The NEC: Powering Solihull’s economic growth through face-to-face business
Written by Ian Taylor, Managing Director of Exhibitions at NEC
With WMGC reporting over 100m visitors last year and a record £14 billion in visitor spending, in person interactions have gone from strength to strength in the West Midlands. Nowhere is this momentum felt more strongly than at the NEC, located in Solihull.
As Managing Director of Exhibitions at the NEC, I’m immensely proud of the role our venues continue to play in driving this growth. As the UK’s largest and most versatile exhibition venue, the NEC remains a central hub for global trade.
Each year, we host 500+ events and support over 45,000 exhibitors - bringing together business, trade and consumer audiences from a hugely diverse range of sectors. These are the spaces where industries connect, partnerships form, and deals are done.
The NEC’s bounce-back has been remarkable since the pandemic. Businesses are returning to in person events with renewed purpose, and it’s clear from feedback that meeting face to face builds trust and relationships in ways digital platforms simply can’t replicate.
Every event held here contributes to Solihull’s position as a gateway for international business. Across the country, the scale of the business events sector is extraordinary - in 2024 alone, an estimated 1,145 exhibitions and conferences at the UK’s main venues attracted 7.2 million visitors.
In 2025, we welcomed nearly 25,000 exhibitors and more than a million visitors through our doors. These interactions power the strength of UK PLC, fuelling growth, exports, and innovation across multiple sectors.
Our major international trade shows highlight the NEC’s unique contribution to global commerce. Events such as Multimodal, MACH, and Spring Fair attract international buyers, suppliers and delegations, providing a platform for UK businesses to showcase their products and expertise to the world.
MACH alone brings more than 26,000 attendees and 500 exhibitors, positioning the NEC as a hub for advanced manufacturing and engineering on the international stage.
Multimodal, as the UK’s leading logistics event, connects global supply chains, while Spring Fair brings together thousands of international retailers seeking British products and partnerships.
The region’s recreation economy recorded the highest growth in expenditure in 2024, a clear sign that large-scale venues like the NEC remain central to the West Midlands’ success.
Solihull’s strategic location amplifies this impact, as the NEC sits next to Birmingham Airport, offering global connectivity for international exhibitors and visitors.
This, combined with Solihull’s proximity to the UK’s motorway and rail networks, means the NEC is uniquely placed to welcome visitors with ease, strengthening the area’s attractiveness as a centre for international trade.
2026 marks the NEC’s 50th birthday, representing a proud milestone, not just for us as a team but for everyone who’s helped shape the venue’s story.
We’re excited about the diverse programme of 100+ exhibitions already contracted for 2026. With visitor numbers continuing to climb and momentum building, each event will be another opportunity for businesses to come together face to face.
And with the Invictus Games in 2027 set to shine an international spotlight on the West Midlands, we’re reminded that our role goes far beyond events.
This will be a chance to showcase both our world-class facilities and our enduring commitment to bringing people together with landmark moments.
As someone who’s had the privilege of seeing the NEC evolve over the years, I have every confidence that the NEC will continue to be where industries meet, partnerships thrive, and the next chapter of UK enterprise is written – with Solihull at the centre of that story.