NOC: Ocean Business Hosts Record Number of Visitors (UK)

On 9-11 April 2013 the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) in Southampton hosted Ocean Business and for the fourth show in a row the event grew in all aspects.

The 2011 event saw the introduction of a Quayside pavilion, this year that pavilion was extended and exhibit space still sold out well in advance of the show. Over 300 companies, representing 27 countries exhibited at Ocean Business in over 5,250 sq-m of purpose built exhibition space.

As well as an expansion in physical size the event saw the number of associated meetings swell to unprecedented levels. Key strategic conferences and workshops for the future of the marine science and technology community on subjects such as the Blue Economy and Marine Autonomy were added to the event programme alongside mainstays, Offshore Survey and Ocean Careers. Attracting such meetings alongside the main event demonstrates how well regarded Ocean Business is across the industry. The show also attracted local media attention with BBC regional radio and TV running features, providing valuable exposure for a marine science community largely made up of SME’s and business start-ups.

However without doubt the biggest success story of Ocean Business week was the number of visitors it attracted to the NOC. Day one saw 2,500 people come through the doors, up 32% on 2011 figures. By the end of the three-day event over 4,000 visitors from 67 countries had taken a look around, approximately 1,000 more than in 2011.

The event has gone from strength to strength and is held in high esteem by those that attend as a quick look at the Ocean Business LinkedIn and Twitter pages demonstrates, one visitor commented, ‘This show rates up there with the best and biggest. It is tuned to our industry unlike other underwater shows’.

[mappress]

April 19, 2013