Defence Procurement, Research, Technology & Exportability (DPRTE) 2014 will take place at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff on 8 October. The Motorpoint Arena is a new venue for the event, which promises to provide a unique platform for both MOD and industry to connect and explore the key challenges, programmes and future opportunities that exist within the defence acquisition supply chain.
The Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, formerly known as Cardiff International Arena, is Cardiff’s largest purpose-built exhibition facility and is suitably sized to meet the scale of an event such as DPRTE 2014. The venue is located in the heart of the city and provides a focus for business and entertainment in Wales and further afield.
DPRTE 2014 will make full use of the 4500 square metres of highly versatile exhibition space available to create an event that the defence community cannot afford to miss. The showcase is certainly shaping up to be an event of impressive proportions. With 100 exhibitors, over 1000 delegates, five keynote speakers and 25 training sessions on offer, DPRTE 2014 is guaranteed to be both a vibrant and informative event.
The Motorpoint Arena is the perfect location for DPRTE 2014, not only for the generous and adaptable space it offers, but also for its central Cardiff location. It takes just an hour to travel to Cardiff from Bristol and only two and half hours from London. The venue is situated close to both of Cardiff’s rail stations and just a few minutes’ walk from Cardiff Central Bus Station, while Cardiff Airport is only 20 minutes from the city centre. The arena is accessible and provides DPRTE 2014 with options on how to use the space to support the opportunities for connecting and learning at the event to maximum effect.
The DPRTE 2014 floor plan has been released and reveals the variety of expertise available at the event and the opportunities for all involved to benefit.
The floor plan shows a large DPRTE Live Keynote Arena along with four Knowledge Transfer Zones flanking each side of the exhibition space, namely: Research & Technology, supported by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and TechUK; Export & Business Growth, supported by UKTI Defence and Security Organisation (UKTI DSO); Buyer Excellence, supported by the Procurement Advice and Support Service (PASS); and Procurement & Supply Chain, supported by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S).
At the centre of the exhibition space is the DE&S Procurement Pavilion with a sizable Social Media Café close by, as is the ever-popular Buyer Engagement Village. A new feature at DPRTE 2014 is the Academia Zone, which is situated near the Research & Technology Knowledge Transfer Zone and the Live Keynote Arena. DPRTE 2014 partners are spread out across the arena, ensuring access to expertise is never far away.
The Motorpoint Arena Cardiff will be an important asset allowing DPRTE 2014 to inform all personnel engaged in the defence procurement and supply chain community about the latest developments, initiatives and legislative changes taking place within today’s evolving marketplace. The new venue promises to offer the ideal setting for attendees to connect, learn and engage, enhancing DPRTE’s reputation as an unmissable opportunity for those serious about strengthening and succeeding in the UK defence supply chain.
