Free to Attend Conference Programme

In addition to hundreds of exhibitors, UK Metals Expo features a conference programme with over 50 sessions across 4 themed stages.

Join the UK Metals Expo Conference Programme 2023 to stay ahead of the competition in the metal industry. Our informative sessions cover the latest trends and innovations in manufacturing, supply chain management, sustainability, and more. Network with hundreds of manufacturers, engineers, and industry leaders and discover new solutions to drive your business forward. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals and gain valuable insights into the future of the metal industry.

All our sessions are free to attend and open for you to drop in at your convenience on either one or both days of the event.

Theatre 1

Skill and Training

Career | Equality, diversity & inclusion | Apprenticeship | Best practice

To achieve its wider ambitions for growth, the UK Metals Industry will need to attract some 2,300 graduates a year and 9,200 apprentices and technicians. It will also have to retain those it already has and retrain others to acquire the specific skills required for the future. This will be challenging given the image of the industry and the dearth of both vocational training and appropriate degree-level courses.

Speakers include:

Theatre 2

Sustainability and Circular Economy

Strategies | Resources | Recycling | Net Zero | Founding

Transformation of the metals industries from the current largely linear economy to a circular economy will play a critical role in delivering the government’s industrial strategy for clean growth, doubling of resource productivity and reaching net zero carbon emissions in 2050. At the same time, steel production is estimated to account for 8% of the world’s carbon emissions. Recognised as a key “hard to abate” industry, the world is looking to the global metals value chain for rapid and innovative leadership in the transformation to a decarbonised industry.  The theatre will define Net Zero challenges, discuss the decisions that need to be made across the sector, examine available solutions that currently exist, and the policy and finance support required to make them possible.

Speakers include:

Theatre 3

Innovation & Technology 

Engineering | Manufacturing | Process | Productivity | Case Studies

The world of metals is fast evolving. This theatre is your opportunity to keep up with latest metals development for advanced manufacturing, access funding, boost competitiveness, and discover new industrial market applications and opportunities across various sectors from leading manufacturers and key stakeholders. Innovations in materials science and engineering offer enormous potential to boost next-generation manufacturing in the UK. There is a direct correlation between excellence in innovation and superior revenue growth. While there is no single roadmap for success in innovation, there are lessons that can be borrowed, tailored and made to work for any business.

Speakers include:

Theatre 4

Sponsored by

Supply Chain, Trade & Policy

Integration | Local Sourcing | Risks | Logistics | Resilience | re-shoring

Economic and geopolitical shocks have raised concern over supply chain resilience whilst environmental problems highlight the need for sustainable supply chains. This theatre is your unique opportunity to learn about a range of common challenges, opportunities, visions and strategies, from companies and sectors restructuring their metals/materials supply chains to meet their net zero targets and achieve greater resilience.

Speakers include: