Those who know me know that I am not an exhibition virgin. I have attended all the HEVAR exhibitions since I took over as editor of HVR as well as the RAC shows and H&V.
Before I joined HVR I went to exhibitions as diverse as the Good Food Exhibition, GLEE (garden and leisure) the DIY and Home Improvement Show and Garden Expo as well as countless shows abroad.

I have learned something new at every exhibition I have attended.
A very bland statement but nevertheless it is true. Take HEVAR, for instance. Where else can you spend a couple of hours and visit more than 100 companies where they are geared up to explain all their products?

I am amazed at the diversity of products and services on offer.
And this year, London HEVAR is pulling out all the stops to make this the happening event of the autumn calendar.

For instance, there is a new Meet-the-Buyer area. This is a special area where buyers who pre-register can nominate the companies they want to visit and they will be able to talk to representatives of that firm in a private room with refreshments on tap.

Those who register on-line will receive tickets in advance and these will enable those visitors to be fast-tracked through the registration area.

Plus, every 10th pre-registered visitor to the show will be given a bottle of wine.

There will also be a new products path with signs on the floor directing visitors to the stands which have on display recently launched
products.

During the first day, guest judges will be touring the show, visiting stands displaying new products and then deciding on the New Product of the Exhibition which will be featured in the next issue of HVR.

There are also two days of seminars, all of which are CPD accredited.

The first session on Wednesday, from the HVCA, will discuss the issue of sustainability and its importance to the business of the m&e contractor and the consultant.

CIBSE, too, has a two-hour seminar which runs from 9.45am until 10.45am and 10.50am until 11.50am covering subjects such as Energy performance of building regulations and the business opportunities for heating and cooling assessments.

Other seminars include discussions on building management systems, higher comfort, lower carbon and the role of biomass in achieving carbon neutral renewable energy.

There will also be forums on the future of renewable energy and the ground/air heat exchanger and a legionella update as well as one session on installing the right boiler for the job. All in all, a must-visit programme.

Last, but not least, the exhibition has moved, having outgrown its former venue.

This year, there is a new super venue.

The address is: Lawrence Hall, Royal Horticultural Halls, Greycoat Street, London SW1 2QD.

The venue is within easy walking distance of Victoria mainline station, and St James's Park and Pimlico tube stations.

There is an NCP car park on Horseferry Road and this, too, is a short walk from the venue which will be well-signposted as the HEVAR event.

And, should you need more incentive to visit the exhibition, Angeline Albert, HVR's new on-line reporter and I will be about gathering stories and uploading them on to the new HVR website which will be live from the show.

Paul Braithwaite, Editor