The Emergency Services Show, which is free-to-attend, will return to the NEC Birmingham on September 24-25, 2014.

The event helps those responsible for specifying and procuring vehicles and vehicle equipment for the emergency services to research the latest innovations, technology and products.

It attracts more than 450 exhibitors, including vehicle manufacturers (such as Jaguar Land Rover, Volvo Cars and Isuzu); chassis makers Mercedes Benz and Volvo Trucks; coachbuilders WH Bence Coachworks and John Dennis Coachbuilders; and specialist vehicle suppliers (such as AMDAC Carmichael, Emergency One, Supacat, Terberg DTS, Pickup Systems and North Fire).

As well as a wide range of cars, ambulances, boats, Incident Command Units and welfare units, the show features providers of all types of in and on-vehicle ancillary equipment, including communications and IT, from providers such as Primetech and Excelerate Techology; lightbars; livery; battery management; driver training; climate control equipment; generators; snow chains and more.

Visitors can see a wide range of bespoke vehicle installations from conversion specialists.

The event also features demonstrations, seminars and free workshops.

David Brown, event director, said: “The Emergency Services Show offers visitors genuine opportunities for learning and networking. Nothing compares to physically handling an unfamiliar piece of equipment and sharing knowledge face to face with industry peers with experience of using it.”

A number of blue and amber light services will be displaying their latest vehicles and equipment, making it an ideal opportunity to share information and ask questions of those facing similar challenges across the emergency services and the wider public sector.

The Highways Agency will be displaying its latest vehicles at the show and with all emergency and rescue services re-examining how best to co-ordinate and respond to flooding events, Cumbria-based Bay Search and Rescue will be showing its unique Hagglunds BV206 all-terrain rescue vehicles and its recently-acquired Airboat.

The Airboat is based on craft used on the Florida Everglades and deployed by the United States Coast Guard.

Powered by an aircraft-type propeller, the flat-bottomed vessel can be used in shallow water and even run over snow and ice.

At six metres long and 2.4 metres wide, it has a 2,000lb carrying capacity.

The event will also include a new search and rescue zone and a networking area, featuring more than 80 emergency services-related voluntary sector partners and NGOs as well as underwater rescue demonstrations.

The Emergency Services Show attracts visitors from across all the emergency services as well as those from emergency planning, voluntary workers, service providers and all those interested in learning from the sector’s latest innovations and best practice.

The NEC is linked to Birmingham International Station and Birmingham Airport and is directly accessible from the UK motorway network.

Parking for visitors and exhibitors will remain free of charge thanks to sponsorship by Emergency Services Times.

Coaches will run from Birmingham International Station to the exhibition halls.