Subcon - The Manufacturing Solutions Show returns to the NEC, Birmingham on 3-4 June 2026, bringing together the UK’s manufacturing supply chain for two days of sourcing, learning, networking and practical discussion around the future of subcontracting and contract manufacturing.
Taking place in Hall 3A, Subcon 2026 will welcome manufacturing buyers, OEMs, tier suppliers, subcontractors, engineering specialists and technology providers from across the UK and international supply chain. Free to attend for manufacturing professionals, the event is designed to help visitors source new suppliers, explore production capability, understand emerging industry challenges and build stronger relationships across the manufacturing base.
For readers of Engineering Capacity, the show has direct relevance. Subcon’s exhibitor profile spans the areas at the heart of the UK subcontracting sector, including machining and precision engineering, fabrication and metal processing, plastics and composites, casting and forging, electronics and electrical manufacturing, additive manufacturing, assembly, finishing, components and parts.
The event also covers the key markets served by subcontract and contract manufacturers, including aerospace, automotive, defence, energy, medical, transport and electronics.
The 2026 edition arrives at a time when supply chain resilience, domestic sourcing, manufacturing capacity and production flexibility remain high on the agenda for UK industry. Manufacturers are under pressure to reduce risk, shorten lead times, improve visibility and work with trusted partners who can deliver quality, consistency and technical expertise.
Subcon aims to support that need by creating a focused environment where buyers can meet potential suppliers face to face and subcontractors can demonstrate their capabilities to an audience actively looking for manufacturing solutions.
Over 200 exhibitors under one roof
More than 200 exhibitors are expected at the 2026 event, with around 6,000 visitors attending across the two days. The exhibitor base will include both UK and international companies, giving visitors the opportunity to compare capabilities, discuss live projects and assess potential partners across multiple processes and sectors.
For buyers, the show offers a practical route to identifying new capacity, validating supplier options and discovering technologies that could support future production requirements. For suppliers, it provides a chance to raise their profile, meet decision-makers and position their business in front of companies with active sourcing needs.
Championing UK manufacturing capability
The show’s theme, “Made in Britain, Made for Britain”, reflects the growing importance of strengthening domestic supply chains and showcasing the depth of capability available within the UK.
While global sourcing will continue to play an important role in manufacturing, many buyers are reviewing how they can reduce exposure to disruption by building more robust, diversified supplier networks closer to home. Subcon provides a platform for those conversations, particularly for companies looking to improve responsiveness, quality control, collaboration and long-term supply security.
Show features
Alongside the exhibition, the Subcon Conference will return with a CPD-accredited programme covering the major issues facing manufacturing leaders, engineers and supply chain professionals.
The content has been developed around practical themes affecting both buyers and suppliers, including circular economy and remanufacturing, supply chain resilience, sourcing diversification, workforce development, sustainability in materials and processes, cybersecurity, manufacturing-as-a-service, digital logistics, traceability, cobotics, digital validation and virtual commissioning.
A new addition for 2026 is The Skills Sprint, a conference stream created for time-pressed manufacturing professionals.
Rather than longer workshop formats, the sessions are designed to provide focused, practical takeaways in 20 to 45 minutes. Topics will range from lead generation for SMEs to cybersecurity checks and practical guidance on AI and digital manufacturing.
The aim is to give visitors a clear blueprint they can take back to their business, rather than broad theory.
The speaker line-up includes representatives from major manufacturers and industry bodies, including Airbus, Bentley Motors, Rolls-Royce, Make UK, Cranfield University, Mars, AWS, IASME and the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK.
Sessions will look at topics such as defence industrial capability, lean transformation for SMEs, cyber governance, human-robot collaboration, supply chain cyber risk, smart factory adoption and reducing exposure to energy volatility.
Among the highlighted sessions is “Transforming the UK Defence Industrial Base”, presented by Aditi Charanji, Head of UK Defence Industrial Base at Amazon Web Services. Defence supply chain capability is a growing area of interest for UK manufacturers, particularly as the sector looks at capacity, security, resilience and the role of digital infrastructure.
A panel on lean transformation in SMEs will explore how smaller manufacturers can adopt world-class lean practices without the budgets or resources of larger organisations. Speakers will include Ioana Hera, Head of Lean at Rolls-Royce, John Kilgallon, General Manager at Turbine Surface Technologies, part of the Rolls-Royce Group, and Alan Lothian, Director of 3A Business Excellence.
For subcontractors looking to improve competitiveness, productivity and operational discipline, this session should offer useful practical insight.
Cybersecurity is another important theme. Manufacturing businesses are increasingly connected, but greater connectivity brings greater exposure to risk.
Sessions including “Building Confidence Through Cyber Governance” and “The New Weak Link: Tackling Supply Chain Cyber Risk” will address how companies can take practical steps to protect operations, data and customer relationships. For subcontractors serving regulated or high-value sectors, cyber resilience is becoming an increasingly important part of supplier approval and customer confidence.
Digital manufacturing will also be discussed in a session asking whether businesses should go “all in” on digital manufacturing. With input from Rolls-Royce, Sempai and 3A Business Excellence, the panel will look beyond the hype and examine where digital tools can deliver real operational value.
A further panel, “From Pilot to Production: Making Smart Factories Work in the Real World”, will bring together speakers from Mars, Airbus, Sempai and the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK to consider how smart factory projects can move from trials into practical, scalable implementation.
For visitors interested in automation, “The Collaborative Factory: Redefining Human-Robot Partnership in Industry” will be presented by Phil Webb, RAEng and Airbus Professor of Industrial Robotics and Assembly at Cranfield University.
Cobots and human-robot collaboration are becoming increasingly relevant for manufacturers looking to improve productivity, address labour shortages and introduce automation in a flexible way.
Subcon 2026 will also host the Manufacturing Solutions Show Awards on Thursday 4 June.
Networking on the show floor
Networking will be a key part of the event. On the first day, all visitors and exhibitors are invited to attend free networking drinks from 16:30.
The show will also feature Pubcon, a relaxed networking hub with pub games, refreshments and informal meeting space
A VIP buyers programme will be available for senior manufacturers, offering exclusive networking opportunities and additional support for those with active sourcing requirements.
Tailored visitor trails across automotive, aerospace, defence and medical sectors will also help visitors navigate the show more efficiently and identify exhibitors relevant to their specific needs.