Padua Communications hits the road: See us at the FSB Bootcamp and the New Forest Business Show

After a fantastic session with the New Forest Business Partnership last week – where we explored how to prepare for events and make the most of every opportunity with Kristy Davies Sumpter of Zest Consultancy and Ellen Stokes of Be Exhibitions – Padua Communications is packing up our notebooks, creativity, and branded merch and heading out on the road.

This spring and summer are shaping up to be busy for businesses across the New Forest and Hampshire, with exhibitions, business shows, and networking events bringing organisations together to learn, collaborate and grow. We love helping businesses maximise their presence at events, so we’re delighted to announce that Padua Communications will be exhibiting at two key dates in the local business calendar:

• FSB Business Bootcamp – Hanger Farm Arts Centre – 30^th April 2026
  (Full event details: https://events.fsb.org.uk/en/8d2bI2X7/g/fJqTd8nh8e/fsb-business-bootcamp-blossom-in-2026-3aJ8PzCfV/overview)
  
  
• New Forest Business Show – 18^th June 2026
  (Event page: https://www.nfbp.org.uk/new-forest-business-show/)

Whether you’re a seasoned exhibitor or attending your very first event, these shows are brilliant opportunities to connect with customers, partners, and peers – and to showcase what makes your business special. And we’ll be there to help you get even more from your time, stand, and investment.

Why events still matter – and why they’re changing

Despite the rise of digital marketing, exhibitions and in‑person events remain one of the most powerful ways to build relationships, boost trust, and create memorable experiences for your audience. But the event landscape is always evolving. Today’s visitors expect more than a branded tablecloth and a stack of flyers. They also want an authentic experience – real conversations, real value, insight and reasons to stop and talk.

That’s where smart event planning and strong content comes in.

At our recent New Forest Business Partnership workshop, we talked about strategies that help businesses make a bigger impact, including:

• Crafting a clear message that cuts through the noise
• Treating pre‑event marketing as essential, not optional
• Designing stands and handouts that tell a story
• Making your exhibition spend work harder with repurposable content
• Using event conversations to feed future marketing
  
  

What to expect from Padua Communications at the shows

We won’t spoil everything just yet – there will be more details released nearer the time, but if you’re attending the FSB Bootcamp or the New Forest Business Show, do come over and say hello.

We’ll be sharing insight and ideas around how to:

• Rethink your exhibition strategy

Move beyond ‘just turning up with a roller banner’ and think about how your stand, your messaging, and your team can all work together.

• Create meaningful conversations

Events aren’t about handing out leaflets; they’re about listening, connecting and building relationships that continue after the doors close.

• Prepare smartly (and painlessly)

For many businesses, event prep feels overwhelming. We’ll be talking about how to plan well, create content efficiently and reduce the stress.

• Use events as a content springboard

From social posts and blog articles to photography and follow‑up communications, events offer huge opportunities to create and share compelling stories.

Exhibiting this year? Let’s Make your stand work harder

If you’re already planning your stand for either of these shows—or for other brilliant events in the area like the New Forest Show or the B2B Expos, now is the perfect moment to think about how your event marketing can deliver more.

Many businesses spend money on exhibition materials but don’t get the ongoing value they could. With a little creativity and planning, your exhibition investment can support your marketing for months afterwards, through:

• reusable campaign themes
• video or photo content captured at the event
• stories and case studies built from visitor conversations
• refreshed messaging that strengthens your brand
• follow‑up campaigns with attendees

This is exactly what we help our clients achieve: smarter, more effective, more joined‑up marketing that feels purposeful, not piecemeal.

As Nicky Rudd, Managing Director of Padua Communications, explains: “Events are such powerful moments of connection, and when businesses prepare well, they can create real momentum for months afterwards. We love helping organisations turn exhibitions into opportunities – not just on the day, but in the content and conversations that follow. If you want fresh thinking about how to make your exhibition spend work harder, let’s have a chat.”

Book a Brew & Briefing session

If you’re exhibiting this spring or summer, or simply curious about how your business could get more value from events or make your marketing work smarter, we’d love to chat.

Email nicky@paduacommunications.com to arrange a Brew & Briefing session.
No jargon, no hard sell—just ideas, inspiration, and practical advice tailored to your business.

See you on the road…

We’re excited to be part of such vibrant events here in the New Forest and can’t wait to meet more of the brilliant businesses that make this region thrive. Keep an eye out for updates on what we’ll be discussing at the FSB Bootcamp and the New Forest Business Show – and do swing by our stand to say hello if you are attending either or both these events.

We’d love to see you.