The Engineering Design Show (Coventry, 19-20 October) is launching The Springboard, which aims to encourage engineering start-ups and entrepreneurs. Supported by British luxury automotive supercar maker McLaren Automotive, The Springboard will give early-stage companies a platform to share their innovations with thousands of engineering professionals with the power to influence and guide them to future success.
The Engineering Design Show (EDS) is the UK’s only event entirely dedicated to engineering, electronics and embedded design. It is also the only design engineering event powered by Eureka, New Electronics and, new for 2021, The Engineer publications. The show provides the ideal environment for design engineers to benefit from direct access to the latest products, services and innovations in the sector.
Under this new initiative, up to eight businesses will be given a free stand in the Springboard area and entered into the inaugural Springboard Awards. To qualify, businesses must be under three years old with a product or service that relates to engineering.
The Springboard Awards will take place at The Engineering Design Show when each exhibitor will be asked to present their innovation on stage to a panel of expert judges, including McLaren Automotive Chief Executive Officer Mike Flewitt. The winner will receive a free stand on the main floor at The Engineering Design Show the following year, as well as PR and marketing support, together worth £10,000.
Chair of the judging panel - and Editor of The Engineer - Jon Excell said, “We are delighted to announce the inaugural Springboard event and awards supported by McLaren Automotive. We are sure it will unveil some inspiring and innovative UK engineers whose inventions across a range of sectors could profoundly change the way we live and work. We are very much looking forward to seeing and judging the entries which we are sure will be very exciting.”
Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer at McLaren Automotive said: “As a company that likes to push the boundaries of innovation ourselves, we are proud to be supporting this initiative which will provide start-ups across the sector with a valuable platform for sharing their ideas and earning much-needed recognition and brand awareness among thousands of engineering professionals.”
For visitors attending The Engineering Design Show, the Springboard is an opportunity to view leading-edge innovation which can drive up productivity and boost competitiveness. Visitor registration is open now at and https://www.engineeringdesignshows.co.uk.
Engineering Design Show event director Gordon Kirk said: “Start-ups and early-stage businesses have faced a number of very difficult hurdles over the past eighteen months. We hope that providing them with a means to showcase their innovations to a wide audience will allow engineering professionals and others to see for themselves how they will contribute to the future of the industry and the UK economy.“
The show is being held at Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry on 19 - 20 October and EDS headline sponsors are Wurth Elektronik and Solid State Supplies.
Applicants should complete the Application Form and send it to martha.townrow@markallengroup.com. Anyone entering the awards should be available to exhibit at the show on 19-20 October 2021.
Deadline to enter 31 August 2021
