Join us for The College Marketing Network's Conference on February 1, 2027, at The Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, focusing on innovative marketing strategies for further education.
Dates
1 Feb 2027
City / country
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Venue
The Eastside Rooms
Event overview
The College Marketing Network's Conference is designed for marketing professionals in further education, providing practical insights and networking opportunities. Attendees can participate in 20 sessions covering topics from digital performance to brand engagement.
The event promises to inspire and equip delegates with actionable strategies to enhance their marketing efforts. The College Marketing Network's Conference takes place in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
TL;DR
Attending this conference offers valuable insights into the latest marketing strategies tailored for further education. Network with industry leaders, participate in engaging sessions, and gain practical knowledge to implement in your institution. The event is a unique opportunity to connect with peers and share best practices.
Exhibiting at the conference provides direct access to decision-makers in the further education sector. Showcase your innovative solutions, engage with potential clients, and enhance your brand visibility among key players in the industry. This is an excellent opportunity to build relationships and drive business growth.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Location & Facilities
Birmingham, United Kingdom
The Eastside Rooms in Birmingham typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Food options
On-site catering
On-site diningParking: The Eastside Rooms in Birmingham typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Gate: Follow organiser signage to the main visitor entrance at The Eastside Rooms for badge collection; allow extra time for security screening during peak morning arrival.
Attend
General admission
Member Early Discount Rate
General admission
Member Standard Rate
General admission
Non-member Rate
Who runs the show
The College Marketing Network
How the last edition performed
Last edition
2026
Next edition
Not announced yet
Edition recap
Photos
Impact
The College Marketing Network's 2026 conference is represented by the official CMN Conference 2026 page, a LinkedIn 'CMN Conference 2026: Highlights' post, a Flickr photo album and YouTube highlight videos. Search results also include LinkedIn posts tagged #CMNConference2026 and #FEMarketing. No visitor or exhibitor counts were stated in the available snippets.
Audience quality
The College Marketing Network's 2026 conference is represented by the official CMN Conference 2026 page, a LinkedIn 'CMN Conference 2026: Highlights' post, a Flickr photo album and YouTube highlight videos. Search results also include LinkedIn posts tagged #CMNConference2026 and #FEMarketing. No visitor or exhibitor counts were stated in the available snippets.
Exhibitor outcomes
The College Marketing Network's 2026 conference is represented by the official CMN Conference 2026 page, a LinkedIn 'CMN Conference 2026: Highlights' post, a Flickr photo album and YouTube highlight videos. Search results also include LinkedIn posts tagged #CMNConference2026 and #FEMarketing. No visitor or exhibitor counts were stated in the available snippets.
Intelligence
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Why it matters
Attending The College Marketing Network's Conference on 2027-02-01 to 2027-02-01 in Birmingham lets buyers and specifiers benchmark suppliers, see live demonstrations, and compress months of vendor meetings into one focused trade visit — worthwhile when your category roadmap aligns with the official exhibitor profile.
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Digital buyer journeys
What digital buyer journeys means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Sustainability in procurement
What sustainability in procurement means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Automation and labour efficiency
What automation and labour efficiency means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Regional supply-chain resilience
What regional supply-chain resilience means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Hybrid engagement models
What hybrid engagement models means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Latest updates from across the market.
Colleges Celebrate Marketing Achievements at National Awards - FE News
ReadHome - The College Marketing Network
ReadColleges Celebrate Marketing Achievements at National Awards
ReadPDF The Latest Trends in Further Education Marketing and Student Recruitment
ReadCelebrating the success of marketing in Further Education
ReadMarketing Team awarded for Innovation and Creativity
ReadPlan your trip
Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.
Birmingham Airport
Closest major gateway. The free Air-Rail Link connects the terminal to Birmingham International station, with trains to Birmingham New Street taking roughly 10 to 15 minutes; The Eastside Rooms is then a 10 to 12 minute walk or a short taxi ride. Allow extra time during weekday morning peaks
approx. 8 miles (13 km)
to venue
25-35 min by road
by car
East Midlands Airport
Useful for Midlands addresses and low-cost European routes, via the A42 and M42. Allow 60 to 75 minutes in weekday rush hour, and note that rail connections from the airport are limited compared with Birmingham
approx. 40 miles (64 km)
to venue
45-60 min by road
by car
London Heathrow Airport
Widest choice of long-haul flights. The rail alternative is usually better than driving: Heathrow Express or the Elizabeth line to London Paddington, then onward to Birmingham New Street or Moor Street, for a total rail journey of roughly 2h15 to 2h45
approx. 105 miles (170 km)
to venue
2h-2h30 by road
by car
London Luton Airport
A low-cost carrier gateway with a long road transfer via the M1 and M6. By rail, take the shuttle to Luton Airport Parkway and continue via London St Pancras to Birmingham
approx. 85 miles (137 km)
to venue
1h40-2h by road
by car
Coventry Airport
Regional airport serving the event metro - confirm routes with Maps
to venue
by car
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
Aloft by Marriott Birmingham Eastside
Listed approximately 40 yards from The Eastside Rooms on Google Travel results; breakfast, Wi-Fi, fitness centre, parking, bar and restaurant amenities listed. The obvious choice if you want to avoid walking between hotels and sessions in February rain.
Holiday Inn Express Birmingham - City Centre by IHG
3-star property with a guest rating of 4.3 in Google Travel results near The Eastside Rooms. Standard rooms are compact, but the walk to the venue is short and mostly through the city core.
Holiday Inn Birmingham City Centre by IHG
4-star, guest rating 4.5 in Google Travel results near The Eastside Rooms. A step up in room size and public areas compared with the Express property, at a similar walking distance.
Crowne Plaza Birmingham City Centre, an IHG Hotel
4-star, guest rating 4.2 in Google Travel results near The Eastside Rooms. Commonly chosen by delegates who want a club room and a gym close to New Street as well as the venue.
Four Points Flex by Sheraton Birmingham Jewellery Quarter
3-star, guest rating 4.1 in Google Travel results near The Eastside Rooms. Sits in the historic Jewellery Quarter with restaurants nearby, but you will want the Metro or a short ride-hail trip in wet weather.
ibis budget Birmingham Centre
2-star property listed in Google Travel results for stays near The Eastside Rooms. Basic rooms chosen mainly on price; useful for delegates who only need a bed between session days.
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
train
Reached from the airport terminal via the free Air-Rail Link. Journey time is roughly 10 to 15 minutes. From New Street it is a 10 to 12 minute walk to The Eastside Rooms, or one stop on a local service to Moor Street.
taxi
The direct option when carrying stand materials or arriving late. Rank taxis are available outside the terminal; ride-hail pick-up points are signposted separately.
taxi
Only worth it if your flight lands late at night or you are carrying freight. In daytime the coach and rail combination via Birmingham is usually cheaper.
bus
Several city-centre routes pass within a few minutes of Woodcock Street. Contactless tap-on payment is standard, and a day ticket pays off if you are moving between hotels, the venue and evening events.
metro
The Bull Street stop is around 5 minutes on foot from The Eastside Rooms, making the tram a useful link from the Jewellery Quarter and the western side of the city centre.
ride-hail
Uber and Bolt both operate in Birmingham. Woodcock Street gets busy at conference start and close times, so set your pin on a side street if the app shows heavy congestion.
walk
Moor Street is a 5 to 8 minute walk and New Street 10 to 12 minutes, mostly on paved and lit city-centre streets. Allow longer in rain and keep an umbrella in February.
taxi
2h-2h30 by road; Widest choice of long-haul flights. The rail alternative is usually better than driving: Heathrow Express or the Elizabeth line to London Paddington, then onward to Birmingham New Street or Moor Street, for a total rail journey of roughly 2h15 to 2h45.
Plan your trip
Check the latest visa requirements and entry guidelines before travelling.
Weather
Birmingham in February sits in a cool, damp maritime pattern. Expect mostly overcast days with highs near 7 to 9°C and overnight lows of 1 to 3°C, rain or drizzle on roughly a third of the month, and a noticeable breeze around The Eastside Rooms' glass frontage and the open Eastside streets. Snow is possible but rarely settles in the city centre. Sunset falls around 17:15 to 17:45, so plan the evening walk between the venue and your hotel with dark, possibly wet pavements in mind.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Birmingham city centre has strong 4G and 5G coverage on EE, O2, Vodafone and Three, and pay-as-you-go SIMs or eSIMs can be bought at Birmingham Airport and in city-centre shops. UK sockets are Type G at 230V, so most international visitors need an adapter. Venue Wi-Fi availability, network names and any delegate password should be confirmed with the M Network team on arrival; for live demos or streamed sessions, tether to your phone rather than relying on shared conference Wi-Fi.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Business dress
Smart casual is the norm at UK professional conferences: shirts, knitwear and chinos or smart trousers cover most sessions, with a jacket for panel appearances and client meetings. February weather means a coat that works over a suit.
Greetings and punctuality
A handshake and first name are standard in British business settings, including when meeting senior people. Sessions start on time and rooms fill quickly, so arriving five minutes early matters more than a formal introduction.
Payments and tipping
Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere in Birmingham, including on buses and trams. Tipping is not expected at counters; in restaurants a 10 to 12.5 percent service charge is often already on the bill, so check before adding more.
Lunch and coffee culture
Delegates typically eat lunch between 12:30 and 14:00, and city-centre coffee shops near New Street and Bull Street get busy at those times. Booking a table for a group is normal in Birmingham, especially on weekday lunchtimes.
Getting around politely
Stand on the right on escalators, queue for taxis and buses, and keep phone calls short in quiet carriages. The Eastside streets around the venue are busy with construction traffic from the Curzon Street works, so use marked crossings.
Practical guides
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Destination: BHX
Book into Birmingham (BHX) if your itinerary allows: it is the only gateway with a 10 to 15 minute rail link into the city centre, and New Street is then a 10 to 12 minute walk from The Eastside Rooms. For long-haul routes BHX has fewer direct options, so many delegates fly into Heathrow and continue by train, at roughly 2h15 to 2h45 door to door. February can bring weather delays and school half-term demand in England, so favour earlier arrivals, check whether your fare includes a checked bag, and avoid tight same-day connections if you are speaking or exhibiting.
Check whether you need a UK visa, electronic travel authorisation (ETA) or eVisa on GOV.UK before booking. The Standard Visitor route covers business visits of up to 6 months, including attending conferences and trade fairs in Birmingham.
Processing: Varies by nationality; apply several weeks before travel.
Confirm your nationality's requirement on GOV.UK's check if you need a UK visa tool. Bring a conference invitation or registration confirmation as supporting evidence for business travel under the Standard Visitor route.
OfficialGet to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Primary gateways: Birmingham Airport (BHX): 25-35 min by road; East Midlands Airport (EMA): 45-60 min by road; London Heathrow Airport (LHR): 2h-2h30 by road; London Luton Airport (LTN): 1h40-2h by road. Allow road or rail time to The Eastside Rooms; on-site parking is usually available at major exhibition venues.
Hotel → venue: Precinct hotels near The Eastside Rooms: Eastside, adjacent to The Eastside Rooms: Aloft by Marriott Birmingham Eastside; Birmingham city centre: Holiday Inn Express Birmingham - City Centre by IHG; Birmingham city centre: Holiday Inn Birmingham City Centre by IHG.
Ride-hail: Uber and Bolt both operate across Birmingham city centre. A ride between New Street station and The Eastside Rooms typically costs about GBP 6 to 10 outside surge pricing, and a trip from Birmingham Airport runs around GBP 28 to 45. Woodcock Street and the surrounding Eastside roads get congested at conference start and close times, so set your pick-up pin on a side street and allow a few extra minutes.
Public transit: The Eastside Rooms sits about 5 minutes on foot from the West Midlands Metro Bull Street stop and 5 to 8 minutes from Birmingham Moor Street rail station; Birmingham New Street, the main intercity hub, is a 10 to 12 minute walk. Local buses run along Corporation Street and Dale End, and contactless tap-on payment is widely accepted on buses and trams, with day tickets usually cheaper than several singles. Check Transport for West Midlands and National Rail for live routes and engineering works before you travel.
Parking: The Eastside Rooms has a limited number of on-site spaces, so pre-book with the venue if you intend to drive. Otherwise use the commercial multi-storey car parks serving the Eastside and Masshouse area, roughly GBP 8 to 20 for a full day depending on hours. Birmingham's Clean Air Zone covers the city-centre streets around the venue and charges non-compliant vehicles, so check your vehicle before arriving by car.
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: February 2027
Temperature: Approx. 2-9°C (36-48°F): daytime highs typically 7-9°C, overnight lows 1-3°C, with wind chill making the Eastside streets feel colder. Confirm the 10-day forecast before packing.
Seasonality: February is one of the cloudier, wetter months in Birmingham, with rain or drizzle on roughly a third of days and short daylight hours, sunset around 17:15 to 17:45. Snow is possible but seldom settles in the city centre, and bright cold spells alternate with mild, damp ones.
Packing: Pack layers rather than one heavy coat: a waterproof outer shell, a warm mid-layer, a compact umbrella and shoes with grip for wet pavements. Bring a UK Type G plug adapter, a power bank for long days at The Eastside Rooms, and a small bag that keeps a laptop dry on the 10 to 15 minute walk from the city-centre hotels.
Plan your trip
Best day to visit: Day 2 (mid-show)
Mid-show days at The College Marketing Network's Conference usually combine full exhibitor attendance with scheduled B2B meetings, before early pack-down on the final day.
14 days out: confirm your registration tier (Member Early Discount GBP 225, Member Standard GBP 265 or Non-member GBP 445) and that your payment has cleared, so your badge is ready at The Eastside Rooms.
13 days out: re-check m-network.org/schedule for the final session running order and note which sessions clash with your travel windows.
12 days out: book rail tickets to Birmingham New Street or Moor Street if you are travelling within the UK, using advance fares where available.
11 days out: if flying, compare Birmingham (BHX) against Heathrow or Manchester, factoring in the 10 to 15 minute rail link from Birmingham International into the city centre.
10 days out: reserve a hotel within walking distance of The Eastside Rooms, prioritising Aloft Birmingham Eastside or one of the city-centre IHG properties if the Aloft is full.
9 days out: check your passport validity and, for visa-exempt travellers, that your UK Electronic Travel Authorisation is approved before booking non-refundable flights.
8 days out: print or download the GOV.UK business visitor guidance and your registration confirmation to show at the UK border if asked.
7 days out: sort your onward journey from the airport, choosing the train from Birmingham International over a taxi if you are arriving in peak hours.
6 days out: check whether your hotel booking includes breakfast, since the venue's catering is focused on the conference day rather than early arrivals.
5 days out: pack a waterproof coat, comfortable shoes for wet pavements and a UK Type G adapter; February in Birmingham is cool and often damp.
4 days out: pre-book parking at or near The Eastside Rooms if you are driving, and verify your vehicle's Clean Air Zone compliance.
3 days out: download the Metro and National Rail apps, save your hotel and venue addresses offline, and confirm check-in times.
2 days out: look at the 10-day forecast for Birmingham and adjust layers accordingly; snow is possible but rarely settles in the city centre.
1 day out: charge devices and power banks, screenshot your ticket confirmation, and plan to arrive 30 to 45 minutes before the first session for badge collection and venue orientation.
Registration and hall orientation at The Eastside Rooms
Supplier meetings and product demos
Final negotiations and follow-up
The College Marketing Network's Conference registration concourse
The Eastside Rooms
Central meeting point before and between hall appointments during show days.
Organiser B2B lounge (if offered)
The Eastside Rooms
Hosted matchmaking and buyer programmes when published by the organiser.
Budget
Adjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Official cost items and estimated ranges for exhibitors.
visitor_ticket
visitor · General admission
GBP 225 / per person
| Item | For | Tier | Estimated range | Status | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| visitor_ticket | visitor | General admission | GBP 225 / per person | organiser_published |
Decision
Use this quick check to decide whether The College Marketing Network's Conference fits your visit, exhibit or skip plan.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
What is your primary role?
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
Your category focus aligns with the official product themes.
Best for
Buyers, researchers, and delegates evaluating the programme and networking value.
Min. budget
$400.00
Timeline
4-8 weeks before opening day for registration and travel.
Risks
Limited session times published - confirm agenda before booking.
exhibit
You have a clear lead-generation or launch goal for this market.
Best for
Suppliers and brands seeking qualified meetings with the event audience.
Min. budget
$2,500.00
Timeline
3-6 months for stand booking, freight, and marketing prep.
Risks
Booth pricing not published in captured sources - confirm with organiser.
skip
Programme, audience, or commercial goals do not match your plan.
Best for
Teams whose category or region fit is weak this edition.
Timeline
N/A
Risks
No major risks listed.
FAQs & glossary
Frequently asked
Glossary
Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
5 more alternate names hidden
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