UKIFDA exhibition in August cancelled over lack of mass gathering clarity
The UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA) has taken the decision to cancel its 2020 exhibition.
The international event was due to take place on 18-19 August at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool.
Guy Pulham, CEO of UKIFDA, said: “Following the publication of the Government’s Plan To Rebuild Strategy, UKIFDA has been working with Exhibition Centre Liverpool on ways in which the 2020 EXPO could be safely organised and hosted. As you know, we have worked hard to try and keep the 2020 event in the calendar as a positive marker of lives returning to some sort of normality.
“In the end, and with great reluctance, we have concluded that it is just not possible to safely run the event that our members, exhibitors and delegates would want – namely a large-scale, high quality event where business gets done.
“The lack of clarity in the government plan from July onwards (unavoidable given that future stages depends on how the early stages progress) means that we do not know if mass gathering will be allowed to take place in August and if they are, under what procedures, set-up and management.”
He added: “We know that this will come as an enormous disappointment to all of those involved, including our sponsors, exhibitors, suppliers, delegates and speakers. Indeed we, and the whole liquid fuels distribution industry, will miss the 2020 event but the cancellation is necessary for reasons which we are sure you will appreciate, and which are, unfortunately, beyond our control.”
Next year’s event will be held at the same venue on on 19- 20 May.
“We hope to see you at UKIFDA EXPO 2021 which we will work to make even better than before,” said Pulham.
The international event was due to take place on 18-19 August at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool.
Guy Pulham, CEO of UKIFDA, said: “Following the publication of the Government’s Plan To Rebuild Strategy, UKIFDA has been working with Exhibition Centre Liverpool on ways in which the 2020 EXPO could be safely organised and hosted. As you know, we have worked hard to try and keep the 2020 event in the calendar as a positive marker of lives returning to some sort of normality.
“In the end, and with great reluctance, we have concluded that it is just not possible to safely run the event that our members, exhibitors and delegates would want – namely a large-scale, high quality event where business gets done.
“The lack of clarity in the government plan from July onwards (unavoidable given that future stages depends on how the early stages progress) means that we do not know if mass gathering will be allowed to take place in August and if they are, under what procedures, set-up and management.”
He added: “We know that this will come as an enormous disappointment to all of those involved, including our sponsors, exhibitors, suppliers, delegates and speakers. Indeed we, and the whole liquid fuels distribution industry, will miss the 2020 event but the cancellation is necessary for reasons which we are sure you will appreciate, and which are, unfortunately, beyond our control.”
Next year’s event will be held at the same venue on on 19- 20 May.
“We hope to see you at UKIFDA EXPO 2021 which we will work to make even better than before,” said Pulham.
