Organisers CMP Information said 30,753 attendees (subject to ABC audit) visited IFSEC 2008 between May 12 and 15.
Visitors also represented a wide wange of blue chip companies, including ASDA, Barclays, Coca-Cola, Merrill Lynch, American Express, Next, DHL, Mothercare, Cadbury Schweppes, and Credit Suisse.
“To achieve visitor figures like this is truly reflective of the show’s global appeal,” explains James Blue, IFSEC event director. “IFSEC has a strong, dedicated team behind it who, together with pro-active exhibitors and a first class educational programme, have been able to provide the industry with an event that really addresses the pertinent issues.”
Comprehensive conference
As well as providing visitors with a wide variety of the latest products and services to hit the market, IFSEC 2008 also presented a comprehensive conference programme for the first time.
The IFSEC Conference 2008 tackled the issues of border security, transportation security, surveillance and protection, major incident management and response, within niche, focused sessions for key industry sectors.
Delegates had the opportunity to learn first-hand from some of the security profession’s biggest names including: Rageh Omaar (former BBC Baghdad correspondent); Mark Whittle (national security manager, McDonald’s); Rae Jiggin (Chief Inspector, British Transport Police); John Scott (head of security, Post Office); John McDermott (head of security, Central Criminal Court); Terry Scallan (Governor, South African Institute of Security); and Gerald Toms (stadium manager, Millennium Stadium).
Nice features
IFSEC 2008 also included a number of brand new feature areas including “A Day in the Life of a Smartcard” and the IP Innovation Centre.
“A Day in the Life of a Smartcard”, sponsored by HID Global, was a first for the UK security industry, and gave a hands-on view of all elements of RFID and smartcard technology in action across a range of market sectors and applications.
Run by IP integration specialists Universal Security, in conjunction with the CNL IPSecurityCenter, the IP Innovation Centre offered “an adventure in IP” for installers and security managers alike. The area featured a specially commissioned installation of security systems to demonstrate how they can be networked via IP technology.
Awarding success
The industry celebrated its successes at the IFSEC Security Industry Awards on Monday 12 May at the National Motorcycle Museum. Acknowledging the people, products and technological advancements that have shaped the security industry over the past year, the annual Security Industry Awards are judged by a panel of industry experts.
British Security Industry Association Chief Executive, David Dickinson, said: “Innovation is the very lifeblood of the security industry and this year’s IFSEC award winners show that the future is bright for our industry. Individually, they demonstrate commitment to innovation and excellence and collectively, they show how vibrant and forward looking our industry is. All the winners are to be congratulated on their achievements and should be justly proud of the contribution they are making to our industry.”
Why not have a look at the full list of winners?
