After a year of growth, strategic redirection, and the successful launch of the ConeX Cluster Initiative, we invite our members, partners, and friends from the UK manufacturing community to unwind, connect, and celebrate at our exclusive Christmas Social.
Join ourselves and the team behind The Manufacturer as we celebrate 2025 and look ahead to 2026.
This year, we’re bringing the festive spirit to Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, having exclusively booked Temper & Brown – known for its fantastic food, lively atmosphere, and unique style. We’re building on the success of last year’s event in Bristol, where 75 of our closest community gathered, and we anticipate an even bigger and better evening in our more central location.
Our headline sponsor:
We’re delighted to be supported by The Manufacturer, one of the UK’s leading voices in industrial innovation, insights, and best practice. As a long-standing champion of British industry, The Manufacturer plays a key role in connecting, informing, and celebrating the UK manufacturing community. We’re proud to have them partnering with us for this year’s ConeX Christmas Social.
What to Expect:
- Festive Fun: Immerse yourself in a lighthearted atmosphere with music, engaging games, and plenty of opportunities to relax and enjoy the end of the year.
- Delicious Food: Indulge in a delicious buffet, curated to provide a fantastic experience.
- Unparalleled Networking: Connect with 70-80 leading manufacturing professionals, innovators, and decision-makers. Forge new relationships, strengthen existing ones, and explore exciting opportunities for 2026.
- Community Spirit: Review the year’s achievements, share insights, and discuss the future of UK manufacturing in a relaxed, informal setting.
The ConeX Revolution:
This year has seen ConeX launch its ‘Cluster Initiative’, actively building bespoke, pre-vetted clusters of specialist SMEs for large organisations like Airbus. We’re bridging the gap between industry needs and innovative UK manufacturing capabilities, disrupting traditional procurement, and fostering unprecedented collaboration. This social is a chance to connect with the very people driving this change and the SMEs who are part of this exciting journey.
Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate with the heart of the UK manufacturing community and toast to a brilliant year past and an even brighter future!
Agenda (Approximate Timings):
Tuesday, 9th December 2025
5:00pm – 6:00pm
Meet The Manufacturer — Pre-Event Warm-Up
Join us for an exclusive pre-session with the editorial team behind The Manufacturer. This is a great opportunity to learn more about their work, connect directly with the team, and discover how you and your business can engage with them throughout 2026.
- 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Arrival & Festive Welcome
Doors open at Temper & Brown. Grab a welcome drink and find your connections.
- 6:30 PM – 6:35 PM: Welcome & Our Partners
A brief, informal welcome from Sam Baynham, Founder of ConeX.
- 6:35 PM – 6:50 PM: Looking Ahead: Opportunities for 2026 with The Manufacturer
A forward-looking discussion with The Manufacturer on the key opportunities, initiatives, and ways to get involved throughout 2026.
- 6:50 PM – 7:00 PM: Your local experts in Manufacturing. ZedAxis.
A quick introduction to ZedAxis, your local manufacturing experts, sharing how they support manufacturers across the region.
- 7:00 PM – 7:15 PM: The Crowe UK Annual report
An overview of the Crowe UK Annual Report, highlighting key trends, insights, and implications for the manufacturing sector.
- 7:15 PM – 7:30 PM: Looking Ahead: The ConeX Community in 2026
A quick look at the vision for ConeX and the UK manufacturing sector in the coming year, and a toast to future collaborations.
- 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM: Buffet, Music & Connections
Enjoy a delicious buffet spread, background music, and engage in relaxed networking. Explore our interactive games and activities.
- 8:30 PM – 10:30 PM onwards: Continued Networking & Social
Keep the conversations flowing, make those connections last, and enjoy the festive atmosphere as the evening continues.
Location Details:
Temper & Brown
Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham
Temper & Brown is conveniently located in Birmingham’s iconic Jewellery Quarter, easily accessible by public transport and with nearby parking options.
Your evening:
- Exclusive access to Temper & Brown for the evening.
- A delicious and generous buffet spread.
- Background music and engaging social games.
- Complimentary welcome drink, with a generous offering to keep the festivities flowing.
- Unparalleled networking opportunities with the ConeX community.
Tickets:
[Free for ConeX Core Members, a small fee for your Guests]
Registration is essential as places are limited.
Important Information:
- Dietary Requirements: Please inform us of any dietary restrictions or allergies during registration.
- Minimum Age: Attendees must be 18+ due to the nature of the event.
- Questions? Please contact Sam or Heather for any enquiries.
