Workspace Design Show acquired by Diversified

Diversified UK & Europe is delighted to announce the acquisition of Workspace Design Show. Held at the Business Design Centre (BDC) in London in February, and the RAI Amsterdam in November, it is recognised as the leading event where the workspace community comes together to shape the future of the workplace. The events feature over 200 exhibitors each and 5,000 visitors, including architects, designers, brands, occupiers and innovators.

The events have grown quickly in recent years, reflecting the increasing focus and importance of creating a people-centric working environment in the modern office. The latest edition, held at the BDC on 25-26 February, was the most successful to date, welcoming over 5,000 visitors and 140 speakers across its industry leading seminar programme.

The events make an important addition to Diversified’s industry leading portfolio of over twenty highly successful sector specific events, including Finance & Accounting, Food & Hospitality, Digital Construction, Tourism, Transport, IT and Geospatial.

Commenting on the news, Diversified UK’s MD Carsten Holm says: “We’re delighted to be welcoming Workspace Design Show, together with its co-founders Esha and Charlie Bark-Jones, and Sales Manager Roshan Rebello, to Diversified.  We have been watching the growing success of the business ever since Esha and Charlie launched the events, and feel that their personal approach, customer focus, long-term vision and attention to detail is very similar to our own way of doing things. It’s also a great fit for our other successful customer-focused events, with the potential for real synergies across all functions, which will lead to tangible benefits for visitors, sponsors and exhibitors.

“With the same core team in place and a shared vision, and with the added resources of Diversified, I know the industry will continue enjoying working with Esha, Charlie and Roshan as much as they have in the past.  It already feels like a perfect fit for our business and is an important development for Diversified’s UK business.”

Esha and Charlie Bark-Jones, Co-Founders of WDS, agree: “We are really proud of what we have achieved over the last few years. We saw a very clear niche for the event, and the sector has really embraced our vision, investment and focus. We’re incredibly grateful for the support we have received from so many people who shared our vision and wanted to see the event succeed.

“However, running a business without the support, structure and stability of a larger company is challenging, and we’re therefore delighted that we have been able to find a long-term home for WDS in a company which shares our ways of doing things and which has a very similar culture and work ethos as we have. Being part of Diversified will give us scale and support, which we need to continue to grow the business, and to fulfill the real potential for the event, its exhibitors and of course, visitors.

“The reputation which the Diversified team has as an entrepreneurial, innovating company in the trade show industry, and their passion for branding, marketing and above all customer experience, is well known. This will be a really exciting journey and is great news for our market.”

Including recent acquisitions and a series of new launches, Diversified UK & Europe continues to strengthen its position as one of the most successful tradeshow organisers in the UK.

Oakley Dyer, Corporate VP of Corporate Development for Diversified, stated, “We are thrilled to be bringing the Workspace Design Show portfolio and team into the Diversified family. It is a wonderful fit, both strategically and culturally. Diversified offers a unique home for B2B event and media businesses given the family-owned nature of our business. We continue to seek acquisitions where we can add value and help support the growth of what entrepreneurs have built.”

The next Workspace Design Show takes place at the Business Design Centre, London on 24 – 25 February 2027 (www.workspaceshow.co.uk), and the RAI, Amsterdam on 24 – 25 November 2027  (www.workspaceshow.nl)