UK’s largest lab trade show wins Best Trade Show under 5,000 square metres

Lab Innovations, the UK’s meeting place for laboratory professionals across the scientific spectrum, won the Award for Best Trade Show under 5,000 square metres at the Exhibition News award ceremony on March 31, 2025. The award organisers recognised Lab Innovations’ sensitivity to industry trends in introducing Biotech and Quality Infrastructure (QI) fora and the learning and knowledge sharing for its visitors — around 70 per cent said this was a top reason for attending.

The judges identified that Lab Innovations had acted on feedback from its community of exhibitors, visitors and partners to platform biotechnology and quality assurance and control issues. They also praised the show’s creative marketing strategies, including the Lab Matters podcast in partnership with the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), weekly LinkedIn newsletters showcasing community voices and educational videos and seminars from industry leaders.

“We’re pleased that the judges recognised our efforts create a dynamic learning environment at the show, with features like the Innovation Gallery, sustainability pitches, Live Lab demonstrations and the Lab Awards supplementing our five conference theatres. There was something for everyone last year, as there will be at Lab Innovations 2025,” said Nicole Hawkins, marketing manager for Lab Innovations.

Lab Innovations 2024 welcomed 4,786 visitors, ten per cent more than 2023 with the highest attendance figure to date. Its 202 exhibitors included Shimadzu, Sartorius, Avantor (VWR), Thermo Fisher Scientific and Scientific Laboratory Supplies.

These industry leaders will all be returning in 2025, alongside the more than 80 per cent of exhibitors to have already rebooked. Show feedback also saw a two-point increase in the event’s Net Promoter Score from 2023, underlining visitors’ great experience.

“It remains true that Lab Innovations is only as strong as the lab industry, because ultimately we’re defined by the immense talent, experience and goodwill of the researchers, technicians and industry professionals that gather with us each autumn,” explained Simon Farnfield, event director for Lab Innovations.

“We’ve earned the privilege and responsibility to be trusted by the world’s top suppliers and the UK’s top scientists over the last decade.”

This year’s event will feature a fascinating mix of content: the popular Biotech and QI fora will return; the RSC Theatre will showcase robotics advances; the Insights & Innovations Theatre, sponsored by Laboratory News, will focus on automation and end-user sustainability; and the Live Lab will once more put on supplier demonstrations and Q&A sessions with technical experts.

The fifth edition of the Lab Awards will also return to the Lab Innovations show floor, ready to reward the companies and lab personnel who have brought great change to their industries. Entries will open in April and potential winners are encouraged to put forward their case for the free-to-enter, free-to-attend awards process.

Lab Innovations will return to the NEC, Birmingham, on October 29 and 30, 2025. Watch the highlights from 2024’s award-winning show to get a feel for the UK’s premiere laboratory event.

About Lab Innovations

Lab Innovations has fast become the UK’s must-attend event for the entire laboratory industry. Supported by some of the UK’s top science institutions, it is a key event for powering the business of science.

The show floor is bursting with innovations from more than 160 leading scientific suppliers and manufacturers showcasing the latest laboratory developments and equipment. Exhibitors present the most cutting-edge technology applicable to a plethora of industries including life sciences, pharmaceuticals, academia, healthcare, chemical, food & drink, cleanroom and more.

About Easyfairs

Easyfairs organises and hosts events, bringing communities together to visit the future.

We currently organise 200 face-to-face events in 14 countries (Algeria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) and manage eight event venues in Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden (Antwerp, Ghent, Mechelen-Brussels North, Namur, Gorinchem, Hardenberg, Malmö and Stockholm).

We are passionate about “easifying” the life of our customers and increasing the return on investment and return on time for professional communities through our all-in formulas, advanced technology and customer-centric approach. Our digital features and initiatives provide these communities with excellent opportunities to network effectively and do business throughout the year. We listen carefully to create compelling online formats that meet their constantly evolving needs.

The Easyfairs Group employs 700 highly committed talents, deploys the best marketing and technology tools, and develops brands with a strong appeal to our stakeholder communities.

In 2018 Easyfairs was named Belgium’s “Entrepreneur of the Year®” and a “Great Place to Work”.  For the fourth year running, Deloitte conferred “Best Managed Company” status on Easyfairs in 2022.

The company is ranked 17th in the list of the world’s leading exhibition companies.