17.10.2012 - Ausgabe: 5/2012

PlayFair 2012 - Celebrating Five Years of Play

This year's PlayFair commemorate five years of the UK's only play-dedicated annual trade show highlighting the latest and greatest innovations in play space construction and design.

As PlayFair is both unique and free to attend it is a very attractive event for local authority staff from different sectors, such as children and youth services, or parks and open spaces teams, as well as parents who are active as school governors or on a local PTA.

Both exhibitors and visitors reported a great event and praised the show's new layout, placed next to the BALI, The 2012 Landscaping Show and a variety of API members exhibiting their latest innovations, from early-years equipment to young people fitness systems.

The event's organisers, Brintex Events, were delighted with the turnout at this year's show, which welcomed a total number of 1,122 visitors across PlayFair and the co-located BALI, Landscaping Show. Ray Baxter, event manager, said: "2012 has been a tough year for all those involved in the play and leisure industries, so it's great to see that this year's PlayFair has created such positive feedback both from exhibitors and visitors. Steve Backley's appearance and a selection of interesting and trade-focused API seminars helped to celebrate a special year for the show, once again bringing together the leading UK suppliers of sports, play and amenity equipment."

John Croasdale, API chairman, said: "It's great to be here in the sunshine to celebrate the fifth anniversary of PlayFair which has grown from strength to strength, year-on-year. I have high hopes for the next PlayFair show which will run in June 2013."

Viv Jebson, managing director of Sutcliffe Play, added: "PlayFair is a superb opportunity for us to exhibit our latest products and we've had great feedback from the children and teenagers who have come along to play and try out new play equipment."

Stuart Wetherell, sales director of Wicksteed Leisure, said: "We've had a great time at PlayFair 2012, it's always very encouraging to see our equipment being put through its paces."

Once again, PlayFair 2012 included a lively and informative seminar program which featured talks from Change4Life and the Right Year for Children campaign, on a number of topics from funding for play to physical activity and the child's right to play: www.playfairuk.com