FAQs

The AccessAble website gives you the accessibility information you need to work out if a place is going to be accessible for you. To view their guide to the NEC please click here.

What facilities are there for people with disabilities?

As a world class exhibition venue, the NEC is fully accessible. For more information visit the NEC accessibility page.

For more information about accessibility at Naidex, visit the Naidex accessibility page

BSL Interpreters 

BSL sign language interpreters will be at every Main Stage seminar and are available to request for other theatres. 

Quiet space

We understand the event can become overwhelming for some of our visitors, that’s why we have a Quiet Space available for those who wish to take a break. This is a space with sofa’s, tables and chairs, where anyone can go to take some time out if needed.

Arriving and access / train and car

By train: from Birmingham International Railway Station, access to the NEC is via a covered ‘Bridgelink'.

By car: the NEC has recently upgraded its facilities for parking and getting to your venue. There's more information on the Travel and Accommodation page.

Wheelchair access: all levels of the NEC are accessible to wheelchair users, via lifts, and have wheelchair friendly toilet facilities. The Piazza and Atrium main entrances have automatic doors.

Drop off/pick up arrangements / taxis and parking

Please note, you should bring your Blue Badge with you, even if you are arriving by taxi.

If you are arriving by taxi and have your Blue Badge with you, you will be able to be dropped off at the main entrances. If you also require a pick up, please advise the taxi firm that you have a blue badge and the taxi will be permitted to pick you up from the main entrances. If you are using a T.O.A black cab you will be picked up at the ranks by the main entrances.

Assistance dogs 

We welcome assistance dogs to the show and have provided a dedicated area for them to rest, rehydrate and access outside. We kindly ask that they are recognisable by a harness, lead or jacket, if possible, to avoid our other friendly visitors wanting to pet them when they are hard at work. Please don’t let them wander freely around the show as it can be busy in places. 

Disabled facilities / what's here

Accessible toilets are available across the venue. There is a changing places toilet on the atrium between hall 20 and hall 19. This is larger than the disabled toilets and provides space for additional carers as well as hoist and including height adjustable adult sized changing bench. example - https://www.changing-places.org/

There will be 2 HDU’s again this year. There will also be 4 trailer mounted disabled toilets next to the HDU’s. 

Mobility Equipment Hire

The NEC have a fleet of mobility equipment available to hire on a first come, first serve basis. These can be booked online in advance, normally 3 months before the event. We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.

Wheelchairs are available to hire for £5 for all visitors. The number of wheelchairs we have available is limited, so if you’ve got your own, please bring it with you.

Scooters are available for £20 per hire for all visitors.

All pre-bookings will be held until 1300hrs on the day they've been booked for, unless otherwise advised.

For any visitors who have not pre-booked equipment and arrive on the day, any remaining stock will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. As collection location varies from show to show, please check the collection point when making a booking.

Please note: Mobility equipment hire is only available during show open times and we only accept payment by card for any equipment hired.

Book here

What catering facilities are there at the NEC?

There is a wide range of catering facilities at the NEC. Please see here for a full list of places to eat.

Inside the catering area at Naidex visitors can use the QR code on the tables to order the food to the table. 

Is there a Cloakroom?

The cloakrooms can be found adjacent to each hall. Items are charged at £2 per coat and £3 per bag (cloakrooms are open 30 minutes prior an event opening and close when the event closes). Please note, in the interests of safety and security overnight storage is not possible.

Is Naidex free to attend?

Yes it is free to attend.

Tickets

My ticket has not arrived yet, can I still attend?

This year, we are only posting out Naidex Public & Carer Tickets. The last mail out date has passed. Please do nor worry if you have not received a physical ticket to the event. 

After registering you will receive a confirmation email, on this email is a QR code. You can use this to get your visitor badge printed out when you arrive to the Naidex Hall (20). We have extra kiosks this year and our friendly team will be onsite to help. 

If your ticket has not arrived please don't worry you can arrive to the event and get your visitor badge printed at our registration desk, we have a team onsite to help.

Carer tickets 

If you selected yes to adding a carer ticket to your booking we are sending out the link to sign up your carer. Please note all carers and PAs need their own ticket. You can register your carer/PA tickets here. If you do not yet know your carer's details, please pick them up a ticket on the day at the registration desk at the NEC.

If you have any questions about tickets please email: tickets@naidex.co.uk. 

When does the show open?

The opening times for the show are as follows: 

Wednesday 19th March 9:30 - 16:30

Thursday 20th March 9:30 - 16:00

How can I register?

You can register for free using our registration form on the website . Book Free tickets here. 

Can I bring my child / is there crèche facilities?

Children attending the event must be accompanied by an adult or guardian.

Upon arrival at the show, a child's entry pass will be required for all those under the age of 16. This is to be collected from the registration desks in the main entrance. Anyone over the age of 16 will be required to register for the event via the normal registration process.

I am a student. Can I visit the event?

Yes you can - you will need to register to attend the event via the website.

Co-located events 

Naidex runs alongside Business without Barriers, UK Care Week, The Alzheimer's & Dementia Show and Neuro Convention. Please note, UK Care Week us a B2B trade event and for healthcare professionals only. Please note there is no access for Public to UK Care Week. 

Where does Naidex take place?

Naidex & Business without Barriers - Hall 20

The NEC Birmingham, B40 1NT 

There are a number of ways to get to the NEC, and we’ve got all the key information below to help make your journey as easy as possible. 

The 2025 show opening times are:

Wednesday 19th March -  09:30am to 16:30pm

Thursday 20th March - 09:30am to 16:00pm

How do I get there?

The NEC is just 10 minutes by train from the centre of Birmingham and easily accessible by car. Find out more on our dedicated Travel and Accommodation page

Where can I park?

Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.

Please bring your blue badge and make sure it's on your dashboard on arrival to be directed to the disabled parking which is closer to the venue.

For all other parking you can pre book here.

Accommodation 

Our official Accommodation Partner, EventBeds™ by NuBreed Hotels, has secured exclusive discounts for you at carefully selected local hotels. Book with confidence and save up to 30% via our travel page.. With demand increasing, we recommend securing your room promptly to avoid missing out.  

Booking a group of 6 rooms or more? Click here. 

What else is there to do in the local area?

Spend a few days at Naidex and experience one of the UK's most exciting cities. Fast-becoming a world-leading retail destination, Birmingham combines award-winning flagship stores and modern malls with historic arcades and markets.

Who will be exhibiting?

Click here to view the exhibitor list for Naidex.

Can my company exhibit?

If you are interested in exhibiting at Naidex, please email sales@naidex.co.uk

What sessions are on?

The seminar programme is here. 

Are seminars free to attend?

Yes, seminars are completely free of charge to attend.

Are seminars ticketed?

No, you will receive tickets on the door which grant access to all seminars however they run on a first come first serve basis so make sure you get there in plenty of time so you don't miss out.

How long do seminars last?

Seminars last 30 minutes, there may be some longer sessions for panels 

Adaptive Climbing Wall

Do I need to book?

No, you can turn up on the day, if there is a wait speak to the team and come back at a different time. The climbing wall is free to try. 

The amazing team from the Outdoor Education Company will first have a chat and make a quick assessment of anybody that would like to try climbing so they can figure out the best way for you to attempt to scale the wall. 

This could be anything from a traditional harness with additional roped support, through to their ‘para harness' suitable for wheelchair users. If you want to get to the top, they can probably get you there!

Mobility Test Track

How does the Test Track work? 

There will be a list of exhibitors who are taking part in the test track. You can test mobility equipment from these exhibitors on the track. 

The Track will include a variety of artificial off-road terrain, ramps, and obstacles in order to gauge manoeuvrability and suspension across all brands of scooter and powerchair available at the event. This provides visitors with a true representation of product performance before purchasing.  

Find out more here.

Naidex Marketplace

This is an area in Naidex where you can find affordable daily aids, tools and resources to take home with you from the event. 

Recruitment Fair, in partnership with Evenbreak

Naidex is thrilled to announce its collaboration with Evenbreak, hosting a pioneering recruitment fair in March 2025 at the NEC in Birmingham.

This new addition to Naidex will showcase employers committed to inclusive hiring, seeking talented candidates through the Evenbreak job board. Evenbreak is dedicated to bridging the disability employment gap.

If you're interested in attending the recruitment fair register for a free ticket to Business without Barriers below. Please note all visitors with a Naidex ticket can also access the Recruitment Fair. 

Find out more here.

How do I claim my CPD points?

Keep note of the sessions you attend. After the event, we will be notifying the CPD service of attendance. You will then receive an email from CPD to finalise the process. Please note that you will need to register for Naidex with an individual email address if you are applying for CPD.

For any questions about CPD please email: marketing@naidex.co.uk.

Visa Policy

Unfortunately we cannot issue letters of invitation to visitors for visa purposes. Once you have registered for the event via the event website you will receive a confirmation email which should be sufficient for visa applications.

For more information visit the NEC's website to read their full policy.

Our venues fully comply with government legislation on managing the risk of COVID-19 to keep everyone’s experience safe. We will continue to implement our enhanced venue sanitisation, with all communal areas cleaned frequently, alongside high contact surfaces throughout event days. Human interaction is what we do but we understand that convenience is key and that many people will still want to minimise unnecessary contact. We have taken advantage of tech solutions to provide contactless options. So, to minimise contact points when in our venue, visitors can pre-pay parking online, use our cashless options for payment at all food and drink outlets and even pre-order food via an app. If you wish to bring additional protections, you are more than welcome to bring your own mask and hand sanitiser. We will also have some available on the day.