On the 9th and 10th of September, Sutcliffe Play were delighted to welcome guests from across the country to West Yorkshire for their annual Home Show exhibition.
The event, now in its 12th year, brought together representatives from a range of Parish, Town, District and Borough Councils, as well as a number of playground installers, at the company’s headquarters in Upton, near Pontefract.
Across the two-day gathering, guests enjoyed informative seminars from leading play influencers including Eugene Minogue, the CEO of Play England, who discussed the organisation’s new 10-year national strategy – ‘It All Starts With Play!’. The strategy sets out a bold vision to restore a play-based childhood for all children by 2035, and his attendance marked another successful collaboration with Sutcliffe Play, following their sponsorship of the strategy’s launch in the House of Commons in May 2025.
Meanwhile, Ben Tawil and Mike Barclay - co-directors of Ludicology - conducted a hands-on interactive workshop, full of practical advice to help local authorities consider the full range of spaces, freedoms, and conditions that shape children’s capability to play where they live.
The speaker line-up was completed by Helen Griffiths, the CEO of Fields In Trust (currently celebrating the centenary year of its formation), who discussed the charity’s vital work in protecting our parks, playgrounds, and green spaces.
In addition, Sutcliffe Play’s team of Area Sales Managers led guests on a guided tour around the company’s factory, which produces thousands of pieces of high-quality play equipment every year. Visitors also explored the on-site playground, and enjoyed a close-up look at the newest addition: Unicorn, a dynamic multi-play unit which forms part of Sutcliffe Play’s brand-new Fantasy range for toddlers.
The guests weren’t the only ones to benefit from the Home Show, however, as catering throughout both days was provided by The Caring Kitchen, a local business whose profits directly fund a hospice in neighbouring Pontefract.
Sutcliffe Play Managing Director Rob Speirs said: “Our annual Home Show continues to go from strength to strength, and as this is my first as Managing Director, it’s a fantastic opportunity for me to meet our customers and talk to them about our business - in particular our fabulous new Fantasy product range. I’m looking forward to getting a real behind-the-scenes insight into their needs and views on Sutcliffe Play and the play industry, whilst creating many fruitful new relationships with first-time guests.”
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