Are you new to L&D and don’t know which of these two exhibitions to visit?
Or are you getting a bit ‘exhibition-blind’ and struggling to choose either this year?
Maybe my recent experiences will help you.
By Andy Candler
My Exhibition History
Rewind to 1987 … I was working in the World’s First Digital Agency. We were helping customers to buy products through bespoke interactive digital sales tools. These kiosks were mostly found in retail stores throughout the UK.
Spotting the success of this content, the retailers and brands asked if I could also teach their staff how to sell those products. It seemed that customers had become more knowledgeable than the store staff! And so, I started my journey in the world of L&D.
The essence of my agency was being a software house. Therefore our main focus was on software and technologies. And the go-to industry exhibition, for us, was Learning Technologies.
Fast-forward to today … and I am now an independent consultant with my own business; Aprendido. L&D has advanced so much in the last 38 years, and thankfully so have I.
Now it’s all about solutions, some involving software, and some which are more about behavioural change. With this I have a new focus with technology where it should be:
learner-first, problem-second, and technology-last
With my new spirit of independence, and after networking with lots of likeminded learning professionals, for the first time last year I attended World of Learning in Birmingham.
I thought I would share my experiences, and the differences I have found between both shows.
I will add that I have not attended any of these events as a delegate. I find that I get more personal value from exploring, visiting stands, shaking hands and initiating conversations.
Learning Technologies
https://www.learningtechnologies.co.uk/
I’ve visited Learning Technologies, or LearnTech as we call it, for over 20 years. From its early days in the Olympia Exhibition Centre in London, to its new bigger home in the ExCel Exhibition and Conference Centre.
Nowadays LearnTech attracts 200+ exhibitors and approximately 10,000 attendees over the 2-day event. There are over 200 free seminars in the exhibition space, plus a paid conference programme with 80 speakers.
Learning Technologies is the place to shop.
It is the show where my clients go, sometimes with me and sometimes on their own. It’s the place to spot the shiny new things. It would not surprise you that the last 4 years have all been about adding AI to their technology – whether it needs it or not!
The big brands have large stands with lots of excitement and razzmatazz. I have seen Storm Troopers, motorcycles, many fluffy toys and all sorts of crazy antics to attract attention.
The exhibitors approach you more often, sometimes not letting you walk past, and the discussions are about how great the features and technologies are. Sales is certainly the main driver and when you walk around the exhibition space, it can feel quite daunting.
Saying that, there’s a lot to explore at LearnTech and I would recommend two days if you are seriously looking to visit all the stands and get the most out of your attendance. You will probably meet every software provider, every framework inventor, and every content developer worth their salt. It’s a one-stop-shop experience for sure.
World of Learning
As I said before; I visited World of Learning, last year, for the first time. With it being at the Birmingham NEC, I expected another flashy show with lots of excitement.
I was completely wrong, and happily surprised.
WoL, as we call it, is a smaller event but still as impactful. The 2-day event has nearly 100 exhibitors and approximately 3,500 attendees. There are 40 free seminars in the exhibition space, plus a paid conference programme.
My first observation is that the stands are much smaller than LearnTech. And not only that; but the similarity of stand size also means that the biggest brands sit alongside smaller two-person companies equally. Nobody stands out through gimmicks alone.
You don’t get accosted when you walk past these stands. You are casually welcomed to approach, sit down, and have a mutual discussion. Exhibitors want to learn as much about you, as they want to impart their own knowledge. The quality of conversations is much higher, deeper and more honest. Any sales chats are about genuine case studies and user stories that relate to your need.
Some of my clients do visit this show, but it is normally for pre-arranged meetings with exhibitors and, more often than not, to meet up with other attendees.
World of Learning is the place to network and do business.
You can attend WoL for one day and comfortably see everything. If you want to feel a bit more of a conference buzz, go on day one. If you would like to have a more relaxed and deeper dive into L&D, I would recommend day two.
Conclusion
I have now visited World of Learning twice; in Birmingham and London. In Birmingham I found my feet, met new exhibitors, and made new business friends.
In London I was proud to support the L&D Free Spirits Community on their stand for 2 days, whilst also meeting new people and having my pre-arranged meetings.
For me, both shows have a specific audience, with a big overlap.
If I want to shop for something new, I will go to Learning Technologies. If I want to do business I will attend World of Learning.
If you spot me walking around, stop me and say hello. It will be lovely to meet you.
Or if you want to learn more about my back story, or why my business is called Aprendido, you will find me on LinkedIn.
