Business News
For 41 years, the NEC Group has been one of Birmingham’s greatest assets and has never stood still to maintain its place as one of the world’s top venue management companies. Started as a joint project between Birmingham Chamber and Birmingham City Council, it was opened by the Queen on 2 February, 1976. The group was sold by the Council to Lloyd’s Development Capital, the private equity arm of Lloyd Bank, in 2015. Last month, the transformed sites were acquired by another private equity firm, Blackstone. At the same time the NEC featured at 186 in the Sunday Times’ Top track 250 of Britain’s leading private mid-market growth companies. Here, Chamberlink celebrates the NEC Group, which has become a jewel in nation’s venue crown.
changing the look and feel of the iconic Birmingham-based venue. The first phase of this three-year
A
project – the exterior of Halls 1 and 5 – began in June and Kathryn James, managing director of NEC Group Conventions and Exhibitions, said: “We have seen our NEC campus change radically over the past three years. We began our journey as an exhibition venue, and
n extensive £4.5m transformation has been unveiled by the NEC –
are now a thriving 24/7 business and leisure destination. We are attracting more and more visitors each year as the amazing content hosted by our exhibitions, conferences, live events and attractions – Barkerboth on campus and within the NEC – develops.” The campus now attracts over
seven million visitors annually to the NEC, Genting Arena, Vox conference centre and Resorts World Birmingham. It also operates the ICC in Birmingham city centre.
The number is set to grow with
the opening of the site’s first permanent attraction – The Bear Grylls Adventure. Kathryn continued: “We have a
rich heritage of over 40 years, but, while the services we deliver have evolved, the exterior of the venue has stayed the same. “This transformation that we
‘fondly’ call Project Facelift, will give the venue a modern and impactful look which is a great fit with the exciting developments on
The jewel
in the nation’s venue crown
New look: Translucent pyramid structures are part of the facelift
campus – happening right now and in the future.” The new design comprises 37
pyramid translucent structures – created by architects Acivico – that can be backlit to create a stunning visual effect. Sandwiched between the pyramids are a series of vibrant colour panels designed by global agency McCann. The complex project is being managed by CBRE with Base Structures, Ultimate Coatings and SPV Group looking after the
‘The campus now attracts over seven million visitors annually to the NEC, Genting Arena, Vox conference centre and Resorts World Birmingham’
6CHAMBERLINK November 2018
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
