Last week, I attended my first HVAC trade show with some of the Wildwood team, to support our client Panasonic on its stand for the first ever Elemental London: a dedicated event for built environment professionals with the shared responsibility of reducing energy use and carbon emissions.

The Aim

Network with key contacts, editors, and continue to nurture my relationships within the industry.

Stepping into ExCel last Wednesday was eye-opening. I joined the Wildwood Build division at the beginning of July and unfortunately missed the opportunity to attend one of the UK’s largest HVAC events, InstallerSHOW. I shortly discovered elemental and InstallerSHOW are both organised by Nineteen Group and so I would be able to introduce myself to the team, in preparation for next year’s exhibition.

The venue was alive with energy, every stand seemed to be buzzing with informed, engaging conversations. Navigating through the space it struck me how much larger it was than I imagined, but by no means did it feel empty due to it. At Panasonic, the team’s approach stood out as thoughtful, confident and inclusive, starting dialogues with interested passers-by. Even the newest members were actively showcasing products with confidence!

This year, the space opposite in ExCel was hosting the Energy Management & Smart Buildings Expo (EMEX) 2025, so the team were able to pop by and have some productive conversations with other exhibitors, which despite its smaller space had a dedicated programme of talks with topics ranging from decarbonisation to net zero opportunities for SMEs.

Highlights of the Day

The Haus

Conveniently located opposite the Panasonic stand, the HAUS was an absolute standout. Built by architects IF_DO using regenerative materials, visiting the HAUS was a fantastic example of the commitment the industry should continually strive to have towards decarbonising buildings.

Panasonic’s Showcase

The Panasonic team showed up in full force for both days of elemental, and for me, this was the perfect opportunity to make connections with the wider team who I hadn’t crossed paths with yet. Their stand was magnificent and featured demonstration units from some of their newest sleek product designs.

The People

I was formally introduced to a whole host of contacts of which until this point, I have only conversed with over email. From connecting with installers, to chatting with journalists, every interaction brought me closer to the industry and deepened my understanding.

Closing Time

Leaving ExCel (in the dark, at 5pm?! I hate Winter ), I reflected on the busy day. After attending Elemental and EMEX, I felt a lot closer to my client and the wider industry. Being able to witness active conversations about the industry’s commitment to its sustainability goals continues to be reassuring, especially when you are working alongside it.

I look forward to the events I will attend come 2026!

Contact Wildwood Plus today to discover how we can support your event

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When most people think of award schemes, they picture glamorous ceremonies, excited winners, and shiny trophies. And, while we at Wildwood Plus certainly help craft the stories that get our clients on stage (we’ve written hundreds of award-winning entries over the years), what many don’t realise is that we’re also the team behind award programmes themselves. 

That’s right, we don’t just help clients win awards, we launch, project manage and promote award schemes from the ground up. With nearly two decades of experience in this space, we know what it takes to create an effective awards programme. 

Trusted by Leading Industry Names 

Now in our 31^st year, we’ve have had the pleasure of working with several clients to bring their awards dreams to life.

CEDIA Smart Home Awards – This awards programme has been running for 19 years. It celebrates excellence in home technology and is a cornerstone of the smart home industry calendar.  

We fully support the CEDIA team in determining the categories and criteria, selecting judges, contacting members to encourage entries, supporting the judging process, script writing, creating awards presentations and producing video content for the ceremonies. All this while also promoting the programme via a PR campaign.  

Panasonic PRO Awards – For over 10 years, we’ve supported Panasonic in honouring outstanding HVAC project work across Europe.  

In 2015, we worked with the Panasonic team to recognise that there was a need for an awards programme. Since then, this industry-leading manufacturer has awarded customers from 10 countries, with the awards running every second year.  

Our team work on this project from start to finish for each edition. Beginning with setting the timeline for the programme, identifying the categories and defining the criteria, collating the entries and formatting them ready for the judging panel and announcing the winners across Europe through the PR campaign.  

BIID Awards – Launched just four years ago, the British Institute of Interior Design Awards has gained great momentum since then, becoming a prestigious award win for interior designers. 

We worked closely with the BIID team and an external events partner to help launch the brand-new awards scheme in Year One. From then, the programme has developed into an annual celebration that receives entries from interior designers and design studios across the UK and recognises the very best interior design projects. 

We run an engaging and exciting awards campaign to help generate interest and awareness. We focus on PR and social media activity – including a paid social campaign – to drive entries. We then promote other milestones in the campaign such as the announcement of the shortlist and showcasing the award-winning projects. Other activities include creating video content, Instagram Live sessions to give top tips for entry, sponsor management and attending the judging day. We’re also part of the events team on the day of the awards ceremony held at the stunning Draper’s Hall in London, covering tasks such as social media coverage (including live updates on award wins), media liaison and filling goodie bags!

Each of these schemes is unique, and that’s where our tailored approach comes in. 

Our team offers a full suite of services to deliver successful award programmes, including: 

• Strategic planning and positioning 
• Entry criteria development 
• Website and entry platform management 
• Judging coordination 
• PR and promotional campaigns 
• Finalist and winner announcements 

Event communications (live or virtual) 

Whether you’re launching an award scheme for the first time or looking to reinvigorate an established one, we’d love to help bring the creativity, logistics, and marketing know-how to make it a success. Let’s create something worth celebrating. 

At Wildwood Plus, we believe in the power of awards. It’s not just about celebrating excellence, it’s also to build brand authority, grow your network and create valuable industry visibility. 

Contact us today to learn more about our award scheme management services. 

Get in touch today