Hillhead exhibition

The world’s largest gathering of quarrying, construction and recycling manufacturers takes place biennially in a disused quarry in Buxton, Derbyshire.

GL events UK has provided temporary structures for the Hillhead exhibition since the early 1990s.  The structures are used for a variety of solutions across the 135,000sqm site.

The impressive main pavilion was used as an indoor exhibition hall.  Over 140 individual exhibitors occupied the space covering more than 3,000sqm.

Customers were greeted on entry to the exhibition inside a large registration pavilion, while a smaller registration office was created for exhibitors only.

Catering was taken care of with a large public restaurant which contained a kitchen, hot and cold serving areas and dining space for visitors and exhibitors.

The show organisers, QMJ Group, had a dedicated office complex base, fronted by a long reception desk.  Located out of sight behind the reception was ample space for a rest room, mess room, store and food preparation.  Also contained within the complex was room for first aid, safety and vital network connections – essential in a quarry without network or cell phone reception.

GL events UK also created structures for large outdoor exhibitors including Hillhead/Tarmac plus 14 other big-name construction brands, in association with the client Saward Marketing.

 “When you’re working within the exhibition industry it’s important that you have key strategic partners and I’ve always found GL one of the easiest to work with.” said Jack Saward, Saward Marketing.

2018 Structures

  • 3,120sqm Main pavilion
  • 2,500sqm Registration pavilion
  • 40sqm Exhibitor registration
  • 300sqm Restaurant
  • 225sqm Organiser’s office plus 9sqm canopy/shelter
  • 225sqm Hillhead/Tarmac office

 “Structures are only just a small part of what we do here at Hillhead.  Under the GL brand we also do what we call ‘turn-key solutions’, which is basically providing toilets, interiors, partitioning, lighting – you name it, we’ll do it.” said Site Manager, Shaun Mitchell.

Relationship

On-going support was provided to clients during the three-day exhibition, with a Supervisor and Chargehand available on-site, in case of any queries or emergencies.

 “We have a good working relationship with GL events and it’s useful that we see a lot of the same faces year-on-year.  It’s quite specific where the structures need to go and it’s handy that we have that continuity of service.” commented Harvey Sugden, Hillhead Event Manager, QMJ Group.

Hillhead 2018 took place from 26-28 June 2018 and filming took place during two delightfully hot days on 7th June during the build phase and on 26th June for the show’s opening day.