Jenny Henfrey (left) with Kevin the Carrot (middle), and Lindsay Verstralen (right)

Following UKREiiF 2026 in May, the team has taken a step back to reflect on what has been our most ambitious and successful event to date.

This year marked a significant evolution. With new zones, expanded footprints and enhanced delegate experiences, UKREiiF wasn’t just bigger, it was smarter, more dynamic and more complex than ever before.

But behind every square metre of event space is a team making it happen.

Meet the Team Behind the Site Build

Nisa Fahmida

At the core of UKREiiF is a dedicated team of four, supported by a wider network of freelance specialists during peak delivery.

From managing exhibitors and coordinating pavilion builds to overseeing security, health and safety, and site logistics, the operations team is central to delivering a seamless experience for more than 16,000 attendees.

To shine a light on their work, we spoke to Event Managers Nisa Fahmida and Jenny Henfrey, asking three simple questions:

  • What worked well this year?
  • What was your personal highlight?
  • What does UKREiiF need more of next year?

What Worked Well?

As UKREiiF has grown, so too has the complexity of delivering it. The 2026 event saw the site footprint more than double, making smooth execution all the more impressive.

This year’s success was driven by stronger planning, earlier collaboration, and a more proactive approach to challenges.

Jenny Henfrey reflected: “What stood out most was the collaboration across the whole team. By anticipating challenges earlier, we could focus on enhancing the experience rather than firefighting. As the event grows in scale and complexity, it felt like we managed that growth while still delivering a strong experience for partners and delegates.”

Nisa highlighted the impact of operational improvements on the delegate journey: “Having two registration points, one in the city and one on-site, worked incredibly well. Combined with more than 85% of badges being mailed in advance, it meant many delegates could arrive and head straight in. That made a real difference to the overall experience from the outset.”

Together, these refinements helped create a smoother, more efficient event from arrival through to activation.

Personal Highlights

For the operations team, UKREiiF represents months of planning brought to life.

From first build to final day, the reward is seeing ideas transform into experiences, and watching clients and delegates engage with them in real time.

For Nisa, it’s about partnership: “Being part of each client’s journey is incredibly rewarding. Understanding their goals and helping bring their vision to life, then seeing them connect with delegates exactly as they hoped, is what makes it all worthwhile.”

For Jenny, it’s the moment everything comes together: “After months focused on logistics, walking through a live event and seeing spaces buzzing with activity is always a highlight. There’s so much that happens behind the scenes, so when everything runs seamlessly and people can simply enjoy the experience, it’s incredibly rewarding.”

What UKREiiF Needs More of in 2027

With continued growth comes new opportunities to evolve.

Looking ahead, the focus is on building smarter, not just bigger, enhancing experience, refining logistics, and unlocking new potential across the site.

Jenny sees opportunity in space and continuous improvement: “As demand increases, we need to keep exploring how to maximise both indoor and outdoor space. At the same time, those incremental improvements in planning, communication and process will continue to have a big impact.”

Nisa points to the importance of experience and innovation: “Expanding indoor breakout and meeting spaces has been a big step forward, and that needs to continue. There’s also exciting work happening around digital infrastructure that will make the event even more accessible and user-friendly.”

Looking Ahead

UKREiiF’s success isn’t just built on scale; it’s built on the people behind it.

From early planning through to live delivery, the operations team plays a vital role in shaping the experience for every exhibitor, partner and delegate. Their work may often go unseen, but its impact is felt everywhere.

With momentum already building towards 2027, the focus is clear: elevate the experience, refine the delivery, and continue creating meaningful opportunities for connection across the industry.

Because as UKREiiF grows, so too does the ambition, and the team making it happen.