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Book early would seem to be advised, with Davies noting that the enquiry for their ICC event came in November 2024 and that space was already then limited for the second half of 2025 due to high demand.“ This highlights the importance of early planning to secure the best venues at competitive prices,” he says.
Tech and Life Science Weeks Andy Wilkinson, MD of Midlandsbased events group, DRP’ s recently acquired agency brand OWB, recommends exploring Birmingham’ s“ new pockets”, including Colmore Row, the Jewellery Quarter and Digbeth.
Wilkinson notes the Institute of Directors held its first Director of the Year awards at The Grand in Q3 2024, the first time outside of London. He is also an ambassador for Birmingham Tech Week which brings 7,000 people to the city and is the largest single UK tech event outside of London Tech Week.
Birmingham Tech Week, Wilkinson points out, was a great example of using a wide range of office and venue space around the city for breakouts and plenary sessions hosted by sponsors, with central events held at ICC to wrap up the event.
Birmingham is also extremely walkable, Wilkinson adds, and the new tram system connects outlying areas, including through to the Black Country, which also has many interesting venue spaces to offer.
Birmingham will also host the first ever Life Science Week and Wilkinson notes that DRPG’ s own team conference last year was held at the NEC with the team taking The Peaky Blinders walking tour –“ one not to be missed!” he says.
Wilkinson also urges organisers to“ take a look at the amazing Universities and what they have to offer for accommodation( there are five of them close to the Colmore Business District) as well as other independent venues that can add that unique Brummie flavour to your event.”
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Blackberry Events Blackberry Events runs a number of events in Birmingham each year, including the West Midlands Tourism Awards, held at Edgbaston Stadium this year. The University of Birmingham and Coombe Abbey also have also played host to this and many other events.
Blackberry also organised the Inspiring Leadership Conference – for 1,500 headteachers and senior leaders in the city and Georgie Butler, associate director at Blackberry, adds that city venue costs are competitive and recommends exploring the scenic canals after conference hours, or shop till you drop in the Bullring.
Butler says her agency is witnessing“ a significant shift of large corporate and public sector organisations moving into the region – HSBC, Deutsche Bank, VisitEngland, BBC, Digbeth Loc. Steven Knight’ s Studios, the list goes on! As a result of this influx, we would expect to see opportunities increase for local agencies to broaden their client networks and ultimately organise more events in the region.”
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Aye, robot Birmingham will host the 2027 European Robotics Forum, with 1,500 international delegates anticipated to attend, bringing £ 1.55m in economic impact. The city beat destinations |
Top left: The ICC
Bottom left: Birmingham: home of major research and manufacturing
Top right: Birmingham
Botanical Gardens
Bottom right:
Birmingham KDM Theme Night Hilton Birmingham
Metropole
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including Belgrade, Brussels, Tallinn and Zurich for the right to host the event which will come to ICC Birmingham, 1-5 March 2027. Industry tours will also be offered to delegates to some of the region’ s most successful, companies.
That bid was won by ambassadors in the region from the Manufacturing Technology Centre( MTC) in Coventry and the University of Birmingham, with the support of the Birmingham and West Midlands Convention Bureau, and the ICC Birmingham.
Professor Samia Nefti-Meziani OBE, chair in Robotics and AI and director of the Birmingham Robotics Institute at University of Birmingham, says:
“ Birmingham’ s selection highlights the city’ s growing significance as a global hub in research and technology, and robotics and AI powering smart machines and systems for circular and sustainable manufacturing and materials, healthcare, and infrastructure renewal. We’ re excited about the profound impact ERF2027 will have.”
Birmingham will also host at the ICC in November the annual international conference for experts in the field of vertebrate palaeontology, which is expected to bring £ 1.5m for the West Midlands’ economy. n
n For more information about the West Midlands’ business events offer for organisers and delegates, visit meetbirmingham. com.
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