The 17th Parkex International exhibition is the largest parking show and conference in Europe and will take place at the Manchester Central Convention Complex on April 23 and 24. This year's exhibition is set to be the most successful yet, with exhibitor spaces sold out already and visitor numbers expected to be the highest ever.

The event will see 120 exhibiting companies from the UK, Europe and around the world showcasing the latest innovations and products. From across the parking industry, including parking management, parking equipment, parking enforcement and cashless payments, many companies will be showing products in the UK for the first time. New to this year's event are Central Ticketing and Key Traffic Systems.

One of the key themes at Parkex 2008 is engaging with the consumer. Free workshops throughout the exhibition will help delegates understand how best to promote parking to the public and will look at the Which Consumer Guide to Parking, which is being produced in association with the British Parking Association (BPA). This will form an easy to understand guide to parking in the UK. Other workshops will deal with raising the standards through IT and better enforcement on private land.

Another key highlight of the event is the Parkex annual gala dinner, sponsored by Equita, which brings together parking professionals and well-known industry figures from both local government and private sector organisations.

Parking is often perceived in a negative light by the public and media. The real picture is that the parking and traffic management sector in the UK is continually striving, through innovative projects and initiatives, to improve and set standards within the industry. The goal is to create real, workable solutions for local authorities, organisations and the public that benefit everyone.

In 2007, the BPA introduced a new Approved Operator Scheme (AOS), backed by the Code of Practice for Parking Enforcement on Private Land and Unregulated Car Parks. To ensure best practice and to meet the evolving needs of the parking industry, a new comprehensive code covering wheel clamping, vehicle immobilisation and ticketing on private land will be launched in 2008. The AOS provides a new level of self-regulation to parking enforcement in unregulated public car parks and on private land.

At Parkex you can also find out about the new model contract being launched this spring by the BPA and why it will help your organisation create greater transparency and increase confidence in the industry.

With over 120 companies exhibiting and an estimated 1,700 visitors to Parkex, the conference is the place to find out about the latest innovations and technology in the parking industry.Expert advice will be on hand to help you understand and find new products, systems and services. Exhibitors include Alfia, which supplies parking systems such as Pay on Foot, Pay and Display, Pay at Exit and Automatic Number Plate Recognition, supported by a dedicated nationwide service team. Also exhibiting is Dambach, a leading supplier of car park control and information systems, with over 75 systems installed in the UK. The company recently completed a car park system at the new Silverburn shopping centre in Glasgow.

l William Butler is exhibition

director, Parkex

Enhanced parking, enhanced footfall

Almondvale shopping centre in Livingston launched its new 1,500-space car park in December and footfall has already increased, thanks in part to the new four- level facility.

The car park has been built close to the former Safeway premises, which enables shoppers to enter the mall near Bhs or next to New Look.

Jennifer Bruce, marketing manager at Almondvale shopping centre, was delighted with the 1.4 million visitors attracted to the centre over Christmas and with the January sales - which in part she puts down to the new multi-storey car park. "I'm sure the opening of our new car park was a fundamental contributing factor," she says. "I'm confident numbers will continue to increase as more people find out about the opening of our new car park, our monthly events programme and the ongoing changes we're making to improve the overall shopping experience in Livingston."

The new car park also received a Park Mark award this year in recognition of its provision of safer parking facilities.

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