NEC Birmingham
Custom exhibition stands for the NEC, built 20 minutes down the road
T2 Display design and build bespoke stands from our workshop in Tamworth, Staffordshire. Same-day site visits, in-house carpenters, electricians and fabricators, and an ESSA membership behind the paperwork. Building since 2001.
Why being local to the NEC matters
Our workshop is in Tamworth, Staffordshire, about 20 minutes from the NEC Birmingham. That is close enough to matter on the days it counts.
It means short transport runs, so your logistics cost stays sensible. It means we can get to the halls quickly during build-up if something needs adjusting. It means parts, panels and replacement graphics come from a real workshop with a permanent team in it, not from a subcontractor two counties away.
The NEC is our home venue. We also design and build regularly at the ICC and Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, Coventry Building Society Arena, ExCeL London, Olympia London and Harrogate, plus international shows. Wherever the show is, the stand is made by the same people.
What we build, and what we do not
T2 Display build custom stands only, for spaces from 20 square metres up to 100 square metres.
It helps to be clear about the three categories used in the UK, because they are often muddled:
- Modular is off-the-shelf systems: pole and panel, pop-ups, aluminium frames with infill panels. Pre-manufactured to standard sizes at a standard height of about 2.5m. It suits exhibitors doing five or more shows a year on a modest budget, and it can be self-built.
- Hybrid is a mixture of modular and custom build, usually system light boxes combined with purpose-built elements. It is much less common now.
- Custom build is designed and made from scratch for one brand and one space, with no system limits on height, shape or materials.
We do not sell modular or hybrid stands as a product line. We explored modular systems many times over the years and invested in the kit. Clients kept asking for the same things: more personalisation, greater height and shape, a more dynamic presence in the hall. So we build custom. Where a system component such as a light box is genuinely the right answer inside a custom stand, we use it.
Garland
“The quality of the stand was great, super graphics that worked well and were printed out in high quality.”
Lorna Garrett, Garland
The full service, start to finish
One team, one point of contact, from the first sketch to the empty floor after the show.
- Design and 3D visuals, free of charge for qualifying enquiries
- Fabrication and build in our own workshop by our permanent in-house carpenters, electricians and fabricators
- Graphics and print
- Electrics and lighting
- Transport and logistics
- Installation on site
- Breakdown and storage, quoted separately
We are an ESSA member, so the health, safety and documentation side is handled to the standards the industry expects.
What an NEC stand actually costs
We would rather give you honest ranges than a headline figure that changes later.
Fabrication and build is typically around half of any contract value. That runs from £4,000 at the small end, £8,000 to £20,000 mid-range, and up to £50,000 to £60,000 on large contracts.
The rest breaks down roughly like this:
- Graphics and print: £3,000 to £8,000 mid-range. A graphics-led build can run £12,000 to £18,000.
- Electrics and lighting: £1,200 to £5,000, up to £6,000 on larger builds.
- Transport and logistics: £600 to £2,000.
- Installation: £2,000 to £5,000 depending on contract size.
- Breakdown: £1,500 to £4,000. De-rigging takes nearly as much labour as build-up, which surprises people.
- Storage: quoted separately.
A typical mid-range custom build totals £16,000 to £44,000. Tell us your space size and budget and we will tell you honestly what it will buy.
Timings, design approval and CDM
This is the part exhibitors most often leave too late.
Design approval and the CDM declaration can take up to six weeks. Working back from that, you should ideally appoint your stand builder at least two months before the show.
Finished artwork is needed four weeks before the show. That gives print, production and fitting a proper run at it.
If your NEC space is already booked and the show is closer than that, still get in touch. We would rather talk it through and tell you what is realistic than let you find out in the hall.
Clients who keep coming back
More than 75% of our work comes from existing clients. In an industry where people change contractor after one bad build-up, that is the number we are most proud of.
We have designed and built Lely's key UK event stand at the NEC for six consecutive years. We built the BSA Guns stand in Hall 6 at The Great British Shooting Show, NEC Birmingham.
Other clients include Soudal, Pinarello, Dentally, Journeo, Software of Excellence and Horiba Mira.
We have been designing and building bespoke exhibition stands since 2001. The team is permanent and in-house, so the carpenter who makes your stand is the same one who made the last one.
How the process works
- Get in touch. Tell us the show, the hall, your stand size and shape, and roughly what you want to spend.
- Design. We put together a concept and 3D visuals. These are free of charge for qualifying enquiries, so you can see the stand before you commit.
- Quote. A clear, itemised figure covering build, graphics, electrics, transport, installation and breakdown.
- Approval and paperwork. We handle the venue submission and the CDM declaration.
- Build. Made in our Tamworth workshop by our own team.
- On site. We transport, install, and then de-rig after the show. Storage can be arranged so the stand is ready for the next one.
If your stand is between 20 and 100 square metres and you are exhibiting at the NEC, we would like to hear about it.
Your questions, answered.
How far are you from the NEC Birmingham?
How much does a custom stand at the NEC cost?
How early should I appoint a stand builder for an NEC show?
Do you supply modular or pop-up stands?
What stand sizes do you work with?
Do you handle the CDM paperwork and venue approvals?
Do you only work at the NEC?
Booked your space at the NEC? Let's talk about the stand.
Tell us the show, your stand size and your budget. We will come back with ideas, 3D visuals and a clear, itemised quote. Design and visuals are free of charge for qualifying enquiries.
Let's work together
Tell us about your show and your stand space. One project lead will work with you from the first sketch to the final dismantle, and we are always happy to sign an NDA.
In-house design & build since 2001 · ESSA member · 75% of clients come back