SALTEX 2016’s all-encompassing and free-to-attend LEARNING LIVE programme is set to explore what impact leaving the European Union will have on the industry, when the exhibition opens its doors at the NEC, Birmingham on the 2 and 3 November.

Designed to cater to all visitors that maintain or manage pitches, estates, grounds, landscapes, play areas and parks, LEARNING LIVE will play a major role at SALTEX and will offer an extensive information-sharing experience, an incredible line-up of guest speakers and will focus on key issues that surround the industry – Brexit being one of them.

In an organised panel debate, the implications of leaving the EU will be discussed. Professor John Moverley, chairman of the Amenity Forum has been confirmed as a panel member and will seek to specifically address the implications for weed, pest and disease control, as well as the amenity sector as a whole.

Commenting on the debate, John said: “At this moment in time we are at a very early stage but, as well as posing a challenge, it is a time of opportunity to influence future decision making and represent the sector’s interests. I look forward to a lively debate.”

Other panel members include managing director of Turfcare Technologies David Cole from the industry supplier sector and chair of the IOG’s Young Board of Directors Will Graves who will discuss the impact of the Brexit decision for young people in the industry. More high profile panelists will be confirmed shortly. As John says, a lively debate is set to ensue and it could prove to be an ideal opportunity for visitors to raise any issues they may have regarding Brexit’s impact on the wider industry as the panel members will actively encourage questions from the audience.

Elsewhere within the LEARNING LIVE programme, the Amenity Forum is set to host the ever popular ‘Question Time’ which has been modelled on the BBC programme. John will be reprising the ‘David Dimbleby’ role by chairing the event and the invited panel of experts, which includes Will Kay from Languard, Mark De Ath from Headland Amenity and Stephen Jacob from BASIS Registration, will receive questions on current issues primarily concerned with weed, pest and disease control. They will have no pre-warning of the questions and members of the audience will be invited to help present these and make comment. Based on previous years, the event promises to offer a highly-informative and animated debate.

SALTEX 2015 featured 1,655 minutes of free seminars through the LEARNING LIVE programme and, off the back of its success, this year show organisers have commissioned an additional fourth lecture theatre to expand the number of presentations across the two-day event – to offer an even more exciting programme featuring a greater depth of content and quality.

John believes that the exhibition provides the ideal platform to educate and enlighten the whole of the industry. “I believe the new NEC venue worked extremely well for SALTEX last year and certainly all exhibitors seemed very busy. There was a great buzz in the halls and it certainly seemed to me to meet its objectives.

“SALTEX is a major event in the amenity calendar – it provides an opportunity for people from across the sector to meet, learn of new developments, discuss topical issues and do business.

www.iogsaltex.com