Your complete guide to exhibiting at BIBA Conference 2027
12–13 May 2027, Manchester Central
BIBA Conference returns to Manchester Central on 12–13 May 2027, bringing together over 10,000 insurance professionals from across the UK broking market.
Over two packed days, the show will host 224 exhibitors and 80+ speakers, drawing brokers, underwriters, and decision-makers from every corner of the industry. It’s a prime opportunity to get your brand in front of the people who matter.
We’re an exhibition stand contractor with four years of experience at BIBA Conference, working with insurance brands across the show floor. That experience means we know what it takes to stand out in Manchester Central. We’re sharing our top tips in our guide to BIBA. Read on to find out all you need to know.
Need a price for your BIBA Conference 2027 stand?
BIBA Conference is the largest insurance broking event in the world, and 2027 is set to deliver even more buzz, buyers, and opportunities for ambitious brands. Manchester Central will transform into a hub packed with products, services, and the trends driving the future of insurance.
Brokers, insurers and reinsurers attending will be looking to discover fresh suppliers and the latest industry innovations. Expect representatives and executives from major global and national insurers and reinsurers, alongside brokers arranging cover for their own clients. 96% rated the 2026 conference as good or excellent overall, and 81% of delegates are decision-makers or heavily influence purchasing decisions, so expect serious people with real buying power.
88% of delegates got business done at the 2026 show, and every single exhibitor who took part said they’d recommend exhibiting at BIBA Conference again.
Everything you need to know about exhibiting at Manchester Central
We’ve built and dismantled exhibition stands for dozens of businesses that have exhibited at Manchester Central, and it’s one of our favourite locations.
Generally, it’s a very cost-effective venue as amenities are much cheaper. This means you’ll be able to do a lot more with your budget than in London. Things that might be out of budget for expensive shows in the South may well be achievable here.
Manchester Central is a real gem. Originally a station, it still showcases its iconic station clock and stunning vaulted arches, which have been a much-loved part of Manchester’s skyline for over 140 years.
But just because it’s a historic building doesn’t mean it’s lacking as a modern exhibition venue. The interior is contemporary, vibrant, and clean, with all the amenities you could need.
Being right in the heart of the city means easy access to transport, hotels, and entertainment, with everything you could need just minutes away.
Pros of exhibiting at Manchester Central:
- Flexible space to play with, both in width and height
- Great transport links
- Loads of really reasonable hotels a short stroll away
- On-site concierge team for restaurant reservations, local tours, and flight confirmations
- On-site logistics support covering catering, rigging, AV, and maintenance
- Recently upgraded Wi-Fi and internet
- Plenty of on-site food and drink options
- Management team committed to sustainability in exhibitions and events
Cons of exhibiting at Manchester Central:
- Food and drink on-site can be pricey, though there are good alternatives nearby
- Smaller than some venues in London or Birmingham, so book early
- Loading bays for stand builders are tight and highly sought-after
- The closest car park is an NCP under the venue, which can be costly, and the reviews are not all positive
- Access by car isn’t the easiest, with a lot of one-way streets nearby
Before you commit to exhibiting, start by getting clear on your goals. Are you looking to boost brand awareness, generate quality leads, or connect with brokers ready to place business? A focused plan will help you get the best return from your stand investment.
Next, set a realistic budget. You need funds for both the stand space and the stand itself, plus extras like screens, seating, and graphics. BIBA Conference offers a limited number of forecourt spaces too, so it’s worth deciding early whether extra visibility outside the hall is part of your plan. A great stand doesn’t have to be huge or expensive, but clever planning to meet your objectives and stay within budget matters just as much.
Live demos and interactive features can pull a crowd but they take planning. Confirm your power and AV needs with the organiser early, and factor setup time into your schedule.
Once your goals are set, decide how you’ll measure success against your own metrics. For B2B shows like BIBA Conference, that’s often post-show meetings booked, key decision-makers engaged, or qualified leads rather than footfall alone. Read our guide to measuring exhibition ROI for more.
For design inspiration ahead of the show, take a look at our top tips for exhibiting at BIBA’27.
Finally, you need to put together an exhibition brief. A clear, detailed brief keeps your whole project on track, whether you’re working with us or going it alone.
Get BIBA Conference 2027 off to the best possible start by writing a perfect stand brief.
Exhibition stand brief: what to include? David Hennessy, Motive Exhibitions, shares his advice.
Sometimes it’s more worthwhile buying a smaller space and spending more on the stand, because the stand is going to do the hard work for you. If you spend around 60% of your budget on the space and 40% on the stand, it gives you far more options than spending 90% on the space and only 10% on the stand.”
Edward Marshall, Creative Director, Motive Exhibitions
Renovation Underwriting, Bravo Networks and Geo Underwriting, and Granite Underwriting have all trusted us to design and build their BIBA Conference stands.
Whether you need a product demo area or space to meet and network with visitors, we’ll make sure your brand looks its best and stays that way throughout the show. Every space we create is designed to reflect your business, attract the right people, and leave a lasting impression.
We’re a Made in Britain member, and every custom element is designed, manufactured and finished in-house by our own team, so you’re working with people who take responsibility for what goes on the floor.
Clients tell us we understand the brief quickly, then add ideas they hadn’t considered themselves. Rather than handing over a spec and waiting for it to come back finished, we work with you to build the brief out together, often making changes on the spot, which speeds up the process and keeps you involved in the creative process. We take the same approach through to the build itself: we build your stand in full before the show, exactly as it will appear on the day, so you see it with no surprises before it ever reaches the venue. It’s not something every stand builder offers, but it takes the worry away on a big day.
We’ll also help you think about who’s on the stand, not just what it looks like. As David Hennessy, Motive Exhibitions managing director, puts it: “Your exhibition stand staff need to be of an equal seniority and knowledge level to the people you’re engaging with.” With senior insurers, reinsurers, and brokers making up a large part of the BIBA Conference audience, it’s worth getting that right. Read our full guide to choosing the right exhibition stand staff.
We’ll work with you to create something clear and confident, a space that gets brokers talking and coming back.
Make your BIBA Conference 2027 goals a reality with a Motive Exhibitions stand.
Exhibition stand types we can build at BIBA Conference 2027
If you’re planning on exhibiting, here are our recommendations for stand types to consider ahead of the BIBA Conference.
A bespoke option offers that all-important creative flexibility at an event like BIBA where you need space to meet clients, present products or services, and hold conversations that need privacy. It’s also the more cost-effective choice if you exhibit more than three times a year, since you own the stand outright rather than renting one each time.
Made up of reconfigurable components, so the same stand can be rebuilt and adapted for different spaces and future shows. A good fit if your equipment or stand sizes change from one event to the next, or if you don’t have the storage space for a stand you’d otherwise keep between shows. They’re also lightweight to transport, which means lower carbon emissions and lower shipping costs.
The most cost-effective option. Your booked space comes with a basic shell, walls, flooring, lighting and power as standard, and we design and build a stand within it that reflects your brand. A sensible starting point if this is your first time exhibiting, exhibit on a smaller scale, or if you’re working to a tighter budget.
Exhibition stand rental
Rent a whole modular exhibition stand or just the elements you need, furniture, screens, lighting, flooring, without the overheads of owning it outright. A sensible option if you don’t exhibit often, are working to a tighter budget, or don’t have anywhere to store a stand between shows.
Can’t decide which stand to opt for?
At Motive, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Having access to a multi-skilled in-house team was so important for us. They made sure that all the moving parts came together perfectly.”
Keystone Marketing, agency for Renovation Underwriting.
Read the case study
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FAQs
Do I need to handle the exhibition stand paperwork and logistics myself?
No. We handle health and safety, RAMs, planning, stand manufacture, installation, dismantle, storage and logistics, so you can focus on the show itself rather than the admin behind it.
Is it worth exhibiting at BIBA Conference?
Based on BIBA’s own 2026 Facts & Figures, yes, the numbers speak for themselves. 2026 was a record-breaking year, attracting 11,000+ attendees, 81% of whom were decision-makers.
What size exhibition stands are available at BIBA Conference?
BIBA offers Shell Scheme stands from 3m x 2m, plus Space Only and Island stand space for larger footprints. We can design and build for any of these stand space sizes.
How do I book an exhibition stand at BIBA Conference 2027?
Space at the show itself is booked directly through BIBA. We can design, build and install your stand once you’ve secured your space, so you don’t have to manage the build and the venue logistics yourself.
When is BIBA Conference 2027, and where?
BIBA Conference 2027 takes place on 12–13 May 2027 at Manchester Central.
Can I have a fully working demo area or meeting space on my stand at BIBA Conference?
When we ask you what you want to achieve from your exhibition stand, we’ll make sure it’s ready to deliver, whether that’s dedicated meeting space, space to host speakers, or space to run demos using hired AV from Motive Exhibitions.
Can you reuse or adapt our existing exhibition stand for next year's show?
Yes. Many of our clients reuse elements of a previous stand rather than starting from scratch, which keeps costs down and speeds up the build.
Motive Exhibitions, 3 Orion Court, Ambuscade Road, Colmworth Business Park, Eaton Socon, St. Neots, PE19 8YX
