MIA joins forces with UK Trade & Investment at Autosport International

The Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) is once again running a huge schedule of business events alongside this year’s Autosport International Show, January 11-14, NEC, Birmingham. The non-stop programme includes hosting a major group of overseas buyers, an exciting series of FREE business workshops and seminars, a number of on-stand launches and the UK motorsport industry’s largest annual awards event.

The MIA’s partner in many of these activities is UK Trade & Investment (UKTI). This high profile Government department is responsible for assisting UK companies to internationalise and overseas enterprises to locate here.

The key elements of the MIA programme are:

MIA Members’ Lounge/UK Trade & Investment International Business Centre

Stand 6400 fully reflects the partnership between the MIA and UKTI and will serve as the MIA Members’ Lounge as well as the UK Trade & Investment International Business Centre. Without doubt, it will be the primary place to conduct business during the show, with over 4000 visitors expected to pass through during the two trade days alone. Facilities within this relaxed but professional environment include: private meeting rooms, internet facilities, complimentary refreshments and unrivalled networking opportunities.

The centrepiece of the stand will be the record-breaking JCB Dieselmax, the all-conquering engines of which will be unveiled at 9.30am on Thursday, January 11. Between 1.00 and 2.00pm on both January 11 and 12, the celebrated author David Tremayne will be on hand to sign copies of his related book, ‘The World’s Fastest Diesel’.

For the public days of Saturday and Sunday, the formal nature of the MIA area of the stand will give way to a pair of Jemlar simulators, via which Mattel Toys will invite members of the public to enter the ‘Hot Wheels Challenge’. All money raised will be in aid of the Motorsport Foundation, to the benefit of the sport and the industry.

There will also be a display of cars emanating from the Formula Schools, Formula Student and Greenpower student training programmes. Moreover, on the hour every hour from 10.00am each day, BTCC and Le Mans racer David Leslie will be teaching motorsport engineering skills to groups of students. This will all serve as a showcase for the recently launched Motorsport Academy.

At 11.00am on Thursday, January 11 Mugen will be announcing its intention to set up Mugen Euro Co Ltd in the UK. At 11.30am, the brand new book on the UK’s Motorsport Valley – ‘The Business of Winning’ – will be launched. Sponsored by the MIA members and UKTI, it chronicles how the UK motorsport industry and British Government are working hand in glove to maintain the UK’s pre-eminence in the field of motorsport engineering.

Overseas companies introduced to Motorsport Valley businesses

Around 50 representatives of some of the most influential companies in world motorsport are attending the MIA’s annual inward buyers mission (January 8-12). Sponsored by UKTI, Autosport International and MIA members, they come from the USA, Japan, Brazil, Russia, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Korea, China, South Africa, Austria, Spain, Canada, Australia and Mexico. The group includes senior personnel from: Champ Car, Grand Am, Citroen Sport, Sauber, Bosch, Skoda and Ralliart, among many others.

The packed programme includes a networking reception, visits to leading Motorsport Valley companies, a networking dinner and one-to-one meetings for UK-based companies at the UK Trade & Investment International Business Centre on Friday, January 12, 9.00am-12.00pm.

The social highlight of the mission will be the MIA’s annual Business Excellence Awards Dinner, held at the NEC on Thursday January 11, which provides a major opportunity for the delegates to network with 500-plus top industry guests – see later story for more details.

Business workshops and briefings – Concourse Suites 28-30

Don’t miss out on the range of exciting FREE business workshops hosted by the MIA throughout January 11 and 12 at the NEC. Industry experts and VIP guests will be on hand to provide an insight into various aspects of the industry. Of particular note are the two American events – ‘CU-ICAR New Announcements & Executive Briefing’ and ‘Grand-Am: A Sports Car Revolution’ – and the UKTI briefing on ‘Energy Efficiency in Motorsport’. A full list of the events is included elsewhere in the press pack.

MIA Business Excellence Awards Dinner

The MIA’s now established annual Awards Dinner at Autosport International will once again be held in the grounds of the NEC for the convenience of exhibitors and visitors alike, on the evening of Thursday, January 11. All 500-plus places have long since been pre-sold.

Awards will be presented for seven key categories: Business of the Year (sponsored by Xtrac); Teamwork (sponsored by TAC Europe); Small Business of the Year (sponsored by Performance Racing Industry); Export Achievement (sponsored by Autosport International); Rally Business of the Year (sponsored by MIRA); Technology and Innovation (sponsored by Ricardo UK); and Service to the Industry (sponsored by Advanced Manufacturing Park).

The event will be hosted by Autosport International with major support from Carter & Carter plc and additional backing from the individual award sponsors, Shangri-La Hotels and Scottish Development International. The presentation ceremony for the awards will precede an address from celebrated after dinner speaker Robbie Glen – a former prison governor with an unusual insight into the criminal mind!

MIA guests and visitors

Guests of the MIA at the show and visitors expected at the stand include: Nick Fry of Honda Racing F1; Don Taylor, Technical Director of the NHRA; Greg Henderson of Lockheed Martin, President of the SAE; Lord Drayson, Defence Procurement Minister; David Bowes, CEO of Elan Champ Car; senior representatives of leading NASCAR teams Ganassi, Childress and Evernham.