The South West Expo was due to take place next week at STEAM Museum in Swindon but has now been rescheduled to Thursday 26 November following health and safety concerns.
Organisers Great British Expos said the decision was made after carrying out a detailed risk assessment, with the welfare of exhibitors, delegates, speakers and staff taking priority.
Although temperatures outside are expected to reach around 30C, organisers said the size and design of the exhibition hall could see temperatures inside exceed 36C.
Great British Expos said it has previously used industrial air conditioning units during periods of hot weather, but these have not been sufficient to cool the venue to a safe and comfortable level.
Alec Jones-Hall, Director of Great British Expos, said: “This has been an incredibly difficult decision to make, particularly given the amount of work that has gone into organising the event and the enthusiasm from exhibitors and delegates. However, the safety and wellbeing of everyone attending must always come first.
“We explored every available option, but with the forecast temperatures and the limitations of the venue, we simply could not guarantee a safe and comfortable environment. Rather than compromise the experience or the welfare of those attending, postponing the event was the responsible decision.
“The positive news is that we’ve secured a new date of Thursday 26th November, and we’re looking forward to delivering what promises to be one of our strongest events yet. With businesses beginning to plan for the year ahead, the expo will be perfectly timed to help organisations prepare for growth in 2027 through expert advice, meaningful networking and new business opportunities.”
All exhibitor bookings and delegate registrations will automatically transfer to the new date, with organisers contacting attendees directly.
The event programme is expected to remain largely unchanged, with more than 90 exhibitors, keynote speakers and expert-led workshops still due to take place.
Organisers said the November event will focus on helping small and medium-sized businesses prepare for growth in 2027 through networking opportunities, practical advice and access to products and services.
Great British Expos has been running regional business exhibitions across the UK for more than 13 years and says it has welcomed more than 70,000 SMEs to its events during that time.
