FIT echoes ‘promo girl’ pledge
February 2018

FIT Show organisers have added their voice to the debate over the use of ‘promo girls’ with a statement echoing a new exhibitor’s code published by UK Construction Week and reported on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme.

The statement begins: “The FIT Show does not support the use of inappropriately dressed female promotional staff on stands. Any progress to empower women in industry is one that we as organisers wholeheartedly support.”

It goes on to credit the industry for a degree of self-policing that meant the use of ‘promo’ girls had become a thing of the past with only a few exceptions at the 2017 event and adds: “We would certainly never encourage the marginalisation of women and we would like to take this opportunity to promise renewed vigour in our stance towards diversity, equality and inclusion at the 2019 show and onwards.”

The issue has been the subject of debate in the industry for some time, including a number of letters to The Glazine. It emerged again today with the radio report of the UK Construction Week guidelines. The detailed document includes rules such as ‘clothing must be deemed appropriate for a business event’ and asking exhibitors consider whether anything would ‘objectify them as men or women’.

It also comes days after sports promoters including Formula 1 and darts made national news by promising to ditch the use of promo girls at events.