank.
    
Awards are presented each year to the Driver of the Year and 2009 also sees the launch of a new award to celebrate the success of young employees, and to recognise and acknowledge the hard work and effort that today’s young people put in to the industry.
    
Aimed at finding the oil distribution industry’s rising star in the oil distribution industry, the FPS Young Employee Award is being sponsored by Reynolds Trade Credit and will be given to an FPS oil distributor member employee, aged 25 or under, for their exemplary efforts on behalf of the company.
    
Delegates also have the opportunity to take part in the annual FPS Golf Day, which will be held at the prestigious Pannal Golf Club, Harrogate on 1 April. Vanessa Cook, FPS marketing and events manager comments: “The FPS commitment to continually improve the services it provides is reflected in the growth of the show and the large amount of business conducted in the exhibition halls. The FPS prides itself on providing value-for-money and the optimum business environment for exhibiting companies. A factor that is even more important in these difficult economic times.
    
“With plans for new features and workshops for 2009, the trade has this fantastic opportunity to tap-into a huge buying audience year-after-year. We look forward to replicating the success enjoyed at the 2008 event.”

For more information
Visitors wishing to come along to FPS EXPO 2009 can now register online at www.fpsshow.co.uk and companies looking to exhibit at FPS EXPO 2009 should contact Vanessa Cook on Tel:
+44 (0) 1565 631313 or Fax +44 (0) 1565 631314 or e-mail: vc@fpsonline.co.uk