One of the key benefits of SMMT membership is helping to build business partnerships through networking and we’re excited to be working on a number of new events for 2025 that will provide significant opportunities – to connect with other businesses, generate leads and grow.
Following the huge success of SMMT’s Meet the Van Converter event for the last two years, we have decided to expand its reach in 2025 – with Meet the Van Accessories set to take place in Birmingham in June. It will provide opportunities for major LCV OEMs and van converters to meet with companies who install equipment on vans. So, if you have a van accessory that’s added to an LCV, from vehicle security and cameras to racking systems, and would like one-to-one meetings with OEMs and converters, please get in touch.
SMMT will also put even greater focus on heavy vehicles in 2025 with a new Meet the Heavy Body Builder event in September – and no, this will not be for Arnold Schwarzenegger wannabes but rather some of the very best HGV OEMs and truck body builders. The vast majority of registered HGVs are rigids and base vehicles that have a body added – for waste, construction, delivery or fuel services – so if you’re a body builder and would like to take part, let us know.
The bus and coach sector is also a crucial part of the UK automotive industry, and that’s why we’ll be launching a new event called Meet the Bus Operator, taking place in October. While the recent Zero Emission Bus Regional Area and Scottish Zero Emission Buses funding schemes have supported a large number of local transport authorities, there are still some that have not received any funding at all – and this event will provide critical opportunities for those operators. They’ll be able meet with bus manufacturers, repowering companies, finance companies and charging infrastructure companies, to discuss how they can start to introduce and advance their plans for zero emission bus rollout.
Among the many other events which SMMT is planning next year is Electrified, the UK industry’s flagship conference dedicated to the net zero transition of all vehicles, which returns to London on 13 March. As with previous years, there will be a smattering of top-level commercial vehicle representatives speaking through the day, plus a panel dedicated to the heavy vehicle sector. Registrations are now open and for SMMT members there is a complimentary place – click here for further details.
