Following a hugely successful in-person comeback in 2022 after three years away due to Covid, IFSEC, in partnership with the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), returns to ExCeL London from 16-18 May this year with a packed expo hall, topical seminar program, live demos, new Distributor Network and a partnership with charity Mates in Mind.
Thousands of senior security professionals are expected to attend, keen to explore innovative products and solutions and collaborate with the entire community, including over 200 exhibiting companies and key security associations.
This year also marks IFSEC’s 50
th anniversary and the show has changed considerably since it launched in 1973.
“ISEC, as it was then called, was quite a charming and modest gathering of burglar alarm suppliers that got together at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London,” says Gerry Dunphy, IFSEC event director.
The event has come a long way since then and is now the UK’s longest and largest-running security event.
“I have been thinking about how IFSEC has achieved such longevity,” added Dunphy, “and it’s purely down to industry appetite and demand against an ever-changing backdrop of technology and suppliers.’’
“IFSEC brings buyers and sellers together and creates and enhances partnerships by uniting people from the same industry. It’s a place where they can collaborate, network, meet face-to-face, discover new technology and be part of a huge global industry. The fact that it has been running for 50 years is testament to the appetite for progression and evolution.”
New Distributor Network
New for 2023, the Distributor Network recognizes the essential role distributors play in the security market. In bespoke distributor hubs on the show floor, 11 of the UK’s leading distributors will meet and greet the installer audience and invite them to the VIP sessions and meet suppliers.
Live Demo Areas
Visitors to this year’s IFSEC can look forward to two live areas on the show floor:
- The Converged Security Center, in partnership with Advancis, is collaborating with several vendor partners to showcase the benefits of open, integrated security management platforms. Visitors can see, hear and experience the technology in real time and meet with the experts behind the technology.
- The LPCB Attack Testing Zone puts a range of highly engineered security equipment to the test by attacking them with hammers and wire cutters. Commenting on the feature, Gerry said, “I’m delighted that the very dynamic and energetic LPCB Attack Testing Zone is back, this is without doubt the most popular feature we have ever been involved with.”
Mates in Mind
This year IFSEC has partnered with a leading mental health and wellbeing charity, Dunphy said: “We are delighted to partner with Mates in Mind this year – since they launched in 2017, Mates in Mind have been committed to improving mental health across the construction industry. Their target is to reach 75 percent of the industry by 2025 and we are thrilled to be working with them to help spread their message within what has been a traditionally very difficult audience to break into.”
Conference
This year’s seminar sessions on the show floor will cover the biggest topics affecting the security industry, including the impact of big tech on access control, the changing world of alarm signaling with the introduction of Move to All IP, the use of body cams to make the workplace a safer space, and more.
In addition, a one-day session focusing on the introduction of Martyn’s Law, a new piece of anti-terrorism legislation, will talk about how the high-profile campaign led the UK government to assess and legislate on the security measures adopted by venues in the wake of the Manchester bombing in 2017. Martyn’s mother, Figen Murray, who headed up the campaign, will be one of the speakers during the session.
The full agenda will be launched shortly.
Elizabeth Line
The launch of the brand-new Elizabeth Line means visitors can now access ExCeL direct from as far away as Reading, Heathrow and Shenfield.
“The Elizabeth Line is now open and visitors can travel to ExCeL from central London in under 13 minutes, and direct from Heathrow in 45. It’s an absolute game changer,” said Dunphy.
IFSEC - and its three co-located events - FIREX, Facilities Show and Safety & Health Expo – are all free to attend. Visitor registration is open
now.
- FIREX, Europe’s leading annual fire safety event, exclusively in partnership with the Fire Industry Association, supports and reinforces third-party approved solutions and is the only event in the UK which makes accreditation a condition of exhibiting.
- Facilities Show is the world's largest dedicated facilities management event where visitors can prep for the future of the workplace and explore solutions for making them smarter, more efficient and more sustainable.
- Safety & Health Expo welcomes thousands of health and safety professionals to connect with peers and discover solutions to combat safety risks in the workplace and keep up to date with mental health initiatives.