Subcon Show

The Subcon Show is the UK's specialist sourcing event dedicated to subcontract manufacturing, taking place at the NEC in Birmingham. This event connects manufacturing buyers with suppliers who can manufacture, process, finish, and deliver the necessary parts and components. Visitors arrive at Subcon with various requirements including drawings, specifications, live projects, supplier gaps, and production needs, allowing them to explore and compare subcontract manufacturing capabilities face-to-face. Over a focused two-day period, attendees have the opportunity to discover selected services and technologies that enhance production, sourcing, and supply chain performance. Unlike broader manufacturing exhibitions, Subcon is specifically designed to assist buyers in sourcing the supplier capabilities integral to their final products. The show has gained recognition for its focused audience and was honored with the 2026 Exhibition Expansion Award from Exhibition News.
At Subcon, attendees can expect a wealth of highlights, including interactions with specialist suppliers, practical conversations, and significant sourcing opportunities. The event features both UK and international suppliers, showcasing a diverse range of subcontract manufacturing and engineering capabilities. Attendees can participate in sessions that cover important topics such as human-robot collaboration, sustainability, clean mobility, and digital transformation. The event also offers ample networking opportunities, with activities such as an onsite pub and a welcome reception to facilitate connections among participants. In addition to sourcing and networking, the Subcon Show celebrates manufacturing and engineering innovation through the Manufacturing Solutions Show Awards. The target audience for this event comprises manufacturing buyers, specifiers, and key decision-makers seeking to establish relationships with suppliers across various industry sectors, including automotive, aerospace, medical, and defense. The Subcon Show gathers around 6,000 visitors and 200 exhibitors, making it a significant event in the subcontract manufacturing landscape. Furthermore, attendees can download the Subcon 2026 Manufacturing Trends Report, which provides insights into the key pressures shaping UK manufacturing, including energy costs, skills shortages, access to finance, the need for stronger supply chains, and productivity enhancement opportunities across multiple sectors.