GEA Supports UK Automotive Conference

The Garage Equipment Association has decided to support the Automotive Conference to be held at next year’s combined CVS and ATS show. Chief executive John Nelson explained his decision: “I firmly believe it is important to have events that the entire industry can get behind. There have been proposals for splinter events, but there seems to be no real demand for them. Our members want to be involved with events that maximise the chance to do business and we believe this is a step in the right direction.”

The conference is scheduled to be held on 4 April next year at the NEC and is officially supported by the SMMT and the Trade Shows Partnerships. According to the organiser’s figures, over 600 companies exhibited last year and almost 29,000 business executives visited the trade shows.

With John Nelson’s decision to stand down as chief executive of the GEA next month, after 10-years he will be succeeded by Dave Garratt, who will be chief executive when the conference actually takes place next year. Mr Garratt added: “John Nelson and I are in complete agreement on this. We have to be aware of opportunities to develop our section of the industry and we share the view of the various organisers that we should bring as much of the industry together as possible. We will be making sure our members get every benefit from what is developing into a major automotive event.”