AEMT marks 80 years with revamped conference focusing on technical and business growth
The Association of Electrical and Mechanical Trades (AEMT) is marking its 80th anniversary with a reinvigorated approach to its annual conference, scheduled to take place on 18 September 2024 at the British Motor Museum. This milestone event comes with a fresh date, a new venue, and a redesigned format, reflecting the organisation’s commitment to serving the evolving needs of its members in the electromechanical engineering sector.
Historically combined with other events, the 2025 conference will operate as a standalone event for the first time, signalling a strategic shift focused on delivering maximum value to attendees. Based on member feedback, the AEMT has developed a comprehensive and expanded exhibition floor, alongside a refreshed programme aimed at fostering connections between end-users, rewinders, repair specialists, and industry leaders. The event is poised to provide a platform for insightful thought leadership, technical presentations, and networking opportunities during a day dedicated to the sector's latest innovations and challenges.
A significant development in the conference’s structure is the division of the main programme into two distinct themes. The technical strand will continue to address sector-specific advancements in electromechanical repair, keeping pace with innovations and addressing practical challenges faced by specialists. Complementing this, the conference will now dedicate a parallel focus to critical business issues relevant to many organisations within the sector, such as business culture, staff retention, and succession planning.
Scott Haslam, Head of Membership at the AEMT, emphasised the importance of this dual focus in a conversation with Electrical Engineering Magazine: “The AEMT conference has always brought together excellent technical content, but I’m talking to our members daily, and one thing that has become clear is that our members are running businesses, and they are facing the challenges that a lot of businesses face today. So, we wanted to ensure that while we continue to deliver the technical content, we also focus on some of the other challenges they’re facing.”
Aligning with this holistic approach, the conference bears the theme ‘Engineering a Sustainable Future’. Haslam further explained, “Sustainability is at the heart of what our members do; the repair sector is very much part of the circular economy. But we also want to ensure our member’s businesses have a sustainable future.”
Among the highlights of the morning session will be a keynote address from Billy Billingham, a former SAS member, who will share insights on effective teamwork. Additional sessions devoted to the business theme will explore essential topics such as developing a positive business culture, enhancing staff retention, and effective succession planning—areas critical to maintaining organisational resilience and growth.
In recognition of the importance of cultivating new talent, the conference programme also includes tailored content specifically for apprentices. Organisations attending the event are encouraged to bring apprentices free of charge, providing an invaluable opportunity for emerging professionals to deepen their sector knowledge and support their development within their roles.
The event has garnered robust support from several leading industry sponsors, including Sulzer, a specialist in fluid engineering; EMiR, a developer of business management software; Hidrostal, known for pumping systems and services; and Innomotics, a supplier of motors and large-drive systems. Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities remain available, with Scott Haslam inviting interested parties to connect via [email protected].
The revitalised AEMT conference serves not only as a key anniversary celebration alongside the upcoming AEMT Awards in November but also as a significant opportunity for professionals across the electrical and mechanical engineering fields to engage with industry developments and strategically position their organisations for the future.