Transformational Change and Adapting Emergency Services to COVID-19

The Emergency Services Show, 7 to 8 September 2021

Transformational change in the emergency services, driven by the challenges presented by COVID-19 and the fast pace of technical innovation being introduced to the sector, is set to be a major theme of The Emergency Services Show, which returns to Hall 5 and the outdoor area at the NEC, Birmingham from 7th to 8th September 2021.

“While it’s too early to fully assess the impacts of COVID on the emergency services, the pandemic has unquestionably been an unprecedented driver for change,”  says  ESS  Event  Director David Brown. “The Emergency Services Show uniquely brings together the many and diverse ways in which emergency services, their partners and supply chain are adapting during the pandemic. It’s the one place where you  can  see  the  latest equipment, explore innovative technologies, share experiences, exchange best practice and learn from each other.”

The show has launched a new feature: Future Policing, supported by an Advisory Council chaired by Lord Hogan-Howe, the former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service. Showcasing the latest innovations available for the police sector and sponsored by Audax, Future Policing has the full backing of the Police Federation of England and Wales and will feature a two-day, CPD-accredited high-level conference with a line-up of senior speakers.

Health & Wellbeing is the exclusive focus of one of the show’s four dedicated CPD-accredited seminar theatres, alongside Lessons Learnt and Emerging Technologies. The fourth seminar theatre due to be announced later this year will focus on one of the fastest-growing areas of innovation in the emergency services sector.

Health & Wellbeing topics explored will include tackling historically neglected health and safety issues and the unique mental health challenges facing the emergency services working under COVID. The Emerging Technologies seminar theatre will showcase how the emergency services can use data and technology more efficiently, including overcoming the organisational challenges presented by the pandemic. The ever-popular College of Paramedics CPD seminars are also set to return with a highly topical programme of 30-minute workshops.

Free-to-attend, The Emergency Services Show features more than 450 exhibiting companies including leading names in search and rescue, extrication, training, protective clothing and uniforms, medical equipment, vehicles and fleet, vehicle equipment, outsourcing and safety.  New technology on display will include connected vehicles that serve as mobile communications hubs, satellite communications, ruggedised mobile computers, tablets and phones, data, cloud storage, wearable tech, connectivity, UAVs/drones, hybrid and electric vehicles, body-worn cameras and other video capture systems. Among more than 50 organisations exhibiting for the first time in 2021 are  Linkwave  Technologies,  Bullitt  Group, Halo Technologies and BiTEA.

With COVID limiting opportunities for face-to-face training, Virtual Reality technology is also set to feature strongly, as is the use of other online technologies like Zoom and Microsoft Teams for training. Enabling ICT
applications being showcased include control room systems, data management, mobile apps for emergency service and public use and the multiple technologies now being used to speed and aid collaboration.

The Emergency Services Show 2021 will for the first time be co-located with The Fire Safety Event, The Health & Safety Event, The Security Event & The Facilities Event, creating the UK’s largest event dedicated to the protection of people, places and assets.

The Emergency Services Show is working closely with the NEC to ensure visitors enjoy a safe and secure visit, in line with the event industry’s All Secure Standard risk-assessment-based framework of COVID-19 secure industry best practice and guidance. The NEC Venue Protect programme has put in place comprehensive social distancing measures and enhanced cleaning and sanitisation and supports testing and tracing.

To minimise contact and ensure smooth and efficient entry flows, all visitors are required to register in advance for free entry and free parking at:  www.emergencyuk.com