About Subcon
Subcon is a specialist sourcing exhibition for subcontract manufacturing, built around one simple exchange: OEMs and procurement teams looking for capacity meet the suppliers who can provide it. Organised by MA Exhibitions and held annually at the NEC in Birmingham, it is one of the longest-standing fixtures in the UK manufacturing calendar.
Exhibitors are typically subcontractors offering machining, fabrication, casting, moulding, electronics assembly, surface treatment, finishing and related services, together with suppliers of materials and inspection technology. The buyers they meet come from a wide spread of industries. The organiser lists aerospace, automotive, defence and security, medical, energy, rail, electronics, marine, materials, oil and gas, and food and drink among its core sectors.
The character of the show is practical. Many visitors arrive with live projects, drawings or specifications and are screening potential suppliers rather than browsing, so conversations quickly turn to tolerances, certification and capacity. That makes the event particularly useful for small and medium-sized engineering firms, for whom one new contract can justify the cost of attending.
Around the stands, the organiser runs a programme designed to create contact points: a VIP buyers lounge, expert speaker sessions, guided walking trails that lead visitors past relevant exhibitors, a metrology and materials demonstration area, and an awards ceremony. Together these help buyers find suppliers they might otherwise walk past, which is valuable on a floor made up largely of compact stands.
Next edition
Subcon 2027: what to expect
Subcon takes place on 9 and 10 June 2027 in Hall 4 at the NEC, Birmingham, and marks the show's 50th anniversary. Doors open at 09:30 on both days, closing at 17:00 on the first day, with networking drinks from 16:30, and at 16:30 on the second.
The anniversary programme includes a celebration party, the PUBCON networking hub, the Metrology & Materials Lab, a VIP Buyers Lounge and the Talk & Walk Trails. The organiser reported that 77% of visitors to the 2026 show had purchasing power or influence, and that 41% had an annual budget of more than £1 million.
Smart Manufacturing Week runs in the neighbouring Hall 5 on the same dates. Exhibitors showing precision parts should plan for display cabinets and good lighting, since buyers judge capability on samples they can see up close.