Lab Innovations, the UK’s meeting place for laboratory professionals across the scientific spectrum, won the Award for Best Trade Show under 5000 square metres at the Exhibition News award ceremony on 31 March 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 the 2024 award-winning show to get a feel for the UK’s premiere laboratory event.