Like many of you this week I'm sure, I'm heading to Harrogate for the traditional start to the turfcare industry's year, BIGGA's BTME exhibition.

Always a valuable event, I have to say I was somewhat concerned for a moment the other day when I received notification that BIGGA had announced changes for the show going forward. Luckily however, it's evolution rather than revolution, with just more space within the Harrogate Convention Centre itself being utilised by the show from next January.

It can't be underestimated how significant an element to the show's success the town of Harrogate is. As BIGGA's Jim Croxton said in a statement, "The Harrogate Convention Centre remains the ideal location to host BTME, as not only are the facilities ideally suited to hosting such a huge event, but the North Yorkshire market town itself is integral to the success of the exhibition."

So sticking to Harrogate is the first reason to be pleased about BIGGA's decision. The next is that having the ever increasing educational Continue To Learn element of the show, front and centre from next year is a superb notion. One feels that more than the exhibition itself, it's this element which draws the numbers each year. Certainly it makes a couple of days away from the workplace incredibly justifiable for visitors.

The exhibition is of course, important too. If this now has more floorspace devoted to it, allowing more exhibitors to take stands, in an area which gives visitors the best show experience, that is also a great move by BIGGA.

Jim Croxton went on to say, "We’re delighted that BTME has grown to the extent that it can no longer be contained within the four traditional exhibition halls that we have utilised. The move to alternative facilities within the centre enables us to retain all that is good about BTME, while presenting an improved visitor experience and allowing all our exhibitor base to take the space they need to show their wares. It is critical that all events evolve to suit the needs of their stakeholders and I’m thrilled we have the opportunity to do so with BTME 2019."

We've seen with SALTEX that after some initial scepticism, a change to an established show, if done correctly, will become accepted and indeed embraced. And this change which BIGGA are undertaking is obviously nowhere near such an upheaval as the IOG's move was a couple of years ago. I'd be surprised to hear any complaints about this.

I'm certainly pleased that the show is staying indoors as well. January isn't the time to try to put on an exhibition in a field. Some of you might have heard that the agricultural machinery show, LAMMA, was forced to close a day early last week due to high winds affecting the showgrounds overnight. A decision had to be taken on Thursday morning by the organisers that because of damage to stands and structures it simply wasn't safe to allow the public on site for the final day of the exhibition.

That show had already taken the decision to move indoors to the NEC from January 2019 - a choice now which I'm sure the organisers feel explains itself.

So to all who are planning to attend BTME this week, I hope you have an enjoyable and productive time - safe in the knowledge that we'll all descend on the Harrogate Convention Centre this time next year once again.