The Innovation Challenge will make its Euro Bus Expo debut at the NEC in Birmingham on 1-3 November. Bringing together notable product and service developments from across the industry, it will give visitors the opportunity to quickly and easily discover what’s new and next in a sector rife with innovation.
The Challenge will highlight the most significant new initiatives from the established and emerging brands exhibiting at Euro Bus Expo, including innovations that could be the key to cutting costs, driving productivity, and unlocking future growth for their businesses. After the last Euro Bus Expo event, Robert Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Reading Buses, commented: “I always enjoy attending the show to see the latest innovations and developments, gather new ideas and meet suppliers. There’s nothing like having all the options under one roof to help shape our buying decisions.”
Exhibiting suppliers are invited to enter products or services launching at Euro Bus Expo or launched in the previous 12 months which they feel deserve recognition for innovation. Said event director Helen Conway: “Following its successful launch at Coach & Bus UK in 2019, the Innovation Challenge celebrates new products and services from across the industry. “As well as giving visitors a convenient way to discover all the latest initiatives, the challenge is an extra opportunity for exhibitors to showcase the very best of their work and highlight
the importance it has on shaping the future of our sector.”
Entries will be displayed in the Innovation Challenge Gallery, where visitors will vote for their favourites on the first and second days of the show. Suppliers of innovations with the most votes will deliver a 90-second pitch of their product or service to a panel of industry judges and visitors in the Masterclass Theatre.
The judges will award bronze, silver or gold award certificates. Judges include Managing Director of Belle Vue Coaches Phil Hitchen; Chloe Leach-O’Connell, Managing Director of Leach-O’Connell Consultancy; Jon Eardley, Managing Director at Abellio London; Tom Morgan, Group Commercial Director at trentbarton; and Josh Miles, Director of CPT Cymru.
John Clarfelt, former Ticketer CEO, said: “I highly recommend entering if you are looking to launch a new product or service. We were excited to be involved in the Innovation Challenge at Coach & Bus UK 2019. “It was a chance to get in front of the whole exhibition audience and showcase something we are proud of, which could really benefit the industry. Reaching the finals and winning the gold award was naturally a bonus.”
