FAQs

Show dates:

27-29th March 2012, Halls 3 & 3A, NEC, Birmingham

Unfortunately we do not provide letters of invitation under any circumstances.  Please contact your local embassy for advice.

Visitor registration for the 2012 show is now live.  Registration is easy and only takes a minute; simply fill out your details on the form and click submit.  Register now for Sign & Digital UK 2012!

Press registration for the 2012 show is not yet open but you can register your interest now and we will email you when registration is live.

Children under the age of 16 years (including babies in buggies or pushchairs) are not permitted to enter the show.  This is due to the large amount of potentially dangerous machinery on display and the risk of toxic vapours being emitted from printers, which could pose a hazard to particularly young children.

There is no need to pre-register for any of the Adobe seminars or the Signmakers' Workshop sessions.  They are all completely free - just make sure you turn up early to get your seat!

Travel

By Car 
The NEC is situated 8 miles East of Birmingham city centre; its central location ensures it is at the hub of the UK motorway network. Visitors from any direction can travel to The NEC site directly using the following motorways - M1, M5, M6, M6 Toll, M40 and M42.The NEC is signposted on motorways and major roads and is marked on most good maps. If you are travelling by car, we recommend that you allow plenty of time for your journey.

Using Sat Nav
If you are using a satellite navigation system please enter the postcode B40 INT to pinpoint us. Please be aware that the Sat Nav system will not direct you into an onsite car park. Please follow the clearly signposted directions once in the vicinity of the venue.

Car Parking
The NEC has numerous car parks that are more broadly categorised into North, East, South and West. All in all there are over 20,000 onsite parking spaces! The NEC has designated car park spaces for visitors with disabilities.  The cost of parking in an onsite car parking space is £8.

By Train
The NEC is situated adjacent to Birmingham International Rail Station; if you are coming to a show at The NEC you can reach any of our halls without stepping outside! Depending on your origin station you can travel directly by train to The NEC by alighting at Birmingham International. If your point of origin does not provide a service directly to Birmingham International you will need to travel to Birmingham New Street first and get a connecting train from there. Once you have arrived at Birmingham International Rail Station take the stairs or lift from any platform up to the station interchange. The entrance to The NEC is situated on the right hand side as you exit the station and is clearly signposted. Continue to walk along the covered walkway called the bridgelink where you can then follow signs to reach your exact destination. For further information on travelling by train to Birmingham International Station, please contact National Rail enquiries: Tel: 08457 484950 / National Rail website.

By Plane
Birmingham International Airport (BHX) is our neighbour, which is extremely convenient for our foreign visitors and those on internal flights; once you''ve grabbed your luggage it will take just minutes to get to The NEC from the airport. This is the quickest way to reach The NEC. If you are on foot follow the signs to the Air-Rail Link which leaves the airport from the first floor of Terminal 1. Once you have stepped off the Air-Rail at Birmingham International Station continue straight ahead through the concourse onto The NEC bridgelink. Taxi ranks are situated outside of the passenger terminals. Black cabs are the safest way to travel and each vehicle carries 5 people with luggage.

Air-Rail Link
The Air-Rail Link is a free, speedy and convenient way to travel between the Airport Passenger Terminals and Birmingham International Station and The NEC. Using a cable drawn system the Air-Rail Link has two trains each with a maximum capacity of 24 passengers. The Air-Rail Link leaves the airport from the upper level of Terminal 1. It connects the Airport Passenger terminals to Birmingham International Station. The NEC is connected to the rail station via a covered bridgelink. The Air-Rail Link operates every two minutes and has a one-way travel time of 90 seconds. The Air-Rail Link operates daily between 0515 and 0200 / Birmingham International Airport (BHX) Website.

By Bus
The NEC can be reached by a number of local bus services. If you are travelling to The NEC from Birmingham city centre there are two route options. The 900 service leaves from Moor Street Interchange and has a daytime frequency of 20 minutes. The 900 will drop you at Birmingham International Station with a journey time of approximately 31 minutes. The 38 service leaves from Moor Street Interchange hourly, it has a journey time of approximately one hour. The 38 will drop you off at Birmingham International Station. Local bus information can be found at the following websites: www.networkwestmidlands.co.uk / www.travelwm.co.uk.

By Coach
The National Express coach station is located in Digbeth in Birmingham city centre. Check the National Express Website for information on coaches. The NEC is approximately a 10 mile journey by taxi from Digbeth coach station. Black cabs are the safest way to travel and each vehicle carries 5 people with luggage.

View the NEC site map

Sign & Digital UK ensures its dedication to the industry and its expectations, by committing itself to the ABC audit and completing the event audit for each show.  ABC Audit provides detailed attendance data across a broad range of media platforms, including Exhibitions. ABC data is prepared to independent, industry-agreed standards, allowing for comparable and reliable visitor data, and facilitating efficient trading.

All levels of the NEC are accessible to wheelchair users, via lifts.  The Piazza and Atrium main entrances have automatic doors.

Parking

Parking is free of charge for vehicles displaying blue badges.  This service cannot be pre-booked and is available on a first come first served basis.

For more information on access and parking, toilets, hearing assistance, medical facilities and mobility equipment hire, please visits the NEC's website.

If you would like to contact the organisers, please visit our Contact Us page.

If you require help locating accommodation for the course of Sign & Digital UK 2012, please contact our FREE venue sourcing company, The Hotel and Conference Company on +44 (0)1767 262 546  or at enquiries@hotelconferencecompany.com.

Venue
The NEC
Birmingham
B40 1NT
http://www.thenec.co.uk

Plan your evening
Want to make the most of your stay in Birmingham? Find out about the best places to eat, the nightlife, culture and shopping in Birmingham by clicking here.