This is an edited version of the Editor's Comment from our September 2021 issue.

As I write this, ‘Freedom Day’, when the vast majority of remaining COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in the UK, already feels like a distant memory. Although there were initial concerns that the virus could come surging back once we all opened our doors, so far the vaccination programme thankfully appears to have done its job and we seem firmly on the path back to normality.

As a welcome sign of that, the 2021/22 Premier League season has got underway, with no limits on the number of attendees at matches for the first time since the start of the pandemic. It's been great to see fans back in the stands again, and hopefully some of you have already had the chance to get back to watching football in person again.

Both Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge, of course, have already welcomed back full capacity crowds for the footy, but the venues will also welcome back the plumbing and heating community at the PHEX series of exhibitions later this year.

Thousands of plumbers and heating engineers will be attending PHEX Manchester, taking place on 6-7 October, and PHEX Chelsea, on 17-18 November. If you want to learn about some of the newest products and innovations hitting the market, then PHEX is the place to be. 

PHEX is the perfect event to ensure you’re up to date with the latest technologies in the plumbing and heating industry, but let’s not forget the shows will also be some of the first opportunities (especially if you live North or South of the Midlands) for the industry to get together after the pandemic.

Although many of you work solo or in small teams, many of you will have industry friends, in other parts of the country, as the banter on social media certainly demonstrates! The PHEX shows this year should be well placed to provide a number of long-awaited reunions across the industry – I for one am looking forward to meeting readers and industry colleagues in person once again after a lengthy absence.

We preview what’s going on at PHEX Manchester on p14 of this issue, but for additional information, including more about our new COVID-19 safety protocols, as well as to register to attend the shows, please head to phexshow.co.uk. I look forward to seeing you there.