Conference success set to be repeated

The two day Manufacturer Live 2005 Conference was such an overwhelming success that the organisers are already planning next year's event

The two day Manufacturer Live 2005 Conference was such an overwhelming success that the organisers are already planning next year's event.

Manufacturer Live 2005, one of the UK's biggest manufacturing teach-ins, smashed all records with more than 2500 manufacturing decision makers attending the Telford event.

Now the next Manufacturer Live for 2006 has been confirmed.

It will take place at the Telford International Centre on October 4 and 5 next year.

Delegates to Manufacturer Live 2005 heard from more than 50 speakers from leading companies who hosted workshops, seminars and debates on the UK manufacturing big issues.

Senior figures from GKN, Land Rover, Unilever, Unipart, Siemens, Airbus UK, Rolls Royce, Microsoft, Red Bull Racing and Boots were among more than 50 speakers delivering presentations on all aspects of the manufacturing process.

The event, which was presented in association with Barclays and supported by the DTI Manufacturing Advisory Service, offered manufacturers the chance to learn from their peers and share their own best practice, and included the prestigious Manufacturer of the Year 2005 Awards, with the top prize scooped by Unilever's frozen food division.

The Manufacturer Live 2005 itself built on the success of the 2004 event.

The presentations and exhibitions were based around the "seven pillars" of manufacturing excellence: leadership and strategy, world class manufacturing, design and innovation, skills and HR, logistics and supply chain, IT in manufacturing and manufacturing operations.

Glen White, group chief executive of Conquest Business Media which organises the event and publishes The Manufacturer magazine, said he was delighted that the event had been so successful.

"We've heard a lot of bad news about manufacturing this year, with the collapse of MG Rover and the associated pain within the supply chain, and the drop in manufacturing output, not to mention the assault on our industry from cheap imports from China and other countries, exploiting low cost labour.

But this event was the other side of the coin," he said.

"This was all about lean and hungry UK manufacturers building on their strengths, seeking out new opportunities, and celebrating success.

There's no better way to share best practice than to put 2500 people with a common interest together to talk about how they are competing with the best in the world.

This was manufacturing's biggest ever education opportunity, and I'm delighted to confirm that the event will run again next year".

He said the event was growing in stature and popularity against the trend of others.

"It's an undeniable fact that numbers attending trade shows in this sector are falling.

However The Manufacturer Live is bucking that trend with big audience increases.

This clearly demonstrates that more and more UK manufacturers are responding to global challenges by sharing and embracing best practice." Andy Martin, head of UK Manufacturing at Barclays said the bank was delighted to be associated with The Manufacturer Live 2005.

"As the leading bank covering the UK manufacturing industry, we are committed to helping the industry grow and remain competitive on a global scale.

We believe The Manufacturer Live 2005 was the perfect forum for people who share both this commitment and the desire to promote and share best practice.

This year's event was particularly important given the current challenges facing the industry, and we were very pleased to be associated with it.".

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