Seven tips for getting the most out of the OT Show 2018

Date & Time:

The show is located at Birmingham’s NEC, in halls 9 and 10. The show runs for two days; it opens from 09:00 to 17:30 on the Wednesday 21st November 2018 and 09:00 til 16:30 on the Thursday 22nd November 2018.

Getting there:

If you are travelling by car and have a Sat Nav the postcode is B40 1NT. The arena is clearly signposted from all motorways and major routes including the M42, M40 and M6. If you are travelling by train, Birmingham International Railway station is less than a ten-minute walk from the venue. Whatever mode of transport you’re taking, for full travel information please click here.

 Parking:

There are over 16,500 car parking spaces at the arena. Standard parking is £12 per day and you can pay with cash or card on arrival. However, you may want to consider pre-booking your parking at no extra cost to avoid payment queues. If you want close access to the venue, express parking is £20 for the day and needs to be pre-booked. For more details on parking options or to pre-book, click here.

Pre-registration:

Exhibitor listing:

You can search for exhibitors by company name or category. Each exhibitor listing includes their company name, stand number, address, website, social network accounts. You can also find a short description of what they do and the categories they work in.  You can find OpeMed on stand B60. To view the exhibitor list click here.

Product Specialists:

Most exhibitors will have a team of Product Specialists on hand to offer guidance and support. With so many complex systems on show, make sure you take the time to talk to these Specialists who can really offer their expertise and experience in the field and apply it to your area of work.

Book an appointment:

If you already know who you want to meet at the show then it makes sense to contact them in advance to pre-book a time slot with them. That way you won’t miss out on an opportunity to talk. To contact a supplier, locate the relevant company from the exhibitor list, and send a message using the contact form at the bottom of the page. To book an appointment with OpeMed at the show click here.

Something New:

The OT Show usually is a fantastic place for exhibiting companies to showcase their brand new products and the latest product innovations. Make sure when you speak to the Specialists on each stand and ask about what is new. On the OpeMed stand (B60) we will be showcasing our brand new design system SurveyPlan.

Follow the activity:

If you have a Twitter account the official account to follow for the event is @TheOTShow. News and updates about the event are often being posted. Exhibitors are also actively posting about the event and how to find them on the day.

You can also keep up to date with news and press about the show, exhibitors, and industry topics, by visiting this page on the event website.

Paediatric Trail and Adaptation Trail:

We recommend taking a look at the paediatric or adaptation trail in advance of the event to plan your day to get the most from your visit. To find out more about the paediatric trail click here to view the pediatric seminars or click here to download the trail map.

Live Product Demonstrations:

Nothing quite beats seeing products in person. The ability to see how the equipment is designed to operate, being able to ask questions and to have a greater understanding of how this can be applied to your projects, really helps to break down some of the complexities involved. On the OpeMed stand, we are delighted to be demonstrating a range of equipment from the OT200 Compact Ceiling Hoist to Height Adjustable Baths, Changing Tables and more.

Request for quote:

Being able to meet with multiple potential suppliers and manufacturers all in one place makes it easier for you to make comparisons between them. But, we recommend avoiding asking for live quotes on the day. With so much going on at the event, a chance to reflect on the conversations you’ve had can be really useful. Use the show as a way of shortlisting potential providers based on the feel you get from speaking to them, then spend time sending tailored request for quotes (RFQ) when you are back in the office and have had a chance to reflect.

 Seminars; Learn something new:

The two-day event will play host to six forums and over 100 sessions. All of which are free to attend to all registered visitors. Conferences are a great way to find out what’s happening in the industry and will help break up your day.

You can find OpeMed’s Managing Director, Nick Kent speaking on both days in the Showcase Theatre. To find out what time he is speaking and more about the seminar click here. You can view and see the OT Show 2018 programme by visiting this page.

Justify your attendance:

Whilst the show offers a free delegate place, we appreciate there are still costs in involved to taking a day away from work and attending the conference. To help you if you need additional funding to cover travel and expenses we have two documents that may assist.

If you want to attend The Occupational Therapy Show, you may need to inform your employer early and start preparing the evidence to support your application for attending.

You can download a drafted justification letter for use by both Occupational Therapists working in the statutory sector as well as those in the private sector, to help you make a case to attend the conference.

Click here to visit the OT Show Justification page and find out more.

Come prepared:

With so many exhibitors offering product brochures other literature, freebies and more, we often see OT’s and Case Managers struggling under the weight of so many pages. To combat this we would recommend bringing a wheeled suitcase or bag. This can massively save you from carrying multiple heavy brochures and at a conference where moving and handling is key, we need to make sure you look after yourselves also!

Go digital:

Another way to combat being overloaded with paper is to go digital. On the OpeMed stand (B60) we will be providing sign-up sheets which will simply allow you to specify what literature you would like. We will then send this to you in the days following the show by email (or post). Therefore saving you the need to carry so much on the day(s).