Everything you need to know about Installer Show

How to get to InstallerShow 

InstallerShow is at the National Exhibition Centre, North Avenue, Marston Green, Birmingham, UK.

It is well connected and easy to get to by car, or by train. The closest station is Birmingham International (which is actually connected to the NEC) but you can also head to Birmingham New Street and get a taxi for around £20.

The show features many international brands so the NEC's close proximity to Birmingham International Airport is very handy for foreign visitors.
 

What is the traffic like?

Traffic can be a bit of a problem. We find getting into the show from Birmingham can take around an hour. Getting away back into Birmingham at rush hour can also take an hour or more. 

Your best bet is to plan your travel. Get there early, there are a few cafes and places to relax before the halls open. 

If you are travelling back south it's much easier to get away but try to avoid the M1 at rush hour.

Who exhibits at InstallerShow

Every year you’ll find most of the major manufacturers of HVAC systems as well as anything to do with building services eg. Plumbing, electrical, gas, renewables etc. 

You can find a full list of exhibitors for this year’s show here.
 

Renewables take centre stage

Over the past few years, renewable energy has increasingly become a central part of the show. With the UK's goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, InstallerShow must play its part in educating professionals and the public.

Registered solar photovoltaic (PV) installations rose nearly 30% to a post-subsidy record of 189,826 in 2023, according to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).

Similarly, heat pump installations were up 20%, reaching a record 36,799.

To understand the state of renewable installs in the UK make sure you visit MCS’s stand at the show.
 

Heat Pumps 

Heat Pumps are set to be a huge talking point at this year's show with major talks from GTEC and Heatly’s Griff Thomas and Heatly’s Paul Spence.

One of the big talking points is sure to be how new technology can solve the issues with heat pump installation.

Heatly is set to revolutionise how installers deal with heat loss calculations, speeding up the process and greatly increasing accuracy. They will have a big presence at the 2024 show, with installers having the opportunity to try out the software for the first time.

One of the world's best heat pump manufacturers, Nibe, will also have a stand at the show. The Swedish brand has been manufacturing heat pumps for 70 years and, unlike many of the other manufacturers, they only make heat pumps. 

Their innovations include the exhaust air heat pump. 

Solar technology

Solar also has a big presence at the show, with manufacturers and tech being showcased, including major players SolarEdge. The UK solar industry had been relatively quiet since the subsidies but demand has exploded and commercial solar projects are also on the up. 

The cost of solar panels and the introduction of smart tech alongside better batteries have created a new boom for the solar industry. 

EV charging

Electric Vehicle (EV) charging has had a stuttering start to life in the UK. If electric cars are the future, the infrastructure needs to be there which means more skilled installers are required to install charge points.  

There is a good presence for the technology at the show but we predict EV will have an even greater presence in the future. 
 

Traditional Trades

While renewables are clearly on the rise “traditional” heating and electrical is still the mainstay of the show. Kitchens, Bedrooms and bathrooms (KBB) is also a massive industry the show caters for.

Gas

We’ve worked in the gas industry for years and have seen the sector adapt and change. With domestic hydrogen boilers probably not viable within the next 10 years, many manufacturers have turned their attention to heat pumps but they still have their priorities with fossil fuel.

Gas is still by far the most widespread way people heat their homes in the UK with around 1.5 million sold in 2023, a figure that dwarfs the number of PV and Heat Pump installations combined.

You’ll find all of the manufacturers at the show every year.

Electrical

Electricians are the second most in-demand trade in the country. InstallerShow also caters for them with tools, tech and talks. 

Plumbing

The plumbing sector is well served with everything from showers and pipes to nuts and bolts. Plumbers are the third most in-demand trade in the UK and the Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms (KBB) part of the show attracts thousands of plumbers.
 

Digital Marketing at the show

JL Creative is in attendance alongside some of our clients. We offer SEO and SEM solutions for HVAC businesses and we’re more than happy to answer questions and share some knowledge.

Take a look at our services.

JLC's director, Jonny Lawrence, has been working in digital marketing since 2011 and has over a decade of experience working with HVAC businesses in the UK. 

If you would like to arrange a meeting with us please use the contact form.