As the rain lashed down over Farnborough during the build-up days, Trevor Sidebottom, managing director of show organiser Farnborough International, took comfort from the Met Office staff on site who assured him the weather would clear in time for this week’s event.
“Last show we had a record heat wave, and on Thursday we saw a month’s average rainfall in just a couple of hours,” Sidebottom says. But even heavy showers couldn’t mask the satisfaction the former RAF director of personnel shows for a job well done.
Due to retire in November on his 65th birthday, Sidebottom has led Farnborough International from its historic position as the exhibition arm of the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) into a stand-alone company that is extending its services beyond the single air show.
“We have three key areas,” Sidebottom says. “Firstly to maintain a world class show for the UK aerospace industry. This year’s Farnborough will be a record in terms on exhibitors and in size. We have more than 1,500 companies here and that is a great opportunity for UK companies to be exposed to new customers or suppliers.”
The second part of Sidebottom’s strategy is the development of the show site itself, “We already use an exhibition area that is greater than 80 football pitches, but we recognise that we need more. We now have a secured tenancy from TAG, the site owners and are able to invest in improvements.”
The whole site is now known as Farnborough International Venue and Events (FIVE) and since the last show has seen the erection of a $6 million facility that is housing BAE Systems for the show and throughout the year is host to launches and special events. “We have invested in more hardstanding areas, in the infrastructure such as power supply and we will continue to do that,” Sidebottom says.
The final element is offering consultancy to other associations and governments who are planning major events. The Farnborough International team provided the sales and marketing for last year’s Bangalore show and is in discussions for new events in the Middle East.
“We are in good shape and progressing well on all of those goals.” Sidebottom says. And for this year’s show?
“A lot of the investment has been in services and we hope that makes the whole operation better. We have sold just about every bit of space we have.
"The only thing we can’t control is the weather but we have worked with Met Office on site and have closed the grass car parks during the build-up when the rain got heavy. It drains well. We are ready for this record show – but with the weather, it is fingers crossed."
Source: Flight Daily News
