The Showman’s Show and NOEA Announce New Training Partnership
The Showman’s Show and the National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA) have announced a new partnership designed to support education, safety and professional development across the outdoor events industry. The collaboration will see the organisations deliver a first glimpse of NOEA’s forthcoming Training Day during this year’s The Showman’s Show.
The special education session will take place within the show’s Meeting Hub and will bring together experienced professionals from event operations, safety and local authority engagement. The session is expected to provide organisers, suppliers and venues with practical guidance on some of the most important operational and legislative developments currently affecting outdoor events.
Focus on Martyn’s Law, Protect Duty and Event Safety
A major focus of the session will be the changing legislative and operational landscape surrounding outdoor events. Industry experts will explore the implementation of Martyn’s Law, the implications of the Protect Duty and the evolving role of Safety Advisory Groups (SAGs).
These developments are becoming increasingly important for event organisers as security, safety planning and operational responsibilities continue to evolve. The session aims to move beyond theory by providing practical insight that event professionals can apply when planning and delivering outdoor events.
The discussion will also examine wider responsibilities associated with event operations, helping participants better understand how changes in legislation and industry expectations could affect their existing procedures.
Practical Guidance for Outdoor Event Professionals
The Showman’s Show and NOEA have designed the session as an opportunity for visitors to learn directly from practitioners working across the outdoor events sector. Organisers, suppliers and venues will be able to gain insights into current challenges and explore approaches to improving safety, resilience and operational planning.
The session will bring together several specialists who are also expected to contribute to NOEA’s wider Training Day programme. This will give visitors an early opportunity to hear from professionals involved in some of the most pressing operational issues facing the sector.
Johnny Lance, Event Director of The Showman’s Show, said the event has always aimed to help the industry progress, highlighting that important conversations are as valuable as new products and services.
According to Lance, the changing legislative and operational environment is one of the biggest issues facing event professionals today. The partnership with NOEA provides an opportunity to bring together industry experts who can answer questions, share practical advice and help visitors understand how these developments affect events in real-world situations.
NOEA Training Day to Expand Industry Education
The taster session will also provide an introduction to NOEA’s new Training Day initiative, which is scheduled to take place in Spring 2027. The wider programme will focus on practical, hands-on education covering the operational disciplines required to deliver successful outdoor events.
The Training Day has already received support from sponsors including GL events UK and Qdos Event Hire. Its development reflects the growing demand for professional education as event organisers face increasingly complex safety, security, compliance and operational requirements.
The initiative is intended to provide professionals with useful knowledge that can be applied directly to their work, while also encouraging greater collaboration and the sharing of best practices across the outdoor events community.
Growing Importance of Safety Advisory Groups
Safety Advisory Groups are another key subject expected to feature during the Showman’s Show session. SAGs play an important role in facilitating communication between event organisers, local authorities and other stakeholders involved in public event safety.
As outdoor events become increasingly complex, effective engagement with local authorities and safety partners is becoming an essential part of event planning. The session will explore ways organisers can strengthen these relationships and improve communication throughout the planning process.
By sharing practical experiences from across the sector, the discussion aims to help event professionals understand how collaborative approaches can contribute to safer and more resilient events.
Industry Experts to Share Best Practices
The upcoming session will feature specialists with experience across event operations, safety and local authority engagement. Their contribution is expected to provide attendees with real-world perspectives on managing operational challenges and responding to regulatory changes.
Rather than focusing solely on legislation, the discussion will consider how event professionals can translate new requirements into practical planning and operational procedures. This approach is particularly relevant for organisers who need to balance compliance, safety, visitor experience and commercial considerations.
The Showman’s Show and NOEA also see the session as the beginning of a broader conversation around professional development within the outdoor events industry.
Education Becomes Increasingly Important for Events Industry
Susan Tanner, Chief Executive of NOEA, highlighted the accelerating pace of change across the outdoor events sector. New legislation, changing security expectations and increasingly complex operating environments are requiring event professionals to continuously adapt.
Tanner emphasised the importance of education and welcomed The Showman’s Show for providing a platform to begin discussions ahead of the full NOEA Training Day in 2027.
The partnership demonstrates the growing recognition that professional development can play an important role in helping event organisers prepare for emerging challenges and maintain high standards across event operations.
The Showman’s Show to Provide Early Look at NOEA Training Day
For visitors attending The Showman’s Show, the Meeting Hub session will provide an early look at what can be expected from NOEA’s wider Training Day programme. It will combine industry discussion with practical guidance on topics that are directly relevant to outdoor event planning and delivery.
The session is designed to stand alone as a valuable educational opportunity while also introducing visitors to the broader learning programme being developed by NOEA.
The initiative could also encourage greater engagement between event organisers, suppliers, venues, local authorities and safety professionals, helping to strengthen knowledge-sharing across the sector.
Outdoor Events Industry Prepares for Further Change
The outdoor events industry continues to face a rapidly changing environment, with legislation, security requirements and operational expectations influencing how events are planned and delivered. Against this backdrop, access to practical education and industry expertise is becoming increasingly valuable.
The partnership between The Showman’s Show and NOEA provides a platform for professionals to discuss these changes openly and explore practical solutions. The upcoming taster session is expected to offer valuable insights for anyone involved in outdoor event management, safety, venue operations or event supply.
Further details about the full speaker line-up and session timings will be announced ahead of The Showman’s Show later this summer.
Conclusion
The partnership between The Showman’s Show and the National Outdoor Events Association represents an important step towards strengthening professional education within the outdoor events industry. By focusing on Martyn’s Law, the Protect Duty, Safety Advisory Groups and wider operational responsibilities, the Training Day taster session will address some of the most relevant issues currently affecting event professionals.
With the wider NOEA Training Day scheduled for Spring 2027, the initiative is set to provide further opportunities for practical learning, knowledge-sharing and professional development across the outdoor events sector.
