The countdown to MACH 2024, the UK’s national event for inspiring, innovating and connecting manufacturing, has reached an important landmark, with just one year to go before the doors to the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham open for the UK’s national event for engineering-based manufacturing.
In recognition of the landmark – and reaffirming their commitment to UK manufacturing – Lloyds Bank have confirmed their headline sponsorship of MACH 2024, the sixth time they have done so. MACH is the UK’s only live, national event showcasing sustainable, innovative technologies used across the manufacturing spectrum and is the destination of choice for companies looking to adopt and invest in the digital revolution.
Commenting on the new deal, James Selka DL, Chief Executive Officer at the Manufacturing Technologies Association said; “We are delighted to again be working with Lloyds Bank – this time on the promotion of MACH 2024. Being owned by the industry, for the benefit of the industry, the MTA’s primary aim is to help and support the sector we represent to do business, boosting the UK’s manufacturing performance and enabling UK PLC to compete at a global level. Manufacturing is the heartbeat of the UK economy and growing a resilient manufacturing industry has never been more important. Lloyds Bank is an ideal partner for MACH as we share common goals and commitments.”
A key theme of MACH 2024, which takes place between 15-19th April, will be around sustainability, supporting UK manufacturers transition to a low-carbon, sustainable business model. Dave Atkinson, UK Head of Manufacturing at Lloyds Bank commented; “Making the transition to Net Zero represents a significant growth opportunity for the UK economy, particularly for the manufacturing sector. However, we must invest in technology and skills to support such an ambitious change. Lloyds Bank are delighted to again sponsor MACH – the UK’s national showcase for the best in next-generation manufacturing technologies.”
As a full working week event, MACH exhibitors power their equipment and technology on display, demonstrating latest techniques and trends to improve productivity, reducing material resource and energy used in the process – helping to ensure a sustainable future, contributing to the drive towards Net Zero.
Attracting new talent into the engineering-based manufacturing sector is another key driver for growth and a shared focus for both the MTA and Lloyds Bank. James Selka continues; “The MTA invests in a dedicated Education and Development Zone at MACH, successfully attracting over 3,000 students in the key age range of 11-18. The zone is designed to inspire a future generation into engineering as an exciting career, helping to close the skills gap by investing in people.”
With 12 months to go before the doors open at MACH 2024, the show is already well on the way to being a sell-out. Attracting an audience of more than 26,000 people to meet and network with around 500 exhibitors, business attributed to the event in 2022 amounted to more than £180m.
Lloyds Bank’s sponsorship deal also extends to the Engineering Supply Chain Show. This three-day event, co-located alongside MACH in 2024, is where engineering and manufacturing buyers go to find world-class suppliers, exclusively in the UK engineering and manufacturing supply chain.