And we're off!

It was just before Christmas 2008 when I was first approached regarding a scheme to launch an all-new, dedicated trade event for the paving and hard-landscaping industry. There's rarely a week goes by without someone approaching me with some scheme or other, and 95% of them get nothing more than a polite hearing, but World of Paving appealed to me because the organisers were speaking the same language and shared a vision for a quality event for our trade. More commercially minded and fewer plant pots than Glee; more consumer friendly and design-aware than External Works/Street Design; less worthy and more open-minded than CityScape; and more relevant than Interbuild (which, to be honest, isn't that much of a challenge!)

So, I agreed to help, working with the steering committee, advising on agenda, suggesting exhibitors, recommending seminars and demonstration events...anything and everything to help the event become a success.

And that's why I agreed to set up a blog, a separate part of the pavingexpert website where I can keep everyone up-to-date with what's happening, and more importantly, where you, the potential exhibitors and visitors to the event can comment, suggest, cajole or just have pop at us when you think something is wrong.

It's estimated that there are 20,000 contractors involved in the paving and hard-landscaping trade in Britain alone, with maybe another 2,000 in Ireland. That's everyone from those rebuilding the streets of our town and city centres to the garden makeover gangs in their ubiquitous white vans. We have skills, we have passion, and we deserve our own 'bash' where we can celebrate our industry. World of Paving is for YOU!