SPA 111th Conference - Monday 2nd June 2025 - Tewkesbury

Event Overview

*** CONFERENCE IS FULLY BOOKED AND REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED ***

SPA 111th Conference is taking place on Monday 2nd June at Tewkesbury Park Hotel, Lincoln Green Lane, Tewkesbury   GL20 7DN

Inspirational Presenter - Andy Torbet 

Andy is an extreme adventure sportsman and explorer, stuntman, film-maker and presenter.  He has presented on television series for BBC1, BBC2, Children’s BBC, Discovery US and History, written hundreds of articles for magazines like FHM, Men’s Fitness, ScubaDiver, Climber and Skydive and newspapers including The Mail on Sunday and The Telegraph as well as one book- ‘Extreme Adventures’ and performed stunts on movies including James Bond ‘No Time To Die’. 

Andy spent 10 years in the British Forces as a Diver, Paratrooper and Bomb Disposal Officer. During his time he commanded the Army’s Underwater and Airborne Bomb Disposal Teams as well as the High Risk Search Team of the Maritime Counter Terrorism Unit and deployed on operations in Bosnia, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.  

Andy’s public speaking is full of tales of risk, fear and resilience, honed from a lifetime working in high threat, high risk environments

We thank KM Software Systems Ltd (KMSS) for their sponsorship of our Inspirational Presenter.

Book your place for SPA 11th Health & Safety Forum which will take place on the morning of Conference from 10am-12 noon.:

Discussion Panel: Buying or Selling a Business

What a line-up for Conference Discussion Panel !  As a direct response to Conference Delegate requests, Tim Gray, SPA Chairman, will be moderating an 'Industry-Celebre' Panel to discuss Buying and Selling a Business in our sector.  The panel will discuss growing by acquisition, succession planning, getting a business ready for sale, safeguarding employees' futures, who to sell to, whether to sell all or part of your business and many of the pitfalls that may be experienced and can potentially be avoided.

• Tim Gray, Owner and Managing Director of Dairi-Pak - Moderator
• David Pedley - CEO (retired) GWP Group Ltd
• David Orr - Group Managing Director at Fencor Packaging Group
• Nick Kirby - Non-Executive Director of Zeus Packaging Group
• Neil Osment - Managing Director of NOA Ltd
• Ian Grimley - Lawyer from Roxburgh Milkins - to ensure legal clarifications

Tim and the SPA Committee thanks this elite panel for their ongoing support of the Association and of the sector as a whole.

Agenda:

Future Talent:  Attracting the Next Generation to Our Industry 

At February SPA Conference, our inspiring discussion panel included two Gen Z students who shared their perspectives on apprenticeships and career opportunities.  Their insights resonated strongly with our audience of sheet plant owners, managers, and industry suppliers.  Since then, the SPA Committee has been working to identify ways that the SPA and our members can help attract future talent into the industry. We look forward to hearing an update on this important initiative from the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) who will focus on potential options for local site engagement with schools/careers fairs by SPA Members.

Business Grants:  

We are delighted that, in response to member requests, the 111th SPA Conference will feature a dedicated session on UK business grants for funding investments.  Kene grants lead, Dr Claire Flanagan, will be hosting the session.

• SPA Ring of Defence Updates:  Health & Safety, HR & Employment Law, SPA Sales Masterclass, R&D Tax Credits.

• UK Corrugated Industry Update - Neil Osment, NOA Ltd.

• SPA Sheet Plant Report - will be available for purchase.

• SPA Supplier of the Year 2024 Award

Networking at Conference:

Over 70% of Delegates feedback that the MOST valuable aspect of SPA Conference is the Networking.  The SPA allows plenty of time and opportunity for delegates to Network.  The Tewkesbury venue is a beautiful hotel that provides excellent Networking facilities so delegates can arrange meetings and manage networking opportunities scheduled around Conference Agenda:

• Between 10am - 12:30pm - meet in the Tewkesbury Park Hotel lounge.

• At the SPA Health & Safety Forum from 10am - 12 noon on Monday 2nd June.

• Over a hot drink in the SPA Conference private bar, from 12:30pm until Conference starts at 1:30pm. 

• During Lunch in The Mint - seating is unassigned to facilitate your own Networking.

• Over refreshments at afternoon break, in the SPA Conference private bar (30-45 minutes).

• At the 1.5 hour Sponsored bar post Conference (Full Delegates).

• At dinner, seating is once again unassigned - Full Delegates choose who they sit with at dinner.

• After dinner the private bar stays open after midnight enabling further Networking.  

• Over breakfast / brunch on Tuesday 3rd June.

• Book a tee time for golf with peers for Tuesday 3rd June.

There are valuable opportunities to Network, in a non-competitive environment, for all SPA Conference delegates.  Colleagues who have not attended Conference before can gain significant value from the Networking experience.

We strongly recommend that Sheet Plants encourage colleagues from across their business to attend Conference - from Health & Safety, Production, Design, HR, Sales & R&D departments.

We strongly recommend that suppliers to the sector review the delegate list in advance of Conference and arrange relevant meetings through the Member email facility on the SPA website.

Smurfit Westrock Sheetfeeding is Ruby Sponsor for all SPA Conferences in 2025      

We thank our 111th Conference Co-Sponsors:

COSTS:

• Day Delegate - FULLY BOOKED

Buffet Lunch, Full access to Conference, Afternoon Refreshments, FREE Wifi and FREE Parking.

• Day Delegate + Dinner - FULLY BOOKED 

As above plus Sponsored Drinks Reception and Evening BBQ Dinner.

• Full Delegate - FULLY BOOKED

As above plus Overnight Single Rate Room and Breakfast following day.  

Dietary / Accessibility requirements should be added to detail at time of booking.

PRIOR TO BOOKING, PLEASE ENSURE YOU READ AND AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING:

• Delegate fees must be cleared in full prior to attendance.  

• Cancellation policies from venues mean that Delegate charges are non-refundable within 45 days of the event, with no exceptions.

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Try Before You Buy: Non-Member UK Sheet Plants!

Non-member UK Sheet Plants are invited to experience the benefits of SPA membership through our "Try Before You Buy" scheme.  This initiative allows eligible companies to attend one SPA Conference prior to joining, offering insight into how SPA membership can enhance your organisation.  Availability is limited, so we encourage interested parties to request a spot promptly:

SPA Emerging Leaders Programme - Module 9

Tuesday 3rd June - 9:00am - 12:00pm - EL Programme 2024 candidates should register for Conference as Full Delegates.

HOUSEKEEPING:

• Conference will be held in the Cotswold Suite at Tewkesbury Park Hotel, Tewkesbury.
• All first-time attendees and new SPA members are invited to attend an informal Welcome by the SPA Committee at 12:15 in the Berkeley Bar, followed by a buffet lunch.
• Conference commences at 1:30pm and is due to end by 6:00pm.
• A sponsored bar will be open immediately following Conference - with thanks to our event sponsors, Amtech Software, KMSS, Packitoo and Smurfit Westrock Sheetfeeding.
• Check-in for Full Delegates will take place from 5pm.
• Delegates will need to register a credit card at main reception to enable drinks at dinner to be charged to their rooms.
• Dietary / Accessibility requirements - Must be added to Additional Information AT TIME OF BOOKING.  Otherwise, requirements cannot be guaranteed.

• This event will be filmed and photographed by the Sheet Plant Association for use on SPA website, in Social Media and SPA Marketing.