The Totally DIY and Totally Tools exhibition is pleased to confirm that it will be joined at the Ricoh Arena next February by the annual DIY Week Awards.

Following DIY Week magazine’s purchase by Datateam Business Media earlier this year, a decision has been taken to co-locate the publication’s product and retail awards with the Totally Shows. The awards evening will now run on the middle evening of the Totally DIY and Totally Tools exhibition, on Monday, February 17th, at the Ricoh Arena.

Firmly established as a highlight of the DIY industry social calendar, the awards can trace their lineage back to the mid-sixties. These prestigious awards have long been coveted by the recipients; on the product side they set the benchmark for new product design, production and marketing, and the retail awards recognise excellence in retailing, training and marketing.

Historically, the middle night dinner of the show has been a fundraising dinner in aid of the industry charity The Rainy Day Trust. The charity will still benefit from this new arrangement with a significant contribution being agreed with Datateam in recognition of the charity giving up this time slot.

Rainy Day Trust president Philip Duncan commented, “February 2014 will see the DIY industry’s key stakeholders – charity, exhibition and media brand – working even more closely together, and that has to be good for the industry, and good for the charity’s beneficiaries. We’re looking forward to it!”

DIY Week editor Fiona Garcia said of the move: “Following feedback from last year’s awards, the industry called for a change of venue. After considering a number of options, co-locating the event with the Totally Shows at the Ricoh arena made perfect sense and looks set to create a more industry-focused occasion.

“DIY Week is also delighted to be supporting industry charity the Rainy Day Trust to an even greater extent with the 2014 awards event. The work done by the organisation is incredibly important, offering a vital lifeline to those who have worked in our sector.

“Bringing these events together under one roof at the same time will provide a bigger draw for visitors and generate a real buzz around the sector. We’re looking forward to a great few days.”

Exhibition director Paul Grinsell also commented, saying: “I’m pleased these leading industry events have come together in one location and with all parties satisfied with the move. The DIY Week Awards have a long and successful pedigree and co-locating them with the leading industry exhibition makes a lot of sense. We look forward to hearing about what the DIY Week team have planned for the awards, I’m sure they will deliver a great event and social evening for the industry.”

The awards will take place at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry on the evening of Monday 17th February 2014. Entry and submission to the product and retail awards are now open and you can register your interest by emailing jharrison@datateam.co.uk with ‘DIY Week Awards’ in the subject line and full details will be sent to you shortly.

The Totally DIY and Totally Tools show will run from Sunday, 16th to Tuesday, 18th February 2014 and will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary year.