Conference Exhibition UK

The UK is one of the top industrial and commercial nations in the European Union and indeed the world, being one of only four trillion dollar economies in the EU. With the capital, London, a dominant global player in financial and professional services for global clients, it should come as no surprise that the UK has a mature and sophisticated industry catering for events, conference, and exhibition organisation with the infrastructure to match.

The UK also has a history of hosting exhibitions and conferences going back at least to the Industrial Revolution with the Empire Exhibitions and Alexandra Palace hosting the World Fair. Such large, international events are merely representative of a service sector that has been catering for exhibitions and conferences for a very wide range of commercial and other non-profit activities that have been spurred by the heritage of commerce, industrial innovation, and scientific excellence found in the UK.

Demand in the UK for venues to accommodate small, medium, and large business and social events has generated the growth of a wide range of conference and exhibition centres. Further growth is being stimulated by the award of the 2012 Olympic games to London, and additional infrastructure is being developed with a current budget of £9 billion, a substantial part of which will benefit the commercial sector and increase international recognition for the UK as a whole as a place to transact business.

The UK has and continues to spend billions on developing infrastructure to meet the demand for conference and exhibition venues handling the needs of business and non-profit users of all sizes. Every city in the UK has sizeable conference and exhibition facilities ranging from large-scale complexes such as Olympia and Excel in London, the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, the Cardiff International Arena, and the Gmex, Manchester. Not only are these venues well served to accommodate exhibitions and conferences, but also the transport infrastructure whether by air, rail, or road, enables attendance easily and cost effectively for national and international attendees.

As a world leading developer of new technology and commercial innovation, UK conference and exhibition venues are able to utilise the latest in effective presentation and communication tools, coupled with an highly experienced and dedicated service sector to provide accommodations, transport, and publicity to attract and maintain visitor levels and interest.

Conference and exhibition centres in the UK are currently hosting some of the largest events in the world such as The Ideal Homes Exhibition at Earls Court in London, the largest such home exhibition in the world. Other national and international exhibitions such as the Motor Show at the NEC, Birmingham and the Boat Show at ExCel, London provide highly effective platforms for product launches and are huge events covering acres of space where sales generating hundreds of millions are earned.

From publicly open events to private ones, London in particular plays host to the shareholders meetings of some of the world's largest corporations. London in particular is an ideal choice for commercial exhibitions and conferences, as there is a very large pool of talented professionals and specialist service providers providing access to banking, legal, technology, and accounting assistance.

The UK also has a rich history of academic and professional excellence, being a leader in research and pharmaceutical sciences generating billions in home and international sales and fostering a large demand for academic conference facilities which are catered for by hundreds of university and research establishments across the country.

A key feature of the conference and exhibition service sector in the UK is the widespread access to these events, not only by large budget players, but also by small and medium sized companies looking to break into markets and bring public attention to their commercial efforts. There are hundreds of exhibition and conference organisers providing access to a large variety of events suitable for their needs and requirements.

Not only does the conference and exhibition market cater for companies and participants in the UK, but also the geographical location of the UK and the effective air and transport infrastructure makes the UK the ideal location for trans-European and international exhibitors and conference attendees. London in particular is served by three international airports, among the largest and busiest in the world, as well as a dedicated business airport 20 minutes from the commercial centre of the city. European visitors are able to attend a conference or exhibition and make the round trip in the same day, minimising disruption to their busy business schedules. For attendees looking to remain longer, the UK boasts a very wide range of hotels and business diversions to cater for all tastes and budgets.

In summary, the long commercial history of the UK has generated a dedicated and highly skilled conference and exhibition service sector, satisfying the demands for all types of event, large or small, public or private, together with the organisational skills and experience to ensure a successful event.