Movers & Shakers
David Ventris - Field
Festivals, Fitters, and the Future of Trade: A Deep Dive with David Ventris-Field
🎧 Listen to the full episode now to hear Davids story, insights, and advice in his own words.
Welcome to another episode of Movers & Shakers
the show where we sit down with the leaders defining the future of our industry. I’m your host, and today we are thrilled to welcome David Ventris-Field.
David is the Event Director for the Installer Show, a role he stepped into after serving as Sales Director for the event. With over 20 years of experience spanning events, exhibitions, media, and advertising, David has a proven track record of resilience—growing businesses through everything from the 2008 financial crisis to the challenges of Covid. Today, he’s the driving force behind one of the UK’s fastest-growing trade events, focused on bridging the gap between installers, retailers, and the wider construction supply chain.
We’ll be discussing the ‘festival’ feel of modern trade shows, the critical need for apprenticeship signposting, and David’s personal philosophy on building trust through genuine curiosity.
This episode is proudly sponsored by Installer Show New York.
In this edition of Movers & Shakers, host Simon Ak
ers sits down with David Ventris-Field to explore how the Installer Show has evolved from a traditional trade exhibition into a massive, interactive hub for the installation and specification sectors.
What is the Installer Show really about?
The conversation highlights that the show is no longer just about “flogging space”. Instead, it aims to break down the “silos” between different parts of the construction industry—from kitchens and bathrooms to electrical and tiling. David explains that the event is designed to be an educational and networking powerhouse, boasting over 80 product launches and generating roughly 16 million digital impressions around the event.
As David puts it:
“What we’re trying to do… is to actually say that there’s loads of things we can all learn from each other, and there’s loads of great connections that you can make face to face by putting on an event that serves all of those areas.”
Key Questions Answered in this Episode:
Why should a business visit or exhibit?
The show serves three core goals: education, networking, and lead generation. For manufacturers, it’s about the “hype” of a launch; for installers, it’s about finding new techniques and products to help grow their own businesses.
What makes the event “interactive”?
David discusses the shift toward a “festival” feel, incorporating live demos like the new Kitchen Fitter Arena, floor fitting demonstrations, and tiling demos to show tradespeople practical ways to overcome challenges.
How are they tackling the skills gap?
A major focus of the discussion is the Apprenticeship Skills Hub and the “Futures Trail”. While David notes the landscape is still “quite fragmented,” the show acts as a central hub to signpost people toward the right experts.
The Secret to Success: Resilience and Relationships
Reflecting on his career, David shares that his number one asset is resiliency. Whether selling exhibition stands during a global pandemic or pitching on a customer’s doorstep, his advice for anyone in business is simple: stop pitching and start asking questions.
“The best advice is be genuinely interested in the customer and what they’re trying to achieve… you’ll build up much more trust that way.”
The Personal Side
The episode wraps up with a lighter look at David’s life outside the office, including his love for a good Indian curry paired with a cold lager or a gin and tonic.
Whether you are an independent installer, a major manufacturer, or someone curious about a career in the trades, this episode offers a roadmap for navigating the modern industry landscape.
