‘We listen to our exhibitors and visitors – and that’s the reason we’re introducing some big changes at this year’s event,’ said Sharon Boyle, Commercial Fishing Manager for Scottish Skipper Expo organisers Mara Media.
The event has traditionally taken place with the second day falling on a Saturday, but this is changing. For the first time the Scottish Skipper will be a Thursday-Friday event, and this decision has been taken based on feedback over the last few years from exhibitors and visitors who want to take advantage of better weekday transport options – and to be able to have their whole weekend at home.
‘Aberdeen is a destination with great weekday connections, but weekends can present challenges, especially for our international visitors. This change is very much in line with trade shows in general, and it also opens more opportunities for visitors who want to travel to the Scottish Skipper as a day trip from within the UK or from Europe,’ she said.
This is an event that has grown from modest beginnings a decade ago – and the shift to the new P&J arena, just a few minutes from the airport – has seen the Scottish Skipper grow into one of the leading North Atlantic fishing industry events, attracting visitors from both the exhibitions’ home territory in Scotland as as well as from all over Europe.
There’s a further big change taking place – as the Scottish Skipper is going bi-annual, another decision based on feedback from the event’s client base of visitors and exhibitors.
‘This is looking to be the biggest Scottish Skipper to date in 2024 – and we’re paying attention to what participants tell us. This is a busy time of year with a lot going on, and the feeling among visitors and exhibitors is that a focused, organised event every second year is what the industry wants to see,’ Sharon Boyle said.
‘So in 2024 we’ll be hosting what’s shaping up to be the most well-attended industry event in the UK – and we’ll be back in Aberdeen in 2026 for an even larger event.’
