A recent event held for Midlands manufacturers saw record levels of new business conducted at its biggest expo to date.
The fifth annual Made in the Midlands exhibition, showcasing 100 regional manufacturers and engineers, attracted over 1000 delegates to the conference facility at Wolverhampton Racecourse.
Highlights included keynote seminars from a range of industry experts and meet the buyer opportunities with Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin Lagonda.
Made in the Midlands chairman David Wright, who is also head of manufacturing at the Technology Strategy Board said the event provided a chance for businesses to showcase the reality behind recent growth headline figures.
“Manufacturers in this region are helping to drive growth nationally and this event has given them the opportunity to tell the real stories behind the recent headline figures,” he said.
“Our members have either won significant levels of new business here today or come away with some very promising prospects.”
One stand that received a lot of attention was that of the headline sponsors from the University of Wolverhampton who in partnership with Oldbury-based Caparo, displayed the T1 sports car developed by McLaren F1 engineers.
The university’s faculty of science and engineering also demonstrated how a 3D printer works through the Innovative Product Support Service.
In an industry first and and as an ongoing commitment to sustainability and skills, the expo opened its doors to schools and colleges.
This gave pupils the opportunity to discover the positives in manufacturing and engineering as they embark on their future education and career choices.
It also gave prospective employers the opportunity change dated perceptions of industry and meet young people as they address the ongoing skills issue.
