Regional partners join forces to showcase engineering expertise at major exhibition.
Local inward investment bodies will come together for the first time to showcase the West Midlands’ engineering expertise at the industry leading Advanced Engineering UK trade show next month (11th-12th November at the NEC, Birmingham).
Four regional partners – Business Birmingham, Invest Black Country, Make It Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire and Invest in Worcestershire – are joining forces, with support from the European Regional Development Fund, to promote their areas at the show. Their West Midlands Advanced Engineering and West Midlands Investment Forum stands will be based in close proximity to other regional partners Warwickshire Investment Partnership and Invest in Telford.
SME support is a key element of this year’s event. The local partners are being joined by 12 local SMEs, who will showcase the region’s expertise in advanced engineering whilst having access to latest industry insights during the show and the opportunity to meet delegates from across Europe. The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) will also be present on the stand, conducting one-to-one business support workshops across the two days.
A West Midlands Investment Forum opportunities lounge will enable prospective investors, suppliers and intermediaries to meet with local investment officers face to face. The four inward investment organisations are also hosting two events on the main programme targeting SMEs – a ‘Made in the Midlands’ panel discussion, and a presentation about the Advanced Propulsion Centre, the Hub of which is based at The University of Warwick.
Wouter Schuitemaker, investment director of Business Birmingham, Birmingham’s inward investment programme said: “Advanced engineering is an incredibly valuable industry across all parts of the West Midlands – which is why we are working together to promote the region’s in-depth knowledge and expertise in this sector.
“With a record 12,000 delegates at last year’s show, Advanced Engineering UK is the ideal platform to profile our capabilities within engineering and manufacturing. Thanks to its robust talent pool, university courses geared towards component engineering, and its emerging infrastructure and transport links, this region offers a wealth of knowledge and resources to potential investors in this sector.”
Walsall-based Lodent Precision, which specialises in toolmaking and precision engineering, is one of the exhibiting SMEs. Director Chris Sharratt added: “Advanced Engineering UK provides a valuable opportunity for Lodent to raise our profile within the industry. Exhibiting at this year’s show will enable us to seek out business ventures and explore new markets, while receiving guidance and support from the partners at our stand. Networking opportunities like this are essential for our business, and we are aiming to meet a range of potential new customers throughout the event.”
The wider region is a world leader in advanced engineering, with international names – from Jaguar Land Rover to Aston Martin – and a buoyant supply chain of Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers creating a globally recognised hub of engineering talent. It is home to over a quarter of the UK’s skilled advanced engineering workforce.
Advanced Engineering UK 2014 will comprise five interlinked shows representing priority UK high value engineering and technology sectors: Automotive Engineering, Composites Engineering, Aero Engineering, Auto Electronics, and Performance Metals Engineering.
For further information about the West Midlands Advanced Engineering/West Midlands Investment Forum presence at Advanced Engineering UK 2014, or to arrange a meeting at the show, please email Business Birmingham on invest@marketingbirmingham.com.