Out of almost 300 members, 75% of these have fewer than 50 employees meaning resources can be tight and allocating these to the right shows can be confusing. Composites UK’s goal is to help these companies get the most from leading industry events.
From 14–16 March, Composites UK, along with the National Composites Centre (NCC) and Department for International Trade (DIT), will again be hosts of a UK Pavilion at JEC World in Paris (hall 5A, stand E78) showcasing 10 UK SMEs on a 90m2 stand. The aim of the pavilion is to bring a group of SMEs together under a collectively strong UK presence. The networking reception held on 15 March will see us invite key players from within the industry to speak with the exhibitors beginning a new collaborative exchange. Composites UK, NCC and the DIT are working together to secure funding to support the UK Pavilion at JEC World in future years.
In addition, the Association is the accredited industry trade association (ATO) for the DIT’s Trade Access Programme which offers grants of £1.5k to help eligible SMEs exhibit at JEC World. All 15 of the grants available for JEC World 2017 were taken in record time.
JEC as an organisation has been, and continues to be, very supportive of our members, offering them free entry into JEC World 2017 as attendees and discounted rates to exhibit at its other shows, Experience Composites and JEC Asia.
Closer to home the ties with the Composites Engineering Show are stronger than ever with Composites UK continuing to have a large presence here. As of 2017 our members now receive 15% off shell and stand scheme space, with many of the 100 members who exhibit here recouping the cost of their membership within this saving. To complement this, the Association’s stand builder of five years, Driscoll Brothers Group, has put together a special rate package for members for the design and build of their stands, taking away the hassle of the ‘DIY’ approach and allowing them to stand out from the crowd.
Last but not least there is of course the Member’s Directory, which the team at Composites in Manufacturing magazine compile on our behalf. This is not only available in the September/October issue of this magazine on an annual basis, but copies are also available from the Composites UK stand at the show. All members are included automatically in the directory portion of this, however there is also the opportunity to enhance their company’s profile through discounted advertising rates, which only Composites UK members are entitled to.
2017 also sees Composites UK collaborate with other peripheral shows who have approached us with a wish to increase their composites forum content and/or exhibitor numbers having seen the fast pace at which the industry is growing. These include Subcon, Automechnika Birmingham and Interplas to name a few.
As ever, the Association publishes information on all events it is working with on the website, however views and feedback is always encouraged via info@compositesuk.co.uk or by phone on 01442 275365.