Corporate Events, Incentives, Conference Management | First Event

Conference, Expo & Awards Speedy Hire Live Expo

Client

Overview

Who is Speedy Hire

Speedy Hire is a leading provider of tools and equipment to the UK construction industry. Their annual live expo is a key moment to unite suppliers, employees, and customers, while showcasing innovation, sustainability, and industry leadership. Having worked with Speedy Hire before, we understood their audience, strategy, and operations. However, 2024 marked our first involvement in delivering their flagship expo, providing an opportunity to deepen engagement and add value.

 

Two men sit and talk on stage at the Speedy Hire Live Expo 24 event. One wears a white shirt, the other a checked jacket. The stage backdrop features people in safety helmets and the Live Expo logo as audience members face the stage. At Live Expo, a man sits in the driver’s seat of a yellow construction vehicle, wearing a VR headset and holding controllers, while another man stands nearby in a busy indoor exhibition setting. Two men converse in front of a brightly lit display of orange power tools at a Live Expo exhibit. Three other men in business attire stand nearby, with mounted tools showcased on a striking white and red wall in the background. A speaker stands on stage at a Live Expo awards event, addressing a large seated audience amid red and gold lights. Two screens behind him display his image and the name Justin Moorhouse.

The Challenge

Rising costs threatened the event’s profitability, putting pressure on exhibitor stand sales and requiring fresh revenue streams such as sponsorships. We needed to evaluate past and current expo strategies to optimise:

  • Exhibitor and sponsorship packages

  • Event layout and flow

  • Delegate communications

  • Venue usage for maximum impact

Sustainability was a core priority, aligned with the client’s Decade to Deliver strategy and net zero ambitions. We needed to create an event that reduced environmental impact while promoting low-carbon solutions across the industry.

The Event in a Snapshot

150

Exhibition Stands

1,000+

Gala Dinner Attendees

11

Speedy Studio Sessions

“Our Speedy Hire Live Expo 24 exceeded all our expectations, driving significant engagement across all levels. The expertise from First Event turned our ambitious vision into a highly successful reality. The collaborative spirit between their team and the Speedy Hire team turned our biggest annual event into an outstanding success.“

Our Solution

We began planning in early 2023, taking a consultative approach with the client’s marketing team to ensure every element reflected their values, commercial goals, and sustainability targets.

Key actions included:

  1. Sponsorship

    Redesigned sponsorship and exhibitor offerings to boost sales and ROI.

  2. Sustainability

    Sustainability-first approach, prioritising low-carbon solutions and minimising waste.

  3. AV Production

    High-quality AV production for impactful executive presentations

  4. Sessions

    Programme highlights including Women in Construction and a keynote from Ricky Hatton on mental health

Why

It Worked

The Speedy Hire Live Expo 2024 achieved its commercial, engagement, and sustainability objectives:

  • Sold out exhibitor stands and increased sponsorship income
  • Strengthened relationships across the supply chain
  • Delivered positive delegate feedback on content, networking, and organisation
  • Raised funds and provided direct community support

 

The collaboration between First Event and Speedy Hire ensured the expo delivered long-term value, building momentum for future years. The project reinforced the importance of:

  1. Early, strategic planning for large-scale events
  2. Embedding sustainability without compromising experience
  3. Creating multi-layered value for attendees, sponsors, and the wider community

A panel of four men in business attire speak on stage at Speedy Hire Live Expo, with an audience watching and a large banner featuring construction workers in the background. A large audience, many wearing name badges, sits closely together in a dimly lit venue at the Speedy Hire Live Expo, attentively watching a presentation as reddish lighting casts a warm hue across the crowd. A large crowd in formal attire sits at round tables in a dimly lit event hall, as bright stage lights illuminate the “SUPPLY AWARDS” screen during the Speedy Hire Live Expo. A busy Speedy Hire Live Expo with many booths, displays, and attendees walking around. The scene features cars, banners, digital screens, and product stands in a large indoor exhibition hall with red carpeted walkways.

Explore More

Want to see how we create an unmissable event? Explore our conference services or get in touch with our expert event team.