Anniversary Review
Celebrating 140 years of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society 125 years of the Lincolnshire Show 50 years at the Lincolnshire Showground
CONTENTS About us Foreword The Lincolnshire Show Connecting with the Community Lincolnshire Events Centre Partnership
02 03 06 19 31 40
ABOUT US
Focussed on sustainability and protection of our natural environment for the benefit of future generations Lincolnshire Agricultural Society was formed in 1869 and is best known throughout the county as the organiser of the annual Lincolnshire Show, an event which draws visitors from all over the county and beyond. Our objectives, as laid down by our Victorian founders, are “the furtherance, welfare and progress of the Agricultural Industry and all professions, trades and crafts connected therewith”. Today those objectives are more important than ever to us and since 2005 we have had the additional focus of sustainability and protection of our natural environment for the benefit of future generations. We work closely with individuals, schools, organisations and businesses whose common vision is to promote the agricultural industry and pursue activities that have a positive effect on our environment and community. As a charity, sponsorship and support is vital to our success. We also generate income to support our activities through the Lincolnshire Events Centre, the trading arm of Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. The Lincolnshire Events Centre is a major national conferencing venue, located on our 200 acre showground site just outside the historic city of
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Lincoln, and home of the Lincolnshire Show and the groundbreaking EPIC Centre project. The centre hosts events for ten to tens of thousands of visitors. Outdoor events include our flagship Lincolnshire Show, antiques fairs and horse trials, attracting over 300,000 visitors each year. Under cover, there are exhibition halls and conferencing facilities, including the recently completed EPIC Centre, a purpose-designed showcase for environmental technologies which is capable of hosting conferences, balls and seminars for up to 1900 people. The EPIC project is also the focus for a major educational initiative, working with schools and businesses throughout the county to raise awareness of how to take effective environmental action. We are also part of the Education Network on the EPIC Lincolnshire website, together with others offering educational support on agriculture and the environment. The site is the biggest in the region and easily accessible from major routes - just 30 minutes by dual carriageway from the A1, the M180 and intercity connections to London, from where train travel is just over 1 hour. Airport connections are just 45 minutes.
FOREWORD
Chairman John Lockwood farms at Cammeringham and Scampton. Master of the Burton Hunt, he is a former High Sheriff of Lincolnshire. His father was President in 1991.
John Lockwood, Chairman of Lincolnshire Agricultural Society It has been a vintage year for the Society in 2009. We celebrated the 140th anniversary of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, the 125th anniversary of the Lincolnshire Show and the 50th anniversary of the Lincolnshire Showground. We held a hugely successful two day show and the EPIC building was opened to the public. There has been much to celebrate. To open a building the size of the EPIC Centre to compete with existing locations in the teeth of a recession has been a tough call, but the team has been very successful in putting it on the ‘events map’. Coupled with easy access and its superb low carbon credentials, it has resulted in a considerable amount of business. For the society, the crowning glory for EPIC was when the Princess Royal arrived on the second day of the show to declare the building officially open. The Royal visit combined with some excellent weather to produce a memorable show. Livestock entries were up on normal, attendance was well up and the machinery and trade stand lines were packed. Of particular success was the Food Court, where the public had a chance to not only meet many of their local producers but to buy from them as well.
Looking forward The future for the society has never looked more exciting. Not only are we attracting local and regional events to the showground but increasingly we are becoming the venue of choice for national events also. With all these events, be they antiques fairs or car launches, there comes to the county some much needed revenue; not solely for the society but also for the shops, hotels and bed & breakfasts in the area. Not many visitors to the showground, I suspect, can resist a visit to the Cathedral and historic Lincoln, if they have time to spare. The premier event on the showground will always be the Lincolnshire Show. In recent years with the reduced number of farmers and farm workers it has had to find a new role, which it has successfully achieved through a resurgent interest amongst the public to know where their food comes from. The show provides a firm platform for the farming community to demonstrate this and to also fulfil its charitable objectives. A Master Plan for the Lincolnshire Showground has been developed and will shortly be presented to both the District Council and the County Council, which tries to address the future use of this strategic piece of land. The plan portrays a showground that is not only visually stunning but also is a focal point for agriculture, food production and tourism; reinforcing Lincolnshire’s key strengths. It continues to be a very exciting time to be involved with the Society.
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Lincolnshire Agricultural Society
140 YEARS OF THE LINCOLNSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY Anniversaries
1868 A meeting paved the way for the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society (LAS) to be formed through the amalgamation of the North and the South Lincolnshire Agricultural Societies and the original mission was laid down :
“The object of which shall be to hold an Annual Exhibition of Farming Stock, Implements, &c., for the general promotion of Agriculture, and the interest and welfare of the labouring classes, by distributing premiums.”
1870 – 1957
Structural Developments
Special Events
Visitor Numbers
1869 First LAS exhibition, held in Lincoln. 1,832 annual members and upwards of 30,000 people attended over the first two days. First President of the Society appointed, the third Earl of Yarborough.
Some of the 26,915 people who attended at Swineshead Abbey in1954.
Itinerant shows, moving around the county, gradually increasing in size and coming into profitability in the 1930s. The layout chosen in 1959 would be familiar to showgoers today.
1959
1958 Showground site was found and bought. It was felt a permanent showground was necessary due to the current expense of moving every year and the huge costs of transporting and erecting the show in a different town each time.
First show held at the permanent showground.
1960
1962
Following a debate over whether to create extensive car parking facilities,14,700 cars parked at the showground for the 1960 show – demonstrating that car parking was needed and updating the showground for the current times.
By 1962 £60,000 had been spent on developing the showground and various improvements had been made including laying roads, creating car parking spaces, brick toilets and cattle buildings.
1969 Centenary Year
1968 The 1968 show contained 16 different established sections and lots of new features including new demonstrations, miniature donkey stud rides for children and a self drive go-kart track. It was also the first English show to feature a full scale demonstration of agriculture and applications using a hovercraft!
Three winners from John Even’s Burton Herd at the 1927 show at Spalding.
10th year on the showground and 85th for the show. Duchess of Gloucester flew into the main ring by helicopter and planted a commemorative lime tree on the Members Lawn. 4
Lincolnshire Agricultural Society
1970 Larger numbers than ever attended the show – over 52,000 passed through the turnstiles.
1978
1982
Construction of the Exhibition Hall – a top class venue for out of show activities.
First horse trials were held at the Lincolnshire showground. Line up of Lincoln Longwool yearling ewes in wool.
1983 Celebrating the centenary with the 100th show.
1988
1990 A further 160 acres of adjoining farmland were bought, completing a series of purchases starting in the early 1980s, to create a total 370 acres.
1998 By 1998 the showground was providing the society with an income of around £80k through the show and its facilities.
2007 Planning permission granted for the building of the EPIC centre.
2009
Princess Anne becomes president of the society.
2008 EPIC building works are completed in time for the 2008 show.
2009 Society celebrates its 140th year, show celebrates its 125th year. Showground celebrates its 50th year.
Princess Anne opens the EPIC centre.
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The Lincolnshire Show
THE 125 LINCOLNSHIRE SHOW th
In 2009, the Royal visit, record ticket sales and glorious sunshine came together to make the 125th Lincolnshire Show a fitting anniversary for the Agricultural Society.
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The Lincolnshire Show
Gate sales were up 20 per cent overall on last year and the showground buzzed with crowds enjoying the feast of entertainment on offer. More than 100 stewards were involved, one for every aspect of the show, each in their distinctive bowler hats. In the Tastes of Lincolnshire and Select Lincolnshire Food Court there were demonstrations from TV Chef Rachel Green. Elsewhere, there was family entertainment with jousting knights and over 600 trade stands selling everything from frying pans to fashion. Each year the livestock lines are a bustling scene of cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, poultry and pigs. The four equine rings are busy with everything from working hunters to welsh ponies. And tractors and machinery are on show in the agricultural lines. The Lincolnshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs displayed their decorated trailers in the Clydesdale Bank Main Ring and entertained the crowds with their annual water fight. Also in the main ring were the majestic shire horses and the Kangaroo Kid, a world famous quad bike showman. The Army, Navy and RAF all attended. The RAF Parachute Display Team from No 1 Parachute School, made an eye catching descent to the show. Also taking part were the RAF Cranwell Band, a rock climbing wall from the Army Cadets and a taste of the sea with the Royal Navy. A Sports Zone included cricket nets, cycle track racing, rowing and hands-on training tips from the rugby football union; and a horticultural zone offered gardening tips and everything from garden sheds to vegetable seeds on sale. Research during the show demonstrated that we are successfully attracting new visitors; we found that 25% were attending for the first time. And we’re also retaining existing interest, with 34% of visitors having visited the show for the last five years running.
The level of media interest in the show continues to rise and we again played host to BBC and ITV film crews, Lincs FM and BBC Radio Lincolnshire, together with countless journalists from publications covering topics as diverse as beekeeping and equine to county social life.
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The Lincolnshire Show
The Lincolnshire Show is the largest two day event held at the Lincolnshire Events Centre during the year and is the flagship event for us. It acts as a shop window for the County and boasts the largest exhibition of the county’s livestock, as well as hundreds of trade stands ranging from tractors to sausages. It also continues to fulfil the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society’s charitable objectives which focus around the promotion and education of the environment and agriculture.
Sarah Poucher is the Marketing Manager for Lincolnshire Events Centre and is in charge of marketing the two-day Lincolnshire Show. She joined the Society in 2005 and agriculture is both home and work, as she is married to farmer Mark, living on their arable farm at Bardney Dairies.
Lincolnshire is the premier agricultural county in England and as a society we have an important role in connecting farmers and community. Over the years, our Lincolnshire Show has broadened and now celebrates so many aspects of life in this great county, but I am pleased it has never lost sight of its agricultural heritage. Charles Pelham, the Eighth Earl of Yarborough, President of the Agricultural Society. Lord Yarborough followed a long family tradition to become the 2009 President of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, the fourth in his family to hold the role. He runs the 27,500 acre family estate at Brocklesby near Grimsby, is Master of the Brocklesby Hunt and is involved in many local charitable activities. 8
It is our flagship event here at the Lincolnshire Events Centre and I was thrilled to see the new developments for 2009 which helped to attract a record number of visitors. We were also honoured with a visit by HRH the Princess Royal to officially open our EPIC Centre. It was a wonderful opportunity to show some of the great things happening in the county. The EPIC Centre marks another chapter in our history and it is very exciting to see the society respond with such confidence in the future by creating this unique building.
The Lincolnshire Show
Attending the 2009 show to undertake the official opening of the Society’s £6m EPIC eco-centre, was HRH The Princess Royal, a former President of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society.
HRH Princess Royal officially opens the EPIC Centre:
The EPIC building – standing for environment, people, innovation and choices - is at the heart of the Lincolnshire Showground’s 200 acre site. It’s a prime example of innovation in environmental building design that has put Lincolnshire out in front, and is intended to provide an educational resource to inspire greater sustainability as well as a state of the art events centre for up to 1900 visitors. In her speech, the Princess congratulated everyone involved in creating the new building and said:
“This is a truly original building, one for everyone here in Lincolnshire and I hope that all of you will use it as much as possible.” The Princess has a long history of association with Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. In 1988 she was president of the Society and has shown continued interest by visiting the show also in 1999 and 2004. 9
The Lincolnshire Show: SPONSORS
Clydesdale banks on the show When the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society approached us about the possibility of becoming involved in sponsorship, we straight away identified the potential business advantages of sponsoring the show. We are currently sponsoring the main ring which means we have a huge variety of advertising material connected with the show, including banners in the main ring and along the roadside approaching the show, an advert in the show programme and a direct link to our website from the show website. We like the fact that the show has been established for so long and consistently attracts individuals and businesses from across the region and beyond and we envisage this prosperous relationship will continue in the future. 10
Clydesdale Bank has been an official sponsor of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Show since 2007. Andrew Price, Agribusiness Partner for Clydesdale Bank, talks about their decision to sponsor the show.
www.cbonline.co.uk
The Lincolnshire Show: SPONSORS
Piping support into the show We’ve been making quality hand made crisps in our factory in Elsham in North Lincolnshire since 2004. I started out as a farmer and six years ago decided to set up a business with two others and have been committed to delivering the finest products to the local community ever since. Local produce for local businesses We feel strongly about not selling to supermarkets and so we only do business with independent companies such as farm shops, local pubs and delicatessens, or other independent retailers. We’ve found that our business has really flourished since deciding to supply locally and we now want to give something back by contributing to the community.
Pipers Crisps decided last year to begin sponsoring the Lincolnshire Show as they felt it would be an ideal way to contribute to children and the community which is something they feel passionate about, whilst also raising their profile as a business. Alex Albone, one of the founders of the company, talks about their sponsorship and how they plan to make a difference to children at the next Lincolnshire Show…
www.piperscrisps.com
We decided to sponsor the show because first of all, it’s on our ‘home turf’. We also rely heavily on local support and so Lincolnshire Show is a great way of showcasing who we are and our local credentials. Putting something back into the community We have always been passionate about being involved in the community, choosing to support local charities and hospices and also taking pride in supporting children’s education which is why we decided last year to sponsor the Discovery Zone. Treasure hunt treat For 2010, as well as sponsoring an event, we want to be involved in ensuring that children learn, so we’re designing and sponsoring a treasure hunt style competition. Children will be given a selection of places around the show that they need to visit, including areas they may not otherwise have seen, such as the bee keeping tent. The aim is to help them learn more about farming and agriculture. In each area they will receive a stamp from a steward who can tell them interesting facts. Once they have completed all the tasks on the programme, they will have collected sufficient stamps to achieve the prize - a packet of Pipers crisps! 11
The Lincolnshire Show: exhibitors
Exhibitors Great Grandad Marsh made the decision to start attending the show many decades ago. We keep coming back because it’s the biggest farming event in the region and it keeps our name in front of buying customers. Chris Rothery, Marsh Agricultural Merchants. www.easternharvesters.co.uk
We choose to have a stand at the Lincolnshire show as it’s another way for us to be part of the local community and to give something back. Sam Turner, Membership and Community Manager for the Co-op
We have attended the Lincolnshire Show for some years now with various exhibits for people to come and visit. We find it to be a great way of showcasing new initiatives we are rolling out and to promote the services we currently offer. Most importantly it allows us to engage with the public, discuss current issues that are pertinent to them and obtain the all important feedback from them that we need in order to improve our services in the future. We try to do this in a fun, interactive way with various outside activities to entice visitors in and we find that the nature of the Lincolnshire show is the perfect place to do this. Mark Stoneham, Corporate Events Manager, Lincolnshire County Council
Left: The Lincolnshire County Council’s beach-theme stand went down a treat with visitors and they even won the prize for best stand at the show. 12
The Lincolnshire Show: exhibitors
Return visits puts exhibitor in the pink Pink Pig Manager Sally Jackson tells us about her decision to return to the Lincolnshire Show each year and how she has stayed one step ahead of the game… Who are Pink Pig? Well, we are farmers first and foremost and so we raise and grow free range pigs, organic eggs and organic vegetables. We used to supply supermarkets but we now focus on selling our produce at our farm shop and we have developed new ways of creating revenue in the current unsteady market. This includes our restaurant, conference rooms and the more recent Pink Pig Adventure – our family farm trail where children can splash around, ride tractors and meet the animals, which is really popular with birthday parties. How long have you been attending the Show? Pink Pig has been running for eight years now and we started exhibiting at the Lincolnshire Show from the start. We were initially prompted by the advertising potential of the show as we knew it would provide us with contact to a large amount of people and customers who are interested in agriculture and organic/free-range food which is of course our target market.
What do you do at the Show? We sell hot food such as free range sausage and bacon butties and pancakes - traditional, free range foods from the farm. This goes down well with visitors and for us it also provides us with a chance to speak with all our current and prospective customers, as well as those who haven’t visited us in a while, to remind them of what we have to offer. What keeps you coming back? Particularly in light of the current economic downturn, we have been working even harder on our marketing strategy which has helped us to ride the storm so far. For us, it’s all about maintaining and developing positive customer relations and it’s this PR focus that has kept us coming back to the Show time and time again. www.pinkpigfarm.co.uk 13
The Lincolnshire Show: exhibitors
Woolgar value the personal touch Harold Woolgar Insurance is a family run independent insurance broker specialising in farm insurance and the general insurance requirements of the wider rural business community. They were established in 1973 and they have been exhibiting at the Lincolnshire show since 1987. Director Philip Woolgar speaks of their background at the show and why they value the ‘personal touch’ it creates with customers. We have been life-long visitors to the show ourselves, and so knew that the show had a strong agricultural focus making it an ideal way for our business to get in touch with the farming community. We have always exhibited in the same area near the Livestock lines which is a great position for us as many of our clients have show cattle and sheep.
Most importantly, we often get to meet the whole farming family as we find the Lincolnshire Show is an important annual social event in Lincolnshire’s farming calendar. Our clients often bring friends along to the show which over the years has led to many new contacts for us. From a PR standpoint, the show is another way to make ourselves accessible to potential clients. Many have physically met us for the first time at the show following referrals from existing clients or as the result of successful advertising.
Meeting the whole family business What we love about the Show is that it means we get to meet our clients on a more social level when they’re not technically ‘working’. We also bring along all our staff, so clients have the opportunity to meet all 17 team members. 14
We’ve found that having a stand at the show has really worked for us. After two days at the show it really is amazing just how many people you can see and talk to in a relaxed comfortable atmosphere.
The Lincolnshire Show
65,000 number of visitors to the 2009 show
600 number of exhibitors at the 2009 show
34 percentage of visitors who
have attended the show for the last 5 years running
20 the percentage increase in
ticket sales at the last show compared to the previous year
200 number of
Facts and figures
10,000 number of square metres of
marquees erected for the show
20 number of miles of electrical cable required for the show
3,000 number of chairs at the show
12,000 acres at the number of cars that visited on each of the two Show days in 2009
showground site
2000 number of horse entries that attended the 2009 Show
800 number of tables at the show 45,000 number of copies of a 72 page
programme provided for each show
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The Lincolnshire Show: sPONSORS
TOYOTA A spotlight on sponsoring the Sustainable Living Exhibition
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The Lincolnshire Show: sponsors
James Boughton-Thomas, Managing Director at Listers Toyota, talks about their decision to sponsor the 2009 Sustainable Living Exhibition held at the Lincolnshire Agricultural Show and the launch of the UK’s most environmentally friendly family car How did you hear about the show? We had been involved in the Sustainable Living Exhibition before and so when we heard that there was an opportunity to actually sponsor the event and launch the new Toyota Prius car in the green arena, we jumped at the chance. Walking the talk We felt that the event really represented all of our values and ambitions at Toyota and unlike other events that sometimes claim to be green, the SLE really does walk the talk. It’s a credible event that is committed to environmental change and so we felt that this would be a perfect platform to showcase the UK launch of the third generation Prius. Spreading the word on Hybrid Technology For us the event wasn’t about achieving sales, it was about spreading the word on the new generation of eco-friendly hybrid cars. People often don’t realise that for the same cost they can buy a car that is just as powerful and reliable, but that seriously reduces their CO2 emissions. Toyota began researching and developing eco-friendly cars over twelve years ago now, way before the idea of ‘green technology’
became topical or fashionable. It all began with a belief that we should be working towards a reduction in nitrogen oxides and this gradually developed into the creation of advanced hybrid technology. The new Prius is a spacious, powerful family saloon and yet with only 89g of CO2 being produced per km, it produces the lowest CO2 emissions of any car of its size on the market today. It is also the only fully hybrid car that can be driven using electrics alone, unlike most ‘part hybrid’ cars that require both a fuel engine and electrics in order to actually move. Sustainable Success We really valued the opportunity to talk to people about the new generation of hybrid technology and were able to demonstrate how the dual engine system worked and educate people on the advantages of investing in a hybrid car. The standard of exhibitors at the show was very high and the turnout was fantastic. The show was a real success and we were proud to be associated with such a credible event that was as serious as we are about environmental issues and our impact on the planet. www.listersgroup.co.uk/Toyota/Lincoln 17
The Lincolnshire Show
Looking ahead For 2010 we have many developments planned for the next Lincolnshire Show which we’re confident will once again exceed everyone’s expectations. We will be promoting the Show more than ever, utilising every medium of marketing including radio, press releases, advertisements in trade publications and social media such as Facebook and Twitter. Last year we experienced a record on advance ticket sales to the Show and are keen to increase this. We want to encourage more school visits by creating more educational activities for children and families. We would like to expand the food court to showcase the fantastic produce Lincolnshire has to offer. And whilst farming and agriculture will always be the core of the show, we also want to encourage higher numbers of non-agricultural visitors to the show through new and interesting aspects. Part of this involves developing the Sustainable Living Exhibition for visitors who are interested in how they can live a more eco-friendly existence and this is covered more fully in the Education section of this review. We are also committed to developing the equine area of the show, taking it to the next level – promoting it more to local audiences and developing an equine shopping area. 18
CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY The Lincolnshire Agricultural Society has been focused and committed to education since its formation in 1868. As an educational charity whose membership and support derives from our local community, we work closely with individuals, schools, organisations and businesses whose common vision is to promote the agricultural industry and pursue activities that have a positive effect on our environment and community.
Tamara Walters began her role as Educational Resource Manager in the Summer of 2008. Tamara had previously worked for West Lindsey District Council as its Waste Management Community Liaison Officer and more recently, as Recycling Officer for the City of Lincoln Council. In her current role at the society Tamara is responsible for promoting sustainable and low carbon technologies to individuals, businesses and organisations within the county, with a strong emphasis on developing educational initiatives. Combining this with endorsing and utilising the new purpose-built, eco-friendly events and conference venue, the EPIC centre, Tamara is developing the society’s educational role under the branding of EPIC Lincolnshire.
The Lincolnshire Show is our main educational event showing the agricultural industry at its best. The Discovery Zone is a hive of activity with our Schools Challenge, which is always oversubscribed by schools wanting to showcase their projects on farming and the environment. The addition of the Sustainable Living Exhibition within the EPIC centre is part of the continuing evolution of the show, helping to raise community awareness of how we interact and impact with our environment. The exhibition has helped us to expand the audiences we attract to two exciting days on the showground. Throughout the rest of the year, we are busy working locally. Through reduced rates on our facilities and staff support, we help local organisations, charities and educational establishments create change through positive educational and environmental work. With the opening of the EPIC centre, the showground’s facilities have become the location for many events driving the awareness of our impact on the environment. In the last year, over 1600 people have visited the EPIC centre for EPIC Lincolnshire-supported environmental education events or to study the building. We have also welcomed over 1500 visitors from the education sector including primary, secondary and tertiary students, teachers and lecturers. 619
Connecting with the community
The Lincolnshire Co-op: official sponsors We have always had strong ties with projects that support the community and the environment. Many people do not realise that we are a unique style of community retailer that is owned by 173,000 members of the community in Lincoln and Newark and rather than distributing profit around share holders, we actually recycle money back into the community and support all sorts of initiatives that we feel passionate about.
Lincolnshire Co-operative Society sponsor the Educational Resources Manager Post at the society. Sam Turner, Membership and Community Manager for the Co-op, describes their reason for choosing to support the society’s educational and community based projects.
We’re currently supporting projects such as ‘Business for Breakfast’, who support breakfast clubs in schools, the ‘Co-op Challenge’, which encourages schools to adopt Fairtrade practices and, amongst other things, are also in the process of supporting an alcohol support project aimed at local secondary school children. Sponsoring the educational side of the LAS fits with our ethics and ethos perfectly as we feel strongly about supporting local projects and initiatives that benefit the community and the environment. We started to sponsor in July 2008 and decided to commit to a three year plan so that we could make a real difference.
On the following pages we have invited the organisers of some of the amazing events we have been proud to host and support to tell you about what they’ve achieved and the difference they have made to schools, children and communities all over the region… 20
Connecting with the community
Construction Week A key building block for future careers
Construction Week is one of the many educational events that have been held in partnership with the LAS at the EPIC centre. Aimed at fourteen to fifteen year olds in years 9 and 10, pupils come to experience the construction industry first-hand. All types and levels of construction are covered including crafts such as carpentry and bricklaying, technical methods such as surveying, and professional roles such as architecture. Clive Hall, Secretary of the Lincoln Group Training Association who arranges the event each year explained the original impetus of the event. Hands-on experience We were prompted to develop Construction Week to encourage greater understanding of the industry and draw in more high level pupils to take-up apprenticeship schemes. The event has been running for eight years now and has gone from strength to strength. It allows pupils to have a full day of physical activity within the
construction industry, providing a taster of some of the 2000 jobs available. Lasting memory The event was held at the EPIC for the first time in 2009, after we had outgrown our previous venue, and we found it to be potentially the most successful event to date, thanks to the facilities and space at the EPIC centre. 21
Connecting with the community
In particular, it allowed students to be outside for part of the show but with covered areas in case it rained. They were also able to leave a lasting reminder of the event by helping to construct a 200 metre block paving path that is now a permanent feature of the site. Back by popular demand For the 2009 event we had 700 applicants but only 550 places available, so next time we will be expanding the event so that we can cater for 700 pupils. By holding the event in the EPIC centre again, this will allow us to expand our activity schedule, as well as allowing for even greater numbers of pupils attending.
Success story Vital statistics Name: Reece Musson Age: 17 Current employer: Mouchel, Lincoln Current role: Trainee Building Surveyor/Architectural Technician Inspiration: I have always been interested in building renovation, so when we were told about Construction Week in assembly I was really keen to go along and find out more. Looking back, I’m glad I did as it encouraged me to apply for the apprenticeship scheme which was really life changing. The process: After Construction Week I decided to sign up for the apprenticeship scheme. I had to go to various interviews and was lucky enough to be accepted by Mouchel. I completed my apprenticeship at Mouchel alongside studying at Lincoln College and now work for Mouchel full-time on building projects. Sometimes I’m out on site, other times in the office working on architectural drawings using CAD. It’s quite a varied job and I really enjoy it.
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Connecting with the community
Sustainable Schools Showcase
The Sustainable Schools Showcase aims to raise awareness amongst teachers and parents of how sustainable development can be integrated into school management practices, and provides extensive practical guidance for schools to utilise. Kim Hudson, the Sustainable Schools Advisor for Lincolnshire County Council spoke about the event and how it was received. Why is sustainability in schools so important? It’s vital because it helps schools and pupils become involved in projects that affect them and their local community and inspires them to take ownership of their environment. How did the Sustainable Schools Showcase come about? I had been spreading the word on sustainability by visiting individual schools. This was a slow and limited process so we decided to create a showcase event to reach larger numbers. The first event of its kind in the area, it involved an exhibition and workshops to help teachers achieve more ecological, sustainable processes and initiatives within their schools. Who took part in the event? Approximately 100 exhibitors attended the event, including 24 speakers, many of whom were from national bodies such as OFSTED and several people
attended from outside the region. Everyone was involved because of their special expertise or involvement in the field, and that is why we decided we should hold the event at the EPIC centre. How were the LAS involved in the event? The LAS supported the event by allowing a huge discount on the use of the EPIC centre and by supporting the planning and logistics of the day. The end result was a hugely successful event that ran very smoothly. Bob Stoner, of Sleaford’s St George’s College of Technology, describes their involvement: As the first school in Lincolnshire to be awarded the Fairtrade Schools status, we were invited to the Sustainable Schools Showcase. Here, we were able to explain to many other schools that being a Fairtrade School was really achievable and, more importantly, beneficial. 23
Connecting with the community
Recycling & environment day for Lincoln primary schools Peter Metcalfe, Recycling Officer for the Lincolnshire County Council, talks about the Recycling and Environment event that was held in partnership with the LAS. My role is to promote recycling in the community, and we recently had the opportunity to put together a major educational event that would act as a springboard for closer ties with schools in the future.
ensure that the sessions were fun and interactive and so we even had some students come in dressed as gorillas! Lord of the Bins
Interactive workshops Fifteen primary and junior schools in Lincoln took part with over 200 students attending from the ages of seven to eleven, and they were responsible for cascading the information on to other pupils following the event.
A theatre group acted out a series of different characters, including ‘Lord of the Bins’ which went down a storm. Children also got to act, with a role play session to help them understand how climate change really works and how to reduce the effects in their day to day life.
We had recycling themed workshops, which included sorting through various household materials to identify which objects could be recycled and a LAS’ involvement composting workshop helped pupils learn what could go in, and what types of organisms and animals help The EPIC building was a really great venue, with plenty of space for all the different workshops. The create the compost. tour by Tamara the Educational Resource Officer from LAS to explain the building’s credentials was Another workshop explained how mobile phones both educational and kept the children stimulated use minerals that must be mined, causing a direct and moving around. impact on the habitat of gorillas. We wanted to 24
Connecting with the community
“It was a real demonstration of learning through fun”. “We found the event very informative and felt it was delivered in child friendly language. Gorillas and mobile phones were very popular along with Lord of the Bins!” “The children were talking about this event all the way back and for days afterwards. The children were able to cascade this information down due to the fun aspect of a very important issue. A great big thank you”.
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Connecting with the community
Leap of faith to save the planet An Environment Agency publication on ‘The Fifty things that will save The Planet’ identified the power that religious leaders hold in making the planet a priority and stimulated a debate at the Chapter House, Lincoln Cathedral on the subject. This created a springboard for a major event held at the EPIC Centre. Janita Elton, Faith in Nature Coordinator at the Environment Agency explains. The initial debate was extremely successful and three other regions have since held similar events. But people left wanting more, so we decided to create the one-day Faith in Nature Event. The event was held at the EPIC Centre in conjunction with the Lincolnshire Chaplaincy Services, with 130 people taking part from 9 different faiths, 19 different communities and 4 different schools. It was a structured day which featured breakout groups each covering different topics including funding, energy saving, sustainability, celebration and community change initiatives. We were lucky enough to have two excellent and very influential keynote speakers – Martin Palmer, Secretary General of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) and Advisor to the United Nations Development Programme, and Ranchor Prime, the Hindu spiritualist and writer who helped establish the ARC with Martin. School groups also worked with Sarah Murch from Inspirational Gardens which they all really enjoyed and they will be helping to develop a community garden as a lasting memory of the event. The LAS had a big input in the event. They reduced the fees for the EPIC building which enabled us to create a large scale event which we would not have otherwise been able to consider. We also worked closely with Tamara the Educational Resource Manager who provided support and guidance and ensured all the logistics of the event were covered. 26
Connecting with the community
The feedback We encouraged visitors to complete evaluation forms following the event and the feedback was all hugely positive:
Congratulations on an excellent event…
Paul Learoyd, Chief Executive, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
Speakers were all excellent Zuber Vawda, Prison Chaplain
Demographically well mixed…emphasis on young people… engaged them which is often harder to do…had clear environmental outcomes… truly engaged Lee Choudhury, Area Diversity Adviser, Environment Agency, Anglian Region, Eastern Area
Terry Miller, Chaplain for the Environment, who teamed up with Janita to make the day possible, speaks of his passion for the environment and why he felt the EPIC centre was a perfect venue:
I have always had a broad interest in environmental issues and adopting a multi-faith approach and I’m currently completing a PhD in the area, so it was a logical partnership between myself and Janita when planning the event. We felt that the EPIC centre was a perfect place to hold the event given what its name represents – Environment, People, Innovation and Choices. The venue spoke of our response to climate change, where we are aiming to live and work more carefully with the earth.
27
Connecting with the community
Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust In the last 60 years, over 800 people with a background in agriculture and associated industries have benefited from the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust and many have been supported by Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. A scholarship provides the opportunity to achieve personal development through study and travel, allowing the individual to stand back from their daily occupation and study a topic of real interest to them and the industry. It allows access to the world’s leaders in food and farming and delivers benefits to UK farmers and growers, and the industry as a whole as scholars share their knowledge. The latest Nuffield scholar supported by LAS is Nick Ward. If you think a Scholarship is for you or someone you know, contact the Director, John Stones (01858 555544) and ask for an application form. www.nuffieldscholar.org
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Facts and figures
1500
number of educational visitors to the EPIC centre since October 2008.
50%
the venue discount we offer eight events per year as part of our charitable objectives.
ÂŁ23,872.30 the value of our in-kind support in 2009.
29
Connecting with the community
Looking ahead We are really proud of the work we have achieved, and excited about the prospect of furthering our level of promotion and support of key educational and environmental initiatives in the local and national community. Our ambition is to develop our site into an Education Resources Centre open to the wider community to educate on the natural environment, agriculture, sustainable construction and sustainability. We want to expand the Sustainable Living Exhibition (SLE) so that it becomes even more informative and fun for visitors to the Lincolnshire Show. We plan to have more agriculturally relevant stands and an advice point for visitors. Greater interactivity and increased connections to the Discovery Zone will allow us to expand on the Sustainable Schools Framework support, offered by participation in the Schools Challenge. This will require partnerships and sponsorship with local businesses who identify with the importance of sustainability and want to demonstrate their corporate social responsibility in the community. We aim to support the teaching of agriculture both in and out of the classroom, and want to ensure local schools are increasingly aware of our educational work outside of the Lincolnshire Show. We want to utilise the full potential of the EPIC Lincolnshire website’s Education Network as a signpost to ourselves and the other organisations who offer educational support on the environment and agricultural industry. By increased promotion, we plan to make more charities and educational establishments aware of how they can become partners and receive our support and discounted facility hire, to help encourage more workshops and activities on the natural environment by external organisations and experts. We also have plans in the pipeline for expanding our partnership with the charity FACE who work to inspire children to learn more about food, farming and the countryside. Finally, we would like to explore the viability and funding for proposals to develop Cathedral Wood and the Front Lounge into an Education Resource Centre with enclosed woodland, raised beds and classroom space. This is just a taster of some of our plans and we hope that through continued sponsorship we can make these hopes and dreams for the society a reality.
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EVENTS FOR EVERYONE This past year has seen huge changes for the events centre. In October 2008 we were managing a fair amount of bookings, but one year on, the events centre has now attained a whole new level and bookings have quadrupled.
We have the facilities to take on events for audiences ranging from ten to tens of thousands and we have proved time and again that we can effectively deliver different events on a daily basis with even the shortest turn-around times, maintaining our eye for detail and unparalleled level of service regardless of the size of the event. Our team are realistic with today’s economic climate and believe that we offer a fantastic service for a fair price, helping us to make significant gains. We are already well on our way to becoming a force to be reckoned with, as both a regional and national venue of choice.
Rachael previously worked at the Theatre Royal in Lincoln as a co-coordinator for all their outdoor concerts, managing and marketing concerts for big artists like Jools Holland and Katherine Jenkins. Born and bred in Lincoln, she is passionate about promoting the County she is proud to be a part of and is eager to use her reputation and expertise in events management in order to place the excellence of our Lincolnshire Venue on the map.
We are very proud of our unique green ethos and the venue has been used extensively on the basis of its eco credentials by various well known institutions including BT, the Carbon Trust, the Environmental Agency and Lincolnshire County Council. Recent major client contracts that maximise the use of the whole showground site have included securing the contract to host Swallow Fairs, the biggest antiques fair in Europe, held six times a year and attracting large numbers to the site and boosting business for the surrounding city and county facilities. Another major new contract comes from the British Motorcycle Federation which has chosen to use the site for future major events which demand inside and outside exhibition space plus on site camping.
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Lincolnshire Events Centre
Creating a venue destination The Lincolnshire Events Centre is the trading arm of Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. The commercial income it generates is reinvested to further the charitable aims and activities of the Society. By 1962 the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society had spent £60,000 on developing the showground, including new roads, car parking, toilets and additional buildings. The society continued to invest in maintaining and developing the showground and its on-site buildings, to become a well regarded venue for all kinds of events, but idientified the need for a major investment in new, modern facilities. The opening of the EPIC centre has created further opportunities and flexibility and the Lincolnshire Events Centre now caters for a wider range of events than ever, including major visitor events, exhibitions, wedding receptions, art shows, charity events, product launches and much more. The EPIC was a great venue for such a large event, and fitted with the theme of the day. Kim Hudson, the Sustainable Schools Advisor for Lincolnshire County Council referring to the Sustainable Schools Showcase
For us it’s not about big wins, it’s about still being here in the future and that’s why, as well as sponsoring the LAS educational projects, we have also been active users of the eco-friendly EPIC centre as a venue for many of our functions, including our staff awards we held recently where we celebrated our achievements over the last year Sam Turner, Membership and Community Manager for the Co-op
“The EPIC is designed to hold multiple events and is very spacious and so it worked perfectly for this event where we had the different workshops taking place. One of the things I love most about the building is the way in which the light shines beautifully through the windows when the sun is shining. Terry Miller, Chaplain for the Environment, speaking of the success of the Faith in Nature Event
We use the centre for a variety of different events from our Board of Directors meeting and various recruitment days, through to our Annual Public meeting for upwards of a thousand people. It provides us with all the facilities we need and that is one of the main things that keeps us coming back. It’s also central and convenient for everyone in the county and when it comes to car access there, you just can’t go wrong. The staff in the events team are always very helpful and obliging and they have helped ensure that each of our events have been seamless. I have no doubt that we will continue to use the centre as one of our key venues. 32
Karen Scott, Executive Assistant, NHS Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust Sam Turner, Membership and Community Manager for the Co-op
Lincolnshire Events Centre
World-renowned antique show finds a new home Richard Burgoin, Director of Swallow Fairs, who stage the biggest antique fair in Europe held six times per year with over 3000 exhibitors, talks about their move to the Lincolnshire Events Centre and the exciting opportunities it has created for them. As part of our future growth plans, we were ready for a new long-standing venue that would give us the scope and flexibility to really expand and prosper. The Lincolnshire Antiques and Home Show is aimed at a huge demographic with everything from knick knacks all the way through to really high-end, valuable antiques. The ultimate form of recycling! We had known about the showground and its credentials as an excellent venue for many years and were aware that the LAS were continuously investing in the grounds and facilities which really appealed to us. We were also attracted to the green credentials of the EPIC centre as we are always keen to support anything that makes us more eco-friendly as a business and of course antiques are the ultimate form of recycling! Our show is extremely large with over 3000 exhibitors that come from all over the country and even worldwide, and the showground met our requirements perfectly. No more limitations The best thing is that we really feel like we have no restrictions now as our previous venue was quite limited in terms of space and facilities. With antiques, security and storage are key, so the EPIC centre provides a safe, dry environment to exhibit the more valuable or fragile items – so exhibitors are happier and buyers are more confident. We held our first show at the showground in October 2009 and were thrilled with the way it was executed and received. We found the events support to be just brilliant. I’ve never met a more helpful and friendly team and they really can’t so enough to help us.
Despite the huge scale of the show we have already achieved an effective routine when it comes to setting up and so what could be a very stressful, drawn out set-up has become really quite do-able and this is a direct result of the facilities available and the event team’s support. Positive impact on the local economy We feel that having the show at the showground on such a regular basis is really exciting for the region as it means a huge increase in people being brought to the region and to Lincoln in particular, with hotels, restaurants and petrol stations all experiencing a rise in trade over the days the event is being held. We are so happy with the success of our shows so far and the impact that the new venue has had on our business and client demographics that we envisage staying with the showground for at least the next ten years. www.asfairs.co.uk. 33
Lincolnshire Events Centre
Lincolnshire County Council Mark Stoneham, Corporate Events Manager at Lincolnshire County Council, has been an active user of the events centre over recent years and describes some of the events he has held there. We have used the showground and EPIC centre many times in the past year. We use it as a venue for all kinds of events from small, intimate meetings, seminars and training days, through to large scale events and conferences. Some of the larger events we’ve held on the grounds recently include the ‘Real Life Conference’ for people with learning difficulties, their parents and carers, and also professionals. It seeks to promote independent living and covers a variety of topics including accommodation, sexual health, bullying and sports. The conference was previously held in central Lincoln but we had outgrown the venue and moving to the Lincolnshire Events Centre allowed us to invite many more people. We have also held the ‘Smoke-Free Homes’ Conference at the EPIC centre which aimed to raise awareness and share best practice amongst professionals about the benefits of a smoke free home. This is part of the larger tobacco control strategy. Other smaller events that we’ve held include the recent Flu Pandemic Forums and the ‘Affordable Warmth’ conference. First class facilities For us, the EPIC centre is one of the main venues we would consider when putting on a large scale event, as it’s currently one of the few venues in the county that will comfortably accommodate over 200 people in one room. The venue is large and is light and airy throughout the day, all year round. The location is also very accessible with ample parking for delegates. The facilities have good technical and IT support on hand, and we have a great relationship with the Events Team who always ensure all of our events run smoothly and without incident.
34
Lincolnshire Events Centre
Showcase celebrates the arts CfBT Lincolnshire School Improvement Service manages a number of services for Lincolnshire County Council, with overall responsibility for monitoring, supporting and challenging schools to raise standards and well-being for children and young people. They held a weekend-long Arts Celebration using the expanse of the showground site for a showcase event celebrating achievements in the Arts in Lincolnshire schools, attracting 10,000 visitors.
Hootenanny’; a concert featuring Britain’s top session musicians supported by Lincolnshire Youth Jazz and Rock Academy. All day Sunday, The Dance/Drama Stage and The Music Stage were jam-packed with vibrant and enthusiastic performances from an array of talented young artists, creating a real festival vibe. The sun had got his hat on
Children and young people from schools across Lincolnshire came together to celebrate the arts and to share their artistic talents.
The warm, sunny weather brought crowds of people to the outside areas to enjoy the atmosphere, and to experience the arts firsthand with workshops, such as painting a tepee, weaving a willow fish or creating an item of jewellery.
The weekend got off to a dramatic start with a fashion show, an opportunity for budding young fashion designers to develop and showcase their skills and for young models to get a taste of the catwalk. This was followed on Saturday evening by ‘The Big Summer
The artwork of students from more than 50 schools, ranging from infant to secondary, was on display in the Gallery. Another source of artistic inspiration for young students was the opportunity to take part in Art Workshops with BBC Art Attack presenter Kirsten O’Brien.
An artistic extravaganza of EPIC proportions
This year’s Arts Celebration was an opportunity for talented young artists from across Lincolnshire to showcase their abilities at the spectacular new EPIC Centre at the Lincolnshire Showground. It was a major development for us moving the event to the showground, and we received nothing but positive support, sound advice and fantastic help from the Events Centre team, all of which contributed to making the event such a success. Jaci Gill, Senior Consultant: Arts and Study Support, Lincolnshire School Improvement Service. 35
Lincolnshire Events Centre
1900
the number of people that the EPIC building can hold
30,000 the number of
square feet in the EPIC conference and exhibition centre
270,000 actual footfall of people attending events in 2009
Facts and figures
263,300
footfall for events in 2010 already pre-booked by December 2009
ÂŁ1m
net value of events already pre-booked for 2010 by December 2009
ÂŁ62,000 the highest earning two day
event already booked for the Lincolnshire Events Centre in 2010
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Lincolnshire Events Centre
Looking ahead As we look ahead to 2010 and beyond, there is a real feeling of excitement and anticipation with our most productive and varied events calendar to date. Our ambitions are that this level of development and improvement continues to grow year on year as we eagerly move towards establishing ourselves as the venue of choice with a national and even international reputation. Never before have we had the facilities and capability to host such a wide range of events and we are looking forward to some exciting large public events, including music concerts and large family days out that will offer the public something fun and different. We would like to further increase the number of conferences and events that are held at the events centre and establish a real sense of customer satisfaction and loyalty, leading to more repeat bookings. We will aim to keep clients informed of all new developments with regular direct updates, press releases and advertising. We will continue to maintain our bespoke approach to events with a flexible and tailored approach. As we grow and develop we would also like to build stronger links with large nationwide organisations who will return to us for their national events, utilising our extensive facilities, space and central England location. We also plan to continue building upon the market for organisations who appreciate our eco-credentials and the general interest that it has created. Weddings are set to become a bigger feature in future as we will have a wedding licence from February 2010. Already we have put on some spectacular wedding receptions that have been extremely well received, and the wedding licence will allow us to offer the complete wedding package at our venue, opening the door to a whole new market. 37
Lincolnshire Events Centre
Fine weather, good going and a great turn-out of riders set the scene for the 2009 Lincolnshire Horse Trials at the Showground
Famous names and fine weather for horse trials Well recognised on the horse trials circuit, over 700 competitors took part in dressage, show jumping and cross country over the three days at pre novice, novice and intermediate levels. One of the earliest events in the horse trials season – which runs from March to October – Lincolnshire is recognised as an excellent early season event because the flat, free draining ground is a good proving ground for the horses. “It was the best weather we’ve had since the event started in the early 1980s,” said show director Charles Hood. “We had an excellent weekend – high competitor levels; no accidents and good visitor numbers.” Famous names from the equestrian world taking part included Olympic riders William Fox Pitt and Sharon Hunt; New Zealand double gold medallist Mark Todd and Oliver Townend – who won in his class. Right behind him in second place in the novice section was Lincolnshire rider Gina Ruck of Tealby, a previous gold medal winner for Britain at pony level. Pony trials also took place over the weekend and selectors for the British team were out watching riders on the Saturday. 38
Photographs courtesy of Lincolnshire Echo
Lincolnshire Events Centre
Starter’s orders for Lincolnshire’s new point to point It was starter’s orders for the North Carlton Racecourse when it held its inaugural meeting in 2009.
Above: Distant Memory heads for the winning post in the first race at the new North Carlton Racecourse
After two years of planning, the new point to point course was unveiled at the showground in 2008, with the ambition of becoming an established venue for racers nationwide, and the first two events held in early 2009. A huge project, it provides not just a course but weighing and changing facilities, a parade ring, a space for bookmakers and the essential hospitality. It come about through collaboration between the Burton and Blankney hunts and has drawn interest from all over the country. The 1.3-mile track has eight fences, each 4ft 3in high, and one ditch. Novice horses race for two-and-a-half miles, jumping 16 fences. The more experienced cover three miles, jumping 20 fences. Following the two meetings in 2009, more are expected to be added as the course’s reputation grows. Wendy Rose, a member of the point to point committee, said the arrival of racing at North Carlton was a very exciting development. “It’s the first new point to point course in the UK for about 40 years and we are very excited about it,” she said.
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Securing our future ambitions The Lincolnshire Agricultural Society provides a leading centre at its showground site for the advancement and understanding of agriculture and sustainability. It is the host for major events, and an important provider of educational initiatives for children and adults from across our community. But it is also a charity. We could not maintain and develop our reputation, our projects or our site, without the support of our partners. And to secure our future ambitions we are keen to involve and engage with as many people as possible. Agriculture remains a primary industry for Lincolnshire, and preeminent over other regions, but that economy is not just about production these days. It’s the activities which have grown out of agriculture that are playing a major role in defining the county’s future. In the same way, we are engaging in diversification which has seen our activities and ambitions grow beyond all recognition from the aims of our Victorian founders. Through the charitable activities of the Agricultural Society, our educational role is not just about agriculture and horticulture, but also the issues of sustainability. Mark Farmer, Chief Executive Previously Operations Director at the Youth Hostel Association (YHA), he joined the society during a key period of change. 40
And now, we have developed a long term Master Plan with ambitious and unique ideas to drive the development of the Society and the Events Centre through the 21st century, which will be unveiled and discussed with our partners in 2010.
Partnership
Investing in infrastructure We want to ensure the long term viability of the society and further our positive social impact on the community. To do that, we need funding partnerships which will enable us to invest in our showground and keep pace with our aspirations. We have some fantastic new facilities, like our £6m EPIC Centre, through to the newly installed fibre optic cable providing high speed digital communication links on the site, but we also have some facilities which are now 50 years old. Our ambition is to replace infrastructure with innovative solutions that carry our commitment to sustainability throughout the site. For example, by replacing toilet blocks and showers through a carefully developed waste water management solution - which can be showcased to educate others in effective sustainability practices. This would take us further towards making the whole site self sufficient in energy, waste and water - an ambitious goal but one that is achievable over the medium term as technologies develop and the need for sites to test and demonstrate such technologies grows. And we have many smaller, but no less important, ambitions for infrastructure, such as wi-fi enabling the showground in 2010. Ultimately, we envisage the showground becoming a modern day country estate with the EPIC centre as the “country house”, with attractive and accessible parkland surroundings for all to enjoy. But to achieve these ambitions for the showground infrastructure, we need long standing capital investment partnerships with both the public and private sector. As well as looking to secure long term capital investment partnerships, we are aiming to increase our sponsorship levels to their highest yet. Our target for 2010 is £100,000. Showcasing the county The Lincolnshire Show is a true agricultural show that shows off what the county does best. The superb displays of machinery, livestock and trades and great entertainment appeals to the wider public as well as those who come for shopping, the food courts and to socialise. The trade exhibitors, the show sponsors and the customers coming through the gate are what keep it all going - but for the future we have many new ambitions. To achieve them we must secure the necessary support. We have a flagship event, with visitor numbers well up for the 2009 show, delivering true commercial value for our partners and we need to drive that message to reach new sponsors. We also deliver a full commercial events centre, the source of much-needed commercial income generation. In just the last year, 641
Partnership
we have quadrupled the number of events being hosted on site and in our new conferencing centre. Combined with other events that we host, from horse trials through to black tie balls and corporate conferences, we successfully attract over 300,000 visitors each year to the county. It represents real achievement, but the challenge remains to secure the volume of events that will help us achieve profitability and return on investment for the EPIC Centre so that it contributes seedcorn funding for other projects. Combined with sponsorship, internal revenue streams like this will go towards helping us achieve our charitable initiatives and making the Showground facilities and Lincolnshire Show even better than ever.
KEY THEMES FOR 2010/11 Launch the next era for the showground with the Master Plan and secure an investment partnership to realise our ambitions for a waste water management system Further develop the Lincolnshire Show including: • more entertainment • expanding the successful Countryside area • revamp the Discovery Zone and educational area • growing the Sustainable Living Exhibition Consolidate our education work and engage with young people Grow our profile and reputation as a venue to bring in new audiences
We have high ambitions demanding both capital investment and revenue support, but are confident that through partnership we can succeed.
How to partner with us By supporting the society you are demonstrating your commitment to agriculture, the local community, the environment and the next generation. The benefits for our supporters are a raised profile; direct advertising; access to their customers and the public - all supported by the association with a well recognised and well regarded community brand with charitable aims. Sponsorship To find out how to showcase your business through the Lincolnshire Show, reaching more than 60,000 people, through our annual nationally renowned Horse Trials, or through the wider work of the Events Centre, contact Marketing Manager Sarah Poucher at spoucher@lincs-events.co.uk or call 01522 585501. Show exhibitors If you are interested in joining the annual Lincolnshire Show as a trade exhibitor, contact Rachael Young at ryoung@lincs-events.co.uk or call on 01522 524240. Education sponsorship and donations To support our community and educational activities through donations or sponsorship contact Tamara Walters at twalters@lincs-events.co.uk or call 01522 524240. Investment If you are interested in helping us to help us to achieve our infrastructure ambitions, whether through funding or reciprocal investment initiatives, such as showcasing technological solutions, contact Chief Executive Mark Farmer at mfarmer@lincs-events.co.uk or call 01522 585502. 42
Partnership
Our sponsors We would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all our current sponsors who made the 125th Lincolnshire Show possible
A W & I Robinson
A W Curtis & Sons Limited
Abba Plant Hire Ltd
AFCO Lincoln
AMC Plc
BBC Radio Lincolnshire
Mrs C L Bembridge
Brown Butlin Group
Cater Leisure
Clydesdale Bank Plc
Duncan & Toplis
Equestrian Direct Ltd
Farmacy Plc
Mrs S A Goffin
Green Mountain Recycling
H.G.C.A.
J H Walter
Lincolnshire Co-operative Ltd
Market Rasen Racecourse
Masons Chartered Surveyors
Moulds Fencing (Torksey) Ltd
Murdoch Troon Kitchens
Pipers Crisps
Precision Mapping
Professional Paddock Care
R G Carter Building Limited
Savills
Select Lincolnshire
Shah Furniture (Lincoln) Ltd
Streets Chartered Accountants
Swales Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream
Tastes of Lincolnshire
Tesco Stores Ltd
The Lincolnshire Community Foundation
Vodafone Ltd
Watson Fuels
Witham Oil & Paint Ltd
Woolgar Insurance Services Ltd 43
Partnership
We appreciate from personal experience the benefits of long standing employees and the trust that can be placed in them. The farming community is the core focus of our business and so we were delighted to sponsor the Long Service Awards in recognition of this. Philip Woolgar, Director at Harold Woolgar Insurance speaking of their sponsorship of the 2009 Lincolnshire Agricultural Society’s Long Service Awards.
As a leading bank within the agricultural sector, we recognised that the show would create much closer links with farmers in the region and would provide huge opportunities for direct advertising to the industry. Andrew Price, Agribusiness Partner for Clydesdale Bank.
We found it very straight forward liaising with LAS when arranging sponsorship and would recommend it as a route for other businesses that rely on local support. Alex Albone, founder of Pipers Crisps.
Thrilling entertainment by the Kangaroo Kid, world famous quad bike showman, who was in the main ring for the Eve of Show event courtesy of sponsors, Streets Accountants.
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Pictures contained in this review appear courtesy of: Lincolnshire Echo Lincolnshire Pride Kamara Digital Photographic Studio Others kindly provided by the sponsors, exhibitors and event organisers Written and produced by Prima PR & Marketing www.primapr.co.uk Designed by ideafuel creative www.ideafuel.co.uk