I am having to share some very disappointing news on behalf of the SWB Expo, due to take place on 10^th November 2021.

I, myself have been struck down with Covid which has meant that we haven't done anything to do with the Expo since that started at the start of the October and I am still not right as feeling the post Covid effects of huge tiredness, feeling nauseous and chronic pins and needles. As someone that has always been fit and healthy it has come as a real shock and, given, I have been double vaccinated too, I never could have thought how poorly this could make someone feel. I really do feel for anyone that has had this horrific virus. My colleague, Lisa, there are just 2 of us that put on the Expo, has also been side-lined with illness too. It has not been an ideal month, in the run up to our annual Expo.

The SWB Expo is a key part of the business and the ability to help and support others is at the heart of it, that is why we put this on. This means that we must make the awful decision to postpone the Expo, until the earliest date Westpoint can give us, which is Tuesday 5^th April 2022 (our expo requires 3 days in total, 2 construction days and 1 show day).

Having run 8 hugely successful expos this has not been an easy decision to make but we want to always put on the best Expo we can, and I just don't feel I / we can do that properly.  For our Exhibitors and Sponsors and the wider business community that have already registered, for which the Expo is so important in terms of marketing, sales, community and the economy as a whole. We have seen huge interest in the Expo this year, much greater than I imagined, following the tough 18 months every business has endured and I am very positive this will continue as we all get back on our feet.

We have emailed all current Exhibitors/Sponsors to reassure them their stands/packages,  are secured and honoured and will be transferred to the new date, when we will bring the Expo in the Spring, and hopefully Covid will be much further behind us all. We have been blown away by the support shown to us by those that have already heard of our challenge, and we trust that you understand our need to postpone the SWB Expo, something that we never want to do and frankly feel so sad about.

We will also look to put on some additional events to enable Exhibitors to network with each other, this will be in the form or virtual (as know many are far away) and face 2 face.

Following this update, an email will be sent to all attendees and our website and social media will be updated shortly too to reflect the new date change.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your continued support and we look forward to welcoming you to the 9th SWB Expo on Tuesday 5th April 2022.

The South West Business Expo team

swbexpo@swbconnections.co.uk