Member Article

Full line up of Oktoberfest guest speakers announced

MANUFACTURING and economic regeneration will be the key themes at Durham Oktoberfest, the region’s biggest engineering and manufacturing event, as the full line of guest speakers is announced.

Joining Nifco boss Mike Matthews, who was recently confirmed as keynote speaker, will be Cllr Neil Foster, portfolio holder for economic regeneration at Durham County Council; Dr Simon Goon, Managing Director of Business Durham; and Paul Watts, Joint Managing Director of clothing manufacturing firm The AMA Group.

The speakers will address the audience of over 1,500 businesses and delegates expected to attend this year’s event, which is being held at the Xcel Centre in Newton Aycliffe on October 23.

Dr Goon said: “Durham Oktoberfest is one of the region’s biggest and most high profile events and gives the North East the opportunity to showcase the strength and depth of our world class manufacturing and engineering sectors. It’s the perfect shop window for every company out there that wants to grow and meet potential new clients and that’s why year after year it gets better and more successful.

“Business Durham has been a supporter and key partner of Durham Oktoberfest since the inaugural event back in 2008 so I’m personally delighted to be asked to be a speaker and to have the chance to talk about the many great things happening in the region, particularly in County Durham which, thanks to millions of pounds of public and private sector investment, is undergoing significant redevelopment to change the landscape of the county for the better.”

More than 100 businesses are attending this year’s event. Exhibitors include Hiatco, Bignall Group, Ferschl Group, Dyer Engineering, Eastern Seals, Altec Engineering, Inspection and Engineering Services, Johnson Partners, Microbac Ltd and Emirates.

The Meet the Buyer element of Durham Oktoberfest will feature the likes of Nifco, Ebac, Heerema, Faurecia and Parker Hannifin.

Paul Watts from The AMA Group, the company that has brought clothing manufacturing back to East Durham, creating over 200 jobs in the area, said: “The response we’ve had since we announced our plans earlier this year has been phenomenal and now production is underway, we’re receiving enquiries from retailers not only up and down the country but overseas as well.

“There’s a real appetite to bring manufacturing back to the UK which can only be a good thing for the region’s businesses.”

Durham Oktoberfest, which is being delivered by the North, East and South Durham Engineering Forums in partnership with Business Durham, NEPIC, the Advanced Manufacturing Forum, NOF Energy, Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) and the BE Group takes place on Thursday, October 23.

Business Durham are this year’s gold sponsors and other packages are still available. To find out more about Durham Oktoberfest and how you can get involved, either as a Meet the Buyer participant, exhibitor or sponsor, visit www.durhamoktoberfest.org.uk, email info@durhamoktoberfest.org.uk or call 0191 3037772.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Leanne English .