eGuide

**2021 edition release**

The eGuide is essential reading for venues, organisers, exhibitors and supplier companies.  The objective of the eGuide is to provide clear and straightforward guidance for achieving common standards of health, safety and operational planning, management and on-site conduct across UK event venues. 

Amongst other areas, the eGuide provides guidance on areas such as risk assessment, build up and breakdown and electrical testing.

Recognised as the industry’s best practice document, the eGuide is continually reviewed by working industry professionals who represent the best advice currently available, and who themselves have to work within the guidelines in their own professional capacities.

10 sections have been reviewed and streamlined. 

• Build-up and Breakdown
• Children
• Creches
• Floor Plans
• Health and Safety Responsibilities
• Risk Assessment
• Waste
• Water and Waste 
• Water Features

The Technology Working Group has also contributed an explanatory piece on WiFi devices and bands for the ‘Connectivity’ section.

Download your eGuide - with amends highlighted.

Clean copy available here.

Don't forget to utilise our Standardised Forms.

If you have any questions regarding specific content or have any suggestions feel free to contact the team via eguide@aev.org.uk

The eGuide is a best practice document bringing together guidance for achieving common standards of health, safety and operational planning, management and on-site conduct for events at all participating UK AEV member venues. The eGuide is currently adopted by 17 venues, who meet twice a year to keep the guidance up-to-date.

If you are an AEV member who is interested in adopting the eGuide, we would ask you to read through the entire eGuide document to familiarise yourself with the content and contact Alden Arnold to take your adoption forward on 01442 285811 or alden@aev.org.uk.

Once approved, you will receive a copy of the eGuide Adoptee logo for your use in marketing collateral, website and email signatures.

The eGuide brings together guidance for achieving common standards of health, safety and operational planning, management and on-site conduct for events at all participating AEV member venues. The scope and development of the eGuide follows extensive consultation with operations professionals within the exhibition and event industry in order to ensure an overall approach that remains broadly acceptable to the community. The status of the eGuide is similar to that of an Approved Code of Practice. It is an industry-specific guide developed by authorised professionals from the UK event venues. It incorporates health, safety and operational practices that represent compliance with Building Regulations and health and safety legislation.

Now recognised as the industry’s best practice document, the eGuide is continually reviewed by working industry professionals who represent the best advice currently available, and who themselves have to work within the guidelines in their own professional capacities.

Senior representatives from

• ACC Liverpool,
• Alexandra Palace,
• Business Design Centre,
• Coventry Building Society Arena
• ExCeL London,
• Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre,
• Harrogate Convention Centre,
• Manchester Central,
• NAEC Stoneleigh,
• NEC,
• Olympia London,
• QEII Centre,
• SEC,
• Stadium MK,
• Silverstone,
• Telford International Centre,
• The Brighton Centre,
• The O2
• Yorkshire Event Centre

currently sit on the eGuide working group, meeting twice a year to steer the guidance thematically and address any complex or contentious topics. A number of additional venues also participate in this process and are gradually moving towards formal adoption of the document themselves. We also have representatives from Hyve Group plc, Reed Exhibitions, GES and EventShaper to bring a view from the Event Organiser and Event Supplier sector. Additionally, the eGuide sub-committee works all year round to maintain the detail of the document, ensure consistency and simplify rules and regulations to the greatest possible extent.

By coming together, and proactively seeking to identify where working conditions and regulations are common (or, due to unique site circumstance, different), contributing venues are, in essence, providing the answers to questions that organisers and supplier companies may have resulting in more efficient on-site activity, a smoother operation for the event organiser, and, therefore, a more polished product for the client, exhibitor and visitor. In competent hands these guidelines should be an invaluable tool, simplifying health & safety planning and management and other operational issues on the floor.