Wearing a well-fitted mask will help to keep you safe and will also protect the visitors and exhibitors around you; many of whom may be vulnerable to any winter illness, not just Covid-19.

Remember to clean your hands frequently. Exhibitors will have alcohol gel available on their stands and there will be dispensers available around the exhibition hall. Ensure you clean your hands before and after interacting with an exhibitor's stand, especially if you wish to pick up something to look at or have taken an item from the stand e.g. a complimentary product.

In situations where you will need to handle a product, such as trial a wheelchair, exhibitors will also have gloves available as an additional layer of protection.

If you are unable to use hand sanitiser gel, ensure you are visiting the toilets frequently to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water.

Naidex have widened all the aisles at the exhibition to enable guests to socially distance. If a fellow guest is standing a little closer than you would like, kindly ask them to socially distance and move a little further away.

Bring a bag with you for all the leaflets, small items, and other information you may collect on your way around the exhibition. You'll have them all in one place when you get home and you can safely wipe them down or leave them for several days before taking the time to sit back and review them.

If you need to come into close contact with exhibitors, don't be afraid to ask them to wear a mask and gloves, and to wipe down all touchpoints on their products with antibacterial wipes. You can bring your own supplies if it makes you feel safer, as each exhibitor will be making their own plans for Covid safety.

Remember to get tested before arriving at the NEC.

You must have either an NHS Covid-19 Pass, proof of immunity within 180 days, or a negative PCR or lateral flow test documented in email or text.

Stay home if you feel unwell and have any symptoms that could be covid related. If you feel unwell, take a lateral flow test before going to the NEC.

Due to onsite testing and processing, admission to the exhibition will take longer than in other years.

As stands have been spaced out to allow for social distancing, the exhibition space is considerably larger than in previous years so you may need to allow extra time to get around.

Visit the Naidex website to make sure you've got all the information you need, whether you're arriving by car or by public transport.

One of the joys of Naidex can be discovering new products and not knowing what you might discover at the next stand, however for some this can be mentally and/or physically overwhelming.

To help with this, make a list in advance of any stands you know you want to visit and prioritise visiting those first on the day.

Take breaks outside the exhibition space to sit, to allow yourself to decompress and take a rest from the busyness and noise.

Now that you've thought ahead and are fully prepared for your visit to Naidex 2021, why not add to your day by taking part in Access Your Life's Treasure Hunt for the chance to win some fantastic prizes - 1st prize is a £250 gift card! You can find out more about the Treasure Hunt on our website, or pick up an entry form from our stand (L23).