Discover innovation at Advanced Engineering 2025

Advanced Engineering 2025 is set to return to the NEC, Birmingham, on 29 and 30 October, promising what could be the largest gathering yet for the UK’s engineering and manufacturing sectors. With more than 400 exhibitors, including 130 new participants and over 200 expert speakers, the event is designed to reflect the fast-changing needs of UK industry, from ‘net zero’ ambitions and digital transformation to skills development and supply chain resilience.

This year’s show is certainly timely for UK manufacturing, following the Government’s recent announcement of a 10-year industrial strategy aimed at reducing electricity costs for over 7,000 manufacturing firms and unlocking billions in investment for research and design, artificial intelligence (AI) and energy infrastructure.

Simon Farnfield, event director at Easyfairs UK & Global, said: “Every year, we see the latest innovations on display and the energy from exhibitors and visitors proves just how important this event is. The 2025 edition is set to deliver even more value for visitors and exhibitors alike.”

A particular focus for 2025 is on real-world problem-solving, with SMEs taking centre stage. The ‘SME Village’ will provide a platform for agile manufacturers to showcase their innovations alongside sector leaders, while the ‘Electronics Zone’ and ‘AM2 Forum’ will highlight advances in automation, embedded systems, composites and semiconductors.

Meanwhile, the ‘Composites Pavilion’ returns for its fourth year, significantly expanded and fully booked well ahead of the event. Delivered in partnership with Composites UK, the pavilion features easy-access pods for exhibitors and a dedicated networking zone attracting OEMs from the aerospace, automotive, marine and renewable energy sectors.

Dr Sue Halliwell, operations manager at Composites UK, said: “Composites UK’s partnership with Advanced Engineering is essential as it highlights the transformative potential of composite materials, fosters innovation and creates valuable business connections that contribute to the growth and development of the composite manufacturing sector as a whole.”

Composites Forum
Live demonstrations from PRF Composite Materials will headline the pavilion, while the reimagined Composites Forum will offer two days of expert-led content on sustainability, material circularity and product innovation.

The Meet the Buyer programme, developed with ADS Group, also returns to pair OEM procurement teams with suppliers across advanced manufacturing. Last year, more than 100 suppliers and 18 major buyer representatives took part, and 2025 is expected to raise the bar again, with pre-arranged meetings and networking opportunities designed to build long-term business relationships.

Atlas Copco returns as sponsor of the Automotive and Aerospace Networking Lounge, hosting demonstrations and discussions on ‘smart factory’ transformation, automation, vision inspection, data-driven analysis and sustainable production. Jessica Porter, marketing and comms manager at Atlas Copco Tools and Industrial Assembly Solutions, said: “By harnessing digitalisation and advanced tooling, manufacturers are reshaping their production environments. It is all about making sustainability, productivity and profitability work together — not in isolation.”

The show will also continue its #MINDTHEskillsGAP initiative, bringing together industry, education and government to address the skills shortage in engineering and manufacturing. Visitors can expect sessions, workshops and networking opportunities focused on attracting, retaining and upskilling the next generation of engineers.

Co-located with Lab Innovations, Advanced Engineering 2025 is expected to attract over 9,000 professionals, serving as a key meeting point for industry leaders, R&D teams and decision-makers across the supply chain. The event is supported by major industry bodies, including Make UK, Composites UK, UKRI, ADS, Engineering UK, Rail Industry Association and the SMMT, ensuring it remains aligned with the latest sector needs and priorities.

The ‘Unsung Heroes in Manufacturing’ initiative is the latest extension of Advanced Engineering’s #MINDTHEskillsGAP campaign, calling for closer collaboration between industry leaders and policymakers to secure the next generation of engineering talent. With recent figures showing that 75% of UK manufacturers cite skills shortages as a key barrier to growth, the initiative shifts the spotlight onto the people driving progress from within the sector. By celebrating those who go above and beyond in mentoring, training and advocacy, it aims to share the value of lived experience and inspire the next generation.

Real-world voices
As part of the initiative, Advanced Engineering will launch a searchable online library of industry experts on its website, providing easier access to the real-world voices shaping the sector. This hub will reflect the full spectrum of manufacturing and engineering expertise and help amplify it across new platforms. Nominations open later this month, with industry professionals encouraged to put forward colleagues, mentors or partners who have shown exceptional commitment to skills, mentoring or sector-wide advocacy. Submissions will offer a new route to connect these heroes with opportunities ranging from panel discussions to networking and cross-sector collaboration.

Simon Farnfield, event director for Advanced Engineering, said: “Unsung Heroes in Manufacturing is about recognising the people behind the progress. Our sector is full of unsung leaders driving change, whether that is through mentoring apprentices, pushing for skills investment or championing inclusion. Therefore, we have designed this initiative to make their voices louder and help their impact go further, particularly for the upcoming engineering talent and showing them what this industry is all about.”

Following a record-breaking 2024 event, Advanced Engineering is also expanding its Enabling Innovation competition for 2025. Open to start-ups and SMEs, the competition offers companies the chance to showcase their innovations, culminating in main stage presentations. Each finalist will receive exhibition space in the Enabling Innovation Zone, which is open to over 9,800 visitors during the two-day event. The zone connects smaller organisations with valuable networking opportunities across sectors such as automotive, aerospace, composites and Industry 4.0. On the second day, contestants will present their innovations on the main stage, with the winner chosen by a panel of industry experts.

The winner will be offered a free full-size stand at Advanced Engineering 2026, along with additional marketing opportunities throughout the year, including email campaigns, video interviews, social media exposure, press releases and a dedicated page on the Advanced Engineering website. Last year’s winner, Dream Big Composites Ltd, impressed judges with its composite smart vacuum system, an Internet of Things (IoT) device that automates the monitoring and control of vacuum pumps in composite manufacturing.

Mark Prince, co-founder of Dream Big Composites, said: “It was just marvelous to be there and have a stand to tell people about our innovation and to connect with likeminded businesses that we want to work with in the future. There isn't one company at the show that wasn’t innovating spectacularly in some way, it was just brilliant to be a part of it.”

Access to industry leaders
The Enabling Innovation initiative continues to receive support from key partners, including Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), Innovation DB and Innovate UK, all of whom help start-ups accelerate and commercialise innovations in advanced manufacturing and technology. Alongside the competition, Advanced Engineering 2025 will give exhibitors the chance to showcase solutions in composites, automation, additive manufacturing, testing and ‘green technologies’, with access to industry leaders from Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs.

The event will also feature more than 200 expert speakers tackling topics such as digitalisation, supply chain resilience, sustainability and the ongoing skills shortage. Mr Farnfield continued: “The Enabling Innovation competition is not just about providing a platform for SMEs and start-ups to showcase their innovations but about setting them on a trajectory for long-term growth. We have had previous winners, like OxDrive, that have gone on to make significant headway in their industrial sectors, using their prize to propel their R&D and expand their reach.

“Another great example is iCOMAT, which after winning in 2019, has returned to Advanced Engineering every year since as an exhibitor. We have seen these companies grow and gain valuable exposure and we are excited to see how this year’s winner will use their presence at the show to connect with industry leaders and progress their businesses.”

Advanced Engineering UK 2025 is shaping up to be a milestone event for the manufacturing sector. Visitor registration is now open, with early registrants receiving exclusive updates on exhibitors, speakers and feature areas.