A LEADING NORTH EAST venue is celebrating after helping steer a major conference to record success.
Sunderland’s Stadium of Light was chosen for the second year to host the North East Automotive expo, organised by the North East Automotive Alliance to showcase the latest industry technology and to highlight the region’s role in this field.
Some of the motoring industry’s biggest names took part in the event held on 22 September, including Nissan, Jaguar Land Rover, Komatsu UK, Gestamp Tallent and Calsonic Kansei Europe, with more than 350 delegates attending.
The ambitious, sell-out event, utilised all of the facilities at the Stadium of Light, which accommodated the expo’s exhibition, workshops, keynote speakers, outside demonstrations and various meetings which took place throughout the day.
This year the event also featured a Technology Showcase for the first time, where 16 businesses were given the opportunity to display their latest products, services and technologies to an audience of potential buyers.
More than 70 companies exhibited at the event, with key note speakers including Kevin Fitzpatrick, Nissan’s Vice President for Manufacturing in the UK and Jaguar’s Land Rover’s Michael Mychajluk who heads up the company’s supply chain and external engagement and purchasing.
David Moses, General Manager at Sunderland AFC, said that the stadium was delighted to host such a prestigious event.
“We are extremely pleased that the North East Automotive Alliance chose the Stadium of Light once again to host the Expo and that it was such a huge success,” he said.
“It was a great opportunity for us to welcome a number of extremely prestigious companies to the city and showcase that not only are we at the forefront of the automotive industry but that we also have first class facilities.”
Laura Gage, Marketing & PR Manager, NEAA said: “Following the success of our 2015 event, the Stadium of Light was an obvious choice for us to hold the expo in 2016.
“The venue is in a great location with sufficient parking, which is always something important when hosting a large event. The facilities at the venue offer what we needed and the events team have been very professional and a pleasure to deal with.”