Exhibit 3Sixty renews ESSA health and safety accreditation

Exhibition stand contractor Exhibit 3Sixty has renewed its Health & Safety Accreditation from the Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA), underscoring its ongoing compliance with recognised industry safety standards after relocating to new premises.

The accreditation, independently audited and aligned with Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) principles, confirms that the company continues to meet the health and safety requirements expected of suppliers working across exhibitions, trade shows and live events in the UK.

Background and industry context

Health and safety compliance has become a central requirement for contractors and suppliers operating in the events sector, particularly as organisers and venues face increasing scrutiny from insurers, regulators and corporate clients. Frameworks such as ESSA’s Health & Safety Accreditation are designed to provide a recognised benchmark, giving event organisers and procurement teams confidence that suppliers are operating to consistent standards.

SSIP principles aim to simplify pre-qualification processes by establishing a common set of criteria for assessing health and safety competence. Event contractors that are assessed against these principles can use a single accreditation to demonstrate compliance to multiple clients, reducing duplication in tender and supplier approval processes.

Exhibition builders, technical suppliers and logistics companies increasingly rely on third-party accreditation to demonstrate robust risk management, from stand construction and rigging through to site operations and de-rig activities. For organisers, working with accredited partners supports safer event delivery and can make it easier to evidence due diligence across their supply chains.

Key development: re-accreditation after relocation

Exhibit 3Sixty, described as an early adopter of the ESSA Health & Safety Accreditation, prioritised renewing its certification following a move to new premises. By seeking re-accreditation soon after relocation, the company aimed to demonstrate that changes to its facilities and operations had been fully integrated into its existing health and safety management systems.

The accreditation process typically involves independent assessment of policies, procedures and documentation, as well as evidence of how those systems are implemented in practice. Areas commonly reviewed include risk assessments, method statements, staff training, equipment maintenance, incident reporting and continuous improvement processes.

In the context of a relocation, re-accreditation signals that any new workshops, storage spaces, logistics arrangements or working practices have been reviewed against the same criteria as the previous site. It also provides reassurance to clients that the contractor’s standards have been maintained through organisational change.

Industry impact and relevance

For the wider events and exhibitions supply chain, Exhibit 3Sixty’s re-accreditation is another example of contractors treating external audits as an ongoing process rather than a one-off exercise. As organisers increasingly build accreditation and certification requirements into their procurement frameworks, suppliers are under pressure to keep documentation current and aligned with the latest guidance.

The use of SSIP-aligned schemes helps streamline this interaction. When a contractor holds an accreditation that follows SSIP principles, it can reduce the volume of individual questionnaires and bespoke health and safety checks across multiple clients. This not only saves administrative time for both sides, but also encourages a more consistent approach to risk management.

For event technology providers working alongside stand contractors, there is a knock-on effect. Integrators, AV specialists and digital experience providers often share build spaces, access routes and rigging areas with construction teams on the show floor. Robust health and safety systems among stand builders can contribute to safer working environments for all suppliers, particularly during high-risk build and breakdown periods.

Why this matters for event professionals and technology providers

For event organisers, especially those delivering large exhibitions and hybrid events, supplier accreditations provide a practical tool for managing risk across complex build environments. Selecting partners that can evidence independently audited health and safety processes helps organisers:

• Demonstrate due diligence to venues, insurers and regulators.
• Reduce the administrative burden of repeated pre-qualification checks.
• Promote a culture of safety among on-site contractors and staff.
• Support consistent standards across multi-supplier projects, including technology deployment.

Technology providers operating within the exhibition ecosystem can also benefit. When core infrastructure contractors, such as stand builders and logistics partners, maintain formal accreditations, it can simplify joint planning around rigging, cabling, LED installations, interactive displays and live demo areas. Clear health and safety frameworks make it easier to coordinate tasks, schedule access and manage risk for complex digital builds.

In competitive procurement scenarios, accredited contractors may have an advantage when organisers and corporate clients assess bids. Evidence of compliance with SSIP-aligned schemes can help suppliers move more quickly through vendor onboarding, particularly where organisations operate strict internal governance processes.

Conclusion

Exhibit 3Sixty’s successful renewal of its ESSA Health & Safety Accreditation, following its move to new premises, reinforces the role of formal, independently audited schemes in the modern events supply chain. As exhibitions and conferences continue to integrate more sophisticated technology and complex stand builds, the importance of demonstrable, standardised health and safety management is likely to increase.

For organisers, agencies and technology providers, working with accredited partners offers a clearer line of sight on risk management and compliance. For suppliers, ongoing accreditation provides a structured framework to maintain and evidence safety standards as operations evolve over time.