Self Build Show A Roaring Success As Wildcats Open Proceedings

The Swindon Wildcats kicked off proceedings in what was a wildly successful weekend for the National Self Build and Renovation show, as thousands of people nationwide embarked upon Swindon for the 2016 event.

In keeping with the general theme, the Wildcats stars - Aaron Nell, Tomasz Malasinski, Jan Kostal and Jonas Hoog - donned builders' attire and snipped the red tape with an automatic drill to get the event under way.

The National Self Build Renovation Centre invited the Wildcats to get the ball rolling on the event, after becoming club sponsors for the 2016 season and having their name proudly emblazoned upon the shirt of fans' favourite defenceman Matt Selby.

Wildcats' head coach Aaron Nell caught up with Total Sport, shortly after opening the event.

"It's great to be involved in something like this, to work with our sponsors and get out there in the community," said Nell.

"The opportunity to expand our sport and make more people aware of ice hockey is also nice, and we're happy to be invited along to events like this so we can get our name out there also," he added.

When asked his thoughts on donning the builders attire to get event in full flow, to then have his picture taken numerous times, Nell admitted it was something rather different that what he is used to.

"It's not something we do every day, but it's lots of fun and we're really pleased to be involved. I think Janny (Jan Kostal) pulled off the look the best, he was a natural for the camera," he added.

Another busy day in the Ruskin show home @pottonselfbuild #day3 #selfbuild & #renovation show pic.twitter.com/mzQJ1REDqF

— NSBRC (@NSBRC) January 31, 2016

Harvey Fremlin, managing director at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre and one of the main driving forces behind the organisation of the event gave Total Guide an insight as to just how much work goes into putting on a show of such scale.

"An awful lot of planning goes in. So we start about three months ahead generally. As the show gets nearer the marketing really ramps up, both locally and nationally," Harvey began.

"Because the centre has been here for nine years we're well experienced now at putting on events. It doesn't mean there aren't any glitches, but we're experienced with this and we do three major shows per year. 

"We're getting busier, for a start, which is good. This year's show had probably the busiest Friday I've ever seen.

"That's partly because the economy is picking up and people are a bit more confident to go ahead and do these new build projects which is great and one of the big things has been people looking to make their homes more energy efficient, with the prices rises of gas and electricity. So we're having a lot more seminars on home efficiency and renewable technologies and getting the fabric of the building right."

The event attracted visitors from across the UK, showcasing just how popular the national centre and its events are.

"We are a national centre and we're the only one in the UK so it's great that Swindon has got this on its doorstep, but it is to serve the whole of the country. Usually we get people from within a three hour drive time which covers the midlands, London and the South coast and South Wales, but for shows like this we do get people from Europe some times and from Ireland and Scotland! So people do travel from far afield so that's why we try to make sure there are lots of presentations, seminars and companies for them to talk to," Harvey said.

The National Self Build Renovation Centre have this season become sponsors of the Swindon Wildcats, and Harvey was delighted to have some of the players on board to kick off proceedings at the event.

"It was great. We're really proud to sponsor the Wildcats. This is our first season of doing so and it's important for us because it's trying to remind people who live locally that we are here and we are open and we're here to serve the local community as well as the national community. It doesn't matter if people are just extending their own homes, or converting a loft or a garage, we can help them with that as well.

"It is completely free and we give free, independent and impartial advice. So the Wildcats really is our way of saying hi to the local community and supporting a local team at the same time," he added.

So, what are the main procedures involved when an event of this scale comes to an end?

"Straight away we go to the pub!" Harvey admitted.

"And then once we've done that we look at the event. Our next show is in June, the big build show. So once we've put the centre back to how it normally is the planning starts ahead and then we're looking at the big build show, and that's quite exciting.

"We've rebranded that one, so it's going to be about self build but also large custom build, which is volume self build projects as well. 

"We've had a busy January and hopefully it's going to continue throughout the year!."

Make sure check out National Self Build's listing below for all details on upcoming events.