This will be my first time at the IOSH conference, and I’m really looking forward to it. As a professional HS&E person (not the HSE) I’ll be looking to increase my breath and knowledge in the subject and bring it back to my work place. However, what will be the collective noun for a group of H&S people, if there is one? I've been debating that, with some humor, with my pals. That aside I’ll be looking forward to meeting up and hearing what the IOSH conference is all about, and if it’s value for money!

How about 'an obstruction'? [based upon popular perceptions]

The Conference was excellent value for money when my company paid the bill, but now I'm a consultant & have to pay myself not surprisingly, I think it is expensive - you might want to read an additional recent forum thread on IOSH Conference Costs, which 'crops' up about this time each year. As to worthwhile content, well even when I didn't pay I didn't gain much, bit of a 'jolly' to be honest, meet up with colleagues, waffle, waffle waffle, & a good curry / beers the night before. Conference main speaker sessions got very tiresome, especially the stage managed question / answer session..... think they must have thought 'we' had come up with yesterdays carrots. However, did find benefits / ideas / worthwhile freebies & samples from the exhibition which benefited myself & the organisation for who I worked for, so all is not lost. Maybe improved in recent years but I get to know everything I need to nowadays via technology to be honest.