Following discussions with the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Public Health Bodies and Harrogate Convention Centre, show organiser Clarion Events reports that the Home & Gift Buyers’ Festival and Manchester Furniture Show in Harrogate have been selected to be part of a limited number of pilot events in the third phase of the Government Events Research Programme.
Under the ERP pilot conditions, there will be no restrictions on visitor numbers or social distancing requirements on any day of the event (18th-21st July). All attendees will be required to certify either they have had two vaccinations at least two weeks prior to attending or a negative NHS Lateral Flow Test at least 48 hours before attending. The consent required from all participants to opt in to the Events Research Programme and NHS Test and Trace will be sent to all registered buyers and exhibitors individually.
"Health and safety is paramount and remains our number-one priority," states Clarion. A comprehensive Health and Safety document with FAQs for the event can be found here.
The show organiser reports that Manchester Furniture Show visitor registration is open and on par with previous years, with key names confirming their attendance, and hotel stays as part of the event's VIP hosted buyer programme fully booked.
Portfolio director Zoë Bonser says: “With the backing of the Government, public health bodies and our key customers we can see that the appetite and enthusiasm are there for an in-person buying and selling event. There is great excitement from both exhibitors and visitors to reconnect in Harrogate.”
Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston comments: “The business and events industry is worth around £40b annually to the UK economy, so I’m delighted we are able to include the Manchester Furniture Show and Home & Gift Show 2021 in Harrogate at full capacity as part of our groundbreaking Events Research Programme. This will continue to trial the use of the NHS app as a means to show you’re Covid safe.”
