News

CEDIA Regional Event Looks to the Future (13/11/2006)

CEDIA (the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association) has reported a successful CEDIA Regional Event with a record attendance of 92 delegates from across the industry taking part in an action-packed two days of education and enjoyment at the Hellidon Lakes Hotel, near Banbury.

As the custom installation industry continues to expand, the education programme focussed on two of the key challenges facing the industry - the increasing impact of environmental issues on the home building sector and how CI businesses could effectively manage their growth. The event also allowed delegates the chance to improve their team-building skills as they competed to construct catapults and rafts, and complete a series of activity tests against the clock in "The Marston Challenge".

CEDIA Education chair, Steve Martin, kicked off the education sessions by introducing a specially-convened Eco Forum, comprising Dr Mark Gillott from Nottingham University's School of the Built Environment, energy expert John Holden from the BRE (Building Research Establishment) and top London architect, Chris Dyson from Chris Dyson Architects. Dr Mark Gillott provided members with a thought-provoking presentation on the climate change issue and related technologies now available to homeowners, many of which have the potential for integration into the electronic home of the future. John Holden helped delegates plot a path through the minefield of regulations, legislation and acronyms now affecting this area whilst Chris Dyson gave an overview of some of the key projects he had been involved in where electronic systems and modern design techniques had played a major part in lowering a property's energy usage.

A second education session focussed on business management. Entitled "Staying alive in a rapidly changing market", this course examined the underlying trends that are changing the CI market place and assessed what their lasting impact was likely to be. Hosted by Robin Courtenay from SMC, the session featured a presentation from Steve Moore looking at technology developments and how these are helping to drive the evolution of the UK CI market. This was followed by a presentation looking at how businesses can successfully grow their business and manage this expansion successfully delivered by Mark Charlton from financial management company Charlton & Co Accountants.

More than 18 delegates also attended CEDIA's presenters training course for the newly revised CEDIA CPD course for Design Professionals, "Designing Integrated Future-Ready Homes", a consistently popular route for architects and other building design professionals keen to find out more about the CI market. The education sessions were punctuated by an afternoon of team-building activities. Delegates were divided into six teams and competed against each other in a variety of tasks. These included catapult-building, raft-building and sailing, archery, blind 'sheep' herding and slotting team mates though large spider's webs amongst many more strange and wonderful things!

"The CEDIA Regional Event proved a great success" says CEDIA Operations Manager, Matt Nimmons. "The interest and support from the industry for the education programme and activities was terrific, and the feedback from delegates was extremely positive. We extend a big thank-you to all the Regional sponsors, and look forward to announcing details of the next CEDIA event in the very near future - hopefully, with a bit more practice, I'll have learnt to build a catapult and paddle a raft properly by then"!

www.cedia.co.uk