Last year, due to the COVID19 pandemic, Highways UK was forced to move to an exclusively online platform, preventing the usual face to face networking that we have all become accustomed to at trade shows.

As the first year back at face to face events, Highways UK 2021 took off with a fantastic start. The MVIS team were out in full force with new and familiar faces at the event, offering experience to new members of the team in a true Highways UK way.

The event was a great success, with many people dropping by the stand to enquire about our solutions and say hi to our friendly team both in person and via the Swapcard app for the event. For the first time, Highways UK this year combined the best of the physical event and the digital platform we were introduced to last year due to the pandemic.

But it wasn’t just Highways UK who were innovating this year.

This year we also trialed a new QR code system that helped to reduce the number of physical product information packs we hand out, instead sending customers a convenient email with the product sheets attached upon scanning a QR code and inputting their email address.

We also saw a record number of merchandise bags handed out this year, with hundreds of people walking around the NEC over the 2-day event proudly displaying an MVIS bag for life, filled with helpful and environmentally friendly goodies that people couldn’t wait to get their hands on.

Anne Ashman, UK Group Commercial and Operations Director commented, “Highways UK is the biggest trade show of the year and after the restrictions we all faced last year, it’s so great to see everyone out in force this year. This has been one of the busiest trade shows we’ve ever seen and we are very pleased to have been a part of it. We are looking forward to next year and hope to see just as many faces at the event in 2022, which we have already booked in a similar location!”

Mark Ashbee, London Depot Manager added, “Having helped set up for many events during my time at MVIS, it’s been fantastic to see the other side of things and attend this year in my new role as London Depot Manager. It’s been a very different kind of work to what I am used to, but it’s been a rewarding experience that has helped me get to know our customers better, as well as learn more about what the office team have to do to make these events a success.”

The whole MVIS Highways UK 2021 team wanted to wish everyone who stopped by a big thank you. We look forward to seeing you all next year! 

Each year, the Highways UK event offers the opportunity to network with others in the industry, allowing companies to show their latest products or solutions and to explore other innovations the market.

This year, MVIS will be attending in force, with not only familiar faces, but also new ones to our company and to Highways UK that reflect the internal changes we have seen due to growth since the last physical Highways event in 2019.

If you are attending, you are very welcome to come by stand H72 to say hi to our friendly team and ask them any questions you may have.

This is who you can expect to be greeted by –

Anne Ashman– UK Group Commercial and Operations Director

As the central nexus of the MVIS machine, Anne Ashman will be attending to welcome visitors to our stand. With over 10 years industry experience, there isn’t much Anne hasn’t seen in her role with the company and this is reflected in her dynamism and passion for customer service.

As this year will be the first Highways UK show for some of our team, Anne’s presence will be a good way for new members of the team to meet familiar industry faces to the company.

Juliette Wright – Sales

Starting with MVIS back in January 2021, Juliette has experienced quite a lot in the time she has been working with us, being quite an unusual year thanks to the COVID19 pandemic.

Working in the front line of sales, Juliette is well adept at welcoming customers to MVIS, our services and of course, our platinum customer service. Juliette embodies the very core of the MVIS Platinum Service Promise and as a result, she will provide a friendly face for any visitor to our stand at Highways UK this year.

Mark Ashbee – London Depot Manager

Mark has been with MVIS since 2015 and ever since, he has proven himself time and time again to uphold the MVIS values of service and quality. Mark has a great attitude that exemplifies the kind of approach to our customers that we hold so important.

Mark has recently been promoted to London Depot Manager, an important post within the company that ensures the smooth running of one of our key depots in the UK.

With his friendly smile and can-do attitude, Mark will be on-hand to greet visitors to our stand with the same level of enthusiasm he gives to his day to day tasks.

Dom Bridge – Operations Manager

Dom Bridge may be a familiar face to some, having attended 2 Highways UK shows in the past. Dom is a leading figure at MVIS, having been with the company since 2013 and rising from an admin apprentice role to Operations Manager, there isn’t much Dom doesn’t know about the company and our products.

As such a knowledgeable point of call within the company, Dom has extensive experience dealing with our customer’s and our team’s questions with a smile!

Dom will be available to answer any questions you may have on our stand throughout the event.

Tom Hooton – Research and Development Manager

Tom Hooton has been with the group since 2014, working for MVIS sister company, Bartco UK. Tom’s hard work and knowledge on our products has seen him rise to the well-earned position of Research and Development Manager at Bartco UK earlier this year.

Tom’s knowledge and technical capability makes him a fantastic team member to chat to for anyone who has more technical questions about our products.

As his first show as Research and Development Manager, Tom is eager to assist at Highways UK this year.

Graeme Lee- Sales Director

Not without mention, Graeme Lee, our Sales Director will also be keeping a close eye on the event app. Unable to attend this year, Graeme is in Glasgow right now on behalf of MVIS by special invitation from Balfour Beatty for the Balfour Beatty Sustainable Evolution Showcase, which is being run alongside the COP26 Climate Change Conference at the SEC, also in Glasgow.

Graeme’s presence at the Balfour Beatty Sustainable Evolution Showcase is important, not just for the networking opportunity, but also to demonstrate the priority we place on sustainability and the environment, which is also backed up with our ISO in environmental management (14001:2015). 

With this year’s Highways UK event being face to face with a digital component that has been brought over from Highways UK 2020 during the global pandemic, we are all able to benefit from the digital platform they have provided, which makes it possible for those who are unable to attend to still take part in some capacity.

Whilst Graeme will have his hands full at certain times, you are still welcome to send him a meeting request via the Highways UK app to catch up or to ask him any questions you may have. He will attempt to make the meeting or reschedule to a time he is available via a range of methods such as Teams, Zoom or just a regular phone call.

Highways UK is one of the biggest trade shows in the highways industry, serving as an opportunity for those in the industry to network, share news and celebrate innovations that help to make the UK’s road network safer for everyone.

Last year, COVID put huge restrictions on what we could do with regards to events, pushing Highways UK to a digital platform that offered new opportunities to participants, but also felt the effects of physical isolation that the majority of 2020 brought to all of us.

However, as we learn to better deal with COVID as a society, 2021 brings even more exciting opportunities by being able to combine the best of the physical event and digital event, allowing those who are isolating or unable to attend to still take part in many aspects of the event from the comfort of their own home.

It’s not just Highways UK who are innovating too. In recent months, MVIS have been working on a new way to inform our customers about our products and solutions that breaks away from the conventional presentation folder and spec sheets, which cumulatively will have a marked impact on the environment, an impact that if we can avoid, we should.

Enter our new QR code system.

Using QR codes, visitors to our stand can now easily request an email to be sent to them automatically after scanning the code and visiting our website. A popup box appears requesting an email address, which, when filled in, triggers the email to be sent to the customer within minutes with the required spec sheets attached.

This system is an innovation that we have already seen the benefits of. As we move towards our goal of carbon neutrality, it brings us more in line with our own expectations and helps to modernise the way we inform our customers.

The paper, ink and the potential waste that is involved in the production and distribution of our information packs, has, over the years, undeniably left its mark on the environment. However, as with many things, technology has assisted us in helping to address this issue. As a result, even the fuel needed to transport the weight of our packs won’t be used, instead being swapped for a cutting-edge digital system that is both easy and convenient to use.

Attending on stand H72 on 3-4^th November, visitors can drop by to see the system in action, along with exciting new innovations from us such as the ITS Integrated Environmental Sensor.

This year’s event promises to be eventful, as the first physical Highways UK since before the global COVID pandemic began. With the industry ready to go, we are very excited to take part and look forward to seeing you all there!

Book tickets here.

MVIS are proud of the relationships we have with our customers and suppliers, which is why when we were invited to the Forest Innovation Week, we were excited to take part.

Exhibiting alongside North Somerset Council, South Gloucestershire Council, Murphy, Volker Highways, Ringway and more, MVIS took its place amongst Forest’s customers and suppliers in our first face to face industry event of 2021.

Offering an opportunity for industry leaders to network, Forest hosted an event that marked the tentative beginning of our path to normality after the global pandemic. MVIS were represented by Sales Manager Ed Faulkner and Sales Director Graeme Lee, along with Bartco’s original 5-colour VMS A, an HD Compact and a Solar IP unit to demonstrate what some of our products are capable of.

During the Innovation Week, we networked with attendees and exhibitors alike, giving everyone a chance to share innovations with each other in a celebration of trusted businesses working together.

Ed Faulkner commented, “Events such as these are critical for suppliers like us who value our relationships and service so highly. We want to thank everyone at Forest for this opportunity.”

Ed added, “As my first event working with MVIS, it’s been great meeting many new faces and getting to introduce MVIS to new people in the industry in person has been a refreshing experience. We’ve had a brilliant week and I’m looking forward to many more as the world begins to move again.”

We are all looking forward to more events as they occur for what is left of 2021 and into 2022, giving us opportunities to build connections, share our developments and get customer feedback.

For more information about MVIS and our ITS rental services, please contact us via our contact form.

Alternatively, you can email us via sales@m-vis.co.uk or call to speak to one of our friendly team on 01629 580 570.

When you’re tasked with organising a large scale event, we know that there is a long list of things you need to consider. So why not depend on MVIS to help make your event planning easier.

In a recent trend report event planners surveyed highlighted event security as one of their main concerns. As one of the UK’s most trusted suppliers of portable variable message signs (VMS) and Portable Solar Powered CCTV, MVIS aims to offer effective solutions to help ensure your event runs as smoothly and safely as possible.

Starting a week or so prior to your event, we deploy VMS to notify road users of the upcoming event, giving them time to find an alternative route. Not only does this reduce frustration for local traffic during the event but it also eases congestion for those attending. Pair this with CCTV and Web Studio™ and you’ll be able to monitor traffic and manage messages on multiple signs, updating them in an instant from any internet enabled device or using the Bartco Live app, as situations change.

Unsure which sign you would need? Our VMS-A is perfect for notifying road users on roads with speeds up to 50mph while our larger VMS-C is more commonly used on roads where the speed is greater than 60mph.

Whilst you’re setting up the event and have personnel and valuable equipment on-site CCTV is a natural deterrent, helping security staff to monitor the site 24 hours a day.

During the event, onsite VMS will help to communicate messages in both text and pictograms, from important safety messages and directional information to promoting sponsors logos (creating another opportunity for event revenue) to visitors. The appearance of CCTV will continue to help deter criminals, monitor visitor activity and help to direct security and medical staff to any incidents whilst also giving reassurance to visitors that their safety and security is a priority.

Both our VMS and CCTV are solar powered, easy to operate and require no external civils, so you can position them exactly where you need them. And with strategic depots located across the UK, MVIS delivers a fast, reliable service that you can depend on. Why not take the hassle out of your next event and pre-hire portable VMS and CCTV units to help take the strain prior to your event starting? And don’t just take it from us, listen to what our happy customers have to say:

“I found the booking process very easy and all the staff were extremely helpful. The system worked well for us as it deterred visitors who were unfamiliar with our area from going down a restricted road. The team who delivered and picked up the system were also very helpful and flexible. As the system worked so well we did not hesitate in booking it again for our forthcoming events.”
Nottingham Trent University

To find out more about hiring from MVIS, call us on 01629 580 570 or email sales@m-vis.co.uk

With eight years’ experience of working with event managers to help accomplish successful, large scale events and shows, MVIS delivers flexible solutions that enable event managers to communicate information effectively and respond to event changes in an instant.

MVIS has provided event management technology for some of the UK’s biggest music festivals, sporting fixtures, stadium events and country shows. With strategic depots based across the UK, MVIS is perfectly placed to deliver innovative event management technology right to where you need it most.

Our portable variable message signs (VMS) are designed to communicate important information to high volumes of traffic – either vehicular or pedestrian. Fast to install and set up, these mobile units can be easily repositioned if needed, and thanks to our handy BartcoLive app, creating and changing the messages on the LED display screens has never been quicker or simpler.

MVIS has continually provided event managers with not only high-performing and high quality equipment, but with round the clock customer support too. All hire customers have access to our 24/7 support service which guarantees an initial response from our team within 4-hours. The issue will then be explored further with the customer updated on progress from there.

For more information about working with MVIS at your next event, please contact us on 01629 580 570 or at sales@m-vis.co.uk