Following a rise in architect numbers at Ecobuild 2014, independent research into the world’s largest event for sustainable design, construction and the energy sectors, reveals that 85 percent of the architectural community visiting Ecobuild (www.ecobuild.co.uk) rate it as important to their business.
Conducted by event research and media research consultancy Vivid Interface¹, the report also highlights that 86 percent of overall visitors rated Ecobuild 2014 as excellent or good, including installers, house builders, building contractors, developers, construction managers, local government and designers.
As the second piece of in-depth research conducted on Ecobuild in the last six months, organisers UBM Live Built Environment will base its strategy for the 2015 event upon the key findings.
Representing the largest gathering of architects at any UK event, Ecobuild attracts the senior architecture and design community who are leading the way on sustainable design. Citing new products as a top reason to attend the event along with 87 percent of Ecobuild’s visitors this year, architects want to see the latest innovations from across the sustainable built environment.
Content is also key to all audiences with 75 percent of respondents saying that Ecobuild’s free to attend conference and seminar programme was highly/quite important in their decision to attend the event.
This March saw a marked rise in senior decision-makers at CEO/MD/Director level² attend the event with 83 percent stating that Ecobuild was most important to their business.
Alison Jackson, Group Director of Sustainability & Construction, Ecobuild says: “Ecobuild is a vibrant marketplace where new partnerships are made and millions of pounds are invested. Capitalising upon new market opportunities, technologies and sector growth is central to Ecobuild’s proposition, so it’s vital that we consult our audience year-round to shape an engaging, relevant and professional place to do business.”
Maybe unsurprisingly, 90 percent of visitor respondents find the Ecobuild focus on sustainability/eco products highly/quite important in their decision to visit.
Coupled with feedback that 91 percent of exhibitors taking part in the research use Ecobuild to raise brand awareness and 56 percent to launch new products and services, Jackson says: “There is definitely a real thirst for technological innovation in our market place which is a hugely positive sign that the industry is now beginning to move on from the recession and into a period of growth. We will be investing in new ways to showcase innovations at Ecobuild 2015 as well as building on our reputation for world class content.”
Jackson says: “With 91 percent of exhibitors surveyed stating that Ecobuild 2014 was more or equally important as previous years, and 65 percent of the floor plan now sold or reserved, we would urge companies to get in touch now to secure a prominent position.”
Ecobuild 2014 saw a three percent rise in attendees this March, with 44,538 sustainable built environment professionals flocking to London’s ExCeL across the three days. Ecobuild 2015 takes place from March 3-5 2015 at ExCeL.
