As the largest event of its kind, office* connects PAs, EAs, VAs and Office Managers with a host of exhibitors, ranging from venues and accommodation to office equipment and furniture. Taking place 1-2 March 2017 at Olympia, London, office* is co-located with International Confex and the Event Production Show. This year is Mash Media’s first year running office*. Partnerships & Content Director Ingrid van der Weide fills us in on the two-day event.
As this is Mash Media’s first year running office*, will PAs see anything different?
We are excited to be running our first edition of the highly acclaimed office* show, the 2017 event will be brought back to West London and take place at Olympia, London. It will co-locate with our other two flagship events – International Confex and the Event Production Show. We see the colocation as a great opportunity for audiences of all three events, who will get automatic entry into each of the co-located shows. Each event will have its own educational programme with transferrable content and features that will inspire and engage all visitors.
What are the highlights of the 2017 edition?
2017 will see a slightly different format with themed theatres covering Management & Leadership, Skills Development, HR & Career Development, Event Management as well as the Keynote Theatre and the special edition of The VA Conference.
The educational programme offers more than 60 keynotes, panel discussions, workshops, seminars, round table discussions covering every element of the busy office professional’s work life. There will also be a number of sessions and live demonstrations dedicated to health and wellbeing including yoga and Pilates taster sessions.
Other highlights include five dedicated Microsoft Office seminar sessions covering PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook and Word offering top tips to help you work faster and smarter. Both personal and professional development will be addressed with sessions on presentation skills, dressing for success, future proofing your career, strengthening your personal brand and achieving work-life balance.
Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, the VA Conference entitled ‘New Frontiers – New Opportunities’ opens with the popular VA Breakfast, five dedicated educational sessions as well as a presentation of the VA Awards ‘Outstanding VA’.
The Networking Lounge, a central feature on the show floor, will not only be an ideal meeting place but will also play host to some exciting team building activities to enhance networking opportunities including a gourmet challenge, music challenge and a cocktail making demonstration.
There will also be a Green Hat Challenge that visitors can take part in over the two days of the show with some fabulous prizes on offer.
What exhibitors will be attending?
Visitors will be able to explore the show floor and discover the latest and most innovative products, services and business solutions from over 100 dedicated exhibitors. In addition, they will have direct access to the International Confex and Event Production Show exhibitors, resulting in over 550 additional exhibitors. If you are looking to be more efficient in the workplace, source new suppliers or try out the latest technology – attendance at office* is crucial.
How many attendees are you expecting?
We are anticipating around 2,500 executive support staff, predominantly made up of PAs, EAs, VAs and Office Managers. The co-location will draw a wider audience into the office* show which has never been experienced before. The three shows running alongside each other will create the largest buying forum of its kind, attracting over 14,000 organisers and planners under one roof.
With office* co-located with International Confex and the Event Production Show, what is the added benefit for PAs?
PAs who attend office* now get the added benefit of free entrance to the industry leading International Confex and Event Production Show. With every PA now involved in running some kind of event, either external or internal, the PA audience will benefit significantly from the co-location with the two leading MICE Industry events. Whether it be by personal and professional development in the educational programme or making budgets go further by meeting and researching new suppliers all under one roof.
Why is office* such an important event for PAs? Tell us why they should attend.
office* is the ultimate event for PAs, EAs, VAs and Office Managers. At the heart of the show is an educational programme that cultivates content to aid personal and professional development and empower PAs in their increasingly demanding role. Sessions are CPD certified, making them even more valuable to your development – this alone is justification for time spent out of the office.
Exploring the exhibition floor, visitors will also discover the latest and greatest products, services and business solutions, tailored for specifically for Executive Support professionals.
