ABOUT US

Welcome to the ICC

At the ICC, we believe great events have the power to change, to inspire and to connect people and ideas in a uniquely collaborative way. But more importantly, we’ve got the evidence to back it up. Over 30 years’ worth in fact. And we’d love to make a difference to your event too.

On average, we host around 400 events a year, welcoming over 350,000 visitors from across the globe in the process. It’s our job to ensure every single one leaves feeling alive with excitement and possibility. That’s where the game-changing experience of our instinctive in-house teams comes into play.

However, it’s not just our venue and experts that bring people together. It’s the fact we’re bang in the middle of Birmingham, which means getting to us is a breeze from all corners of the UK. Getting visitors to go home is a touch trickier though, as Birmingham’s absolutely booming with more retail opportunities, posh nosh and vibrant hotels than ever before.

OUR HISTORY

Since first opening our doors back in 1991 we’ve never been ones to stand still.

QUICK HISTORY LESSON

SUSTAINABILITY

For us, sustainability isn’t just a tick-box exercise, it’s embedded into everything we do.

FIND OUT HOW

POLICIES

We deliver exceptional events through consideration and common sense.

SEE OUR POLICIES

Awards and Recognition

2013 Venue of the Year logo
Venue of the Year
Over 500 capacity (Silver)
2013 Event Team of the Year logo
Event Team of the Year
(Bronze)
2014 Best UK Conference Centre logo
Best UK Conference Centre
(Bronze)
2014 Best Website logo
Best Website
(Gold)
2016 Best UK Conference Centre logo
Best UK Conference Centre
(Silver)
2016 Best UK Conference Centre logo
Best UK Conference Centre
(Finalist)
2017 Best UK Conference Centre logo
Best UK Conference Centre
(Winner)
2018 Best UK Conference Centre logo
Best UK Conference Centre
(Finalist)
2019 Best UK Conference Centre logo
Best UK Conference Centre
(Finalist)
2019 Best UK Conference Centre logo
Best UK Conference Centre
(Highly Commended)
2020 Best UK Conference Centre logo
Best UK Conference Centre
(Finalist)
2020 Best Venue Customer Service logo
Best Venue Customer Service
(Winner)
2023 Business Events Venue of the Year logo
Business Events Venue of the Year
(Silver)
2023 Business Events Venue of the Year logo
Business Events Venue of the Year
(Bronze)
2023 Best Conference Venue Over 500 Theatre Style logo
Best Conference Venue Over 500 Theatre Style
(Bronze)

OUR STORY SO FAR

  • 1990
  • 1990
  • 2000
  • 2010
  • 2020

Senior Management

Andy Gibb

Managing Director – Conventions

Andy Gibb

Managing Director – Conventions

Andy joins from Stadium MK, where he was Group Sales and Marketing Director for nearly seven years.

Andy joined the NEC Group in 2024, his role is to lead the Conventions and Conference division of the business based across ICC Birmingham, NEC Birmingham, and the Vox Conference Venue. Andy's role is to attract domestic and international conventions to the venues and also to deliver a best-in-class experience to visitors.


Prior to Andy’s role at Stadium MK, he was a Managing Director at the Ricoh Arena and Commercial Director at GES. Through these roles he brings with him significant experience in delivering conventions, exhibitions and conferences, as well as live music and sporting events.

Allan Boyle

General Manager - NEC Group Conventions

Allan Boyle

General Manager - NEC Group Conventions

As NEC Group Conventions General Manager, Allan leads on all venue and event operations at the ICC and Vox, whilst also managing conference business at the NEC.

Facilitating an ambitious growth strategy for conventions across the venues, his innovative focus continues to push the boundaries of event delivery.

Allan’s previous position with the Group, from 2014-2019, was Director of Event Services of the Group Convention Centres.  During that time, Allan significantly progressed event processes at the ICC and was heavily involved in the mobilisation and development of the Vox, which opened in 2015.  This position had further dual responsibility, handling operations not only at the ICC and Vox, but also The Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) - which was under the successful management of the Group between 2014-2016.

Prior to his recent positions in Birmingham, Allan held the Catering Director role at the then newly built CCD, where he was tasked with setting up the catering contract and hospitality function. He was promoted into the role of Events Operations Director in 2010 to oversee the full operational delivery of the business.

Allan joined the CCD from the ICC, where over a 14-year period from 1995, he held a variety of positions, acquiring vast and in-depth knowledge about the venue, the region and the events industry.

Donna Cunningham

NEC Group Convention Sales Director - New Business

Donna Cunningham

NEC Group Convention Sales Director - New Business

As NEC Group Conventions Sales Director, Donna oversees all convention sales activity at the ICC, Vox and NEC.

Donna joined the NEC Group in February 2013 as Sales & Sponsorship Manager. Later that year she joined the ICC Sales Team as a Senior Account Manager, and in 2015 was promoted to Account Director. Two further promotions followed over the next five years as Donna was made Sales Director of the ICC and Vox in 2018 before becoming NEC Group Conventions Sales Director in 2020.

Donna has amassed great experience of the Group’s conventions business through her positions, and has been instrumental in shaping the corporate and agency business across the ICC and Vox. She was also heavily involved in the sales operation of the newly built Vox in 2015, taking on responsibility of the Vox Sales Team, restructuring appropriately and implementing new processes and strategy. These efforts, and the consequent success of the venues business, have led to Donna’s rise through Group sales management.

Before joining the NEC Group, Donna worked within local radio, being responsible for sponsorship & partnership for regional corporate and local authority accounts whilst managing the sales team and overseeing the sales strategy.

Beth Larkin

HR Business Partner

Beth Larkin

HR Business Partner

Beth joined the NEC Group in October 2019 and is the HR Business Partner for the ICC and Vox, in addition to three of the other Group businesses.

Beth is CIPD qualified with over 11 years’ HR experience and has worked for a variety of different organisations, including arts and events, heritage and also healthcare companies. Beth’s role is to develop and shape the HR strategy and people agenda for the ICC and Vox and ensure that we have the right people in the right roles with the right skills to deliver a great service to our clients.

Craig Hancox

General Manager - ICC Catering

Craig Hancox

General Manager - ICC Catering

Craig is the General Manager of Amadeus Catering at the ICC, responsible for leading the catering team and maintaining the highest standard of delivery and food safety. He joined the group in 2004 as Catering Operations Manager.

Craig has vast experience in delivering outstanding conference and banqueting, and during his time with the Group has led the mobilisation of the catering operation at the Vox upon its opening in 2015, as well as being a vital support in his role as mentor to Amadeus colleagues at the Belfast Waterfront Conference Centre.   

Before joining the ICC team, Craig oversaw catering at Highfield Road Stadium, where Coventry City Football Club had great success in the FA Premier League.

Ed Grice

Divisional Finance Director – NEC Group Conventions & Exhibitions

Ed Grice

Divisional Finance Director – NEC Group Conventions & Exhibitions

Ed has been with the NEC Group since 2012, joining initially as Commercial Finance Manager for the NEC.

He is a Chartered Accountant with over 15 years post-qualified experience having qualified with PwC in Nottingham, and has previously worked in the leisure sector for Punch Taverns Plc.

In his current role as Divisional Finance Director, Ed is now responsible for the combined commercial finance team across the NEC, ICC and Vox. Ed works in partnership with the Managing Director and senior management teams, providing leadership in the development of strategy and financial plans to deliver on strategic objectives.

Strategic Partners

WEST MIDLANDS GROWTH COMPANY

West Midlands Growth Company is the city’s strategic marketing partnership and the driving force behind its growing reputation as a place to visit, meet and invest. Working closely with the city is vital to be able to offer delegates the full event experience, and not just looking within the venue. We work with the Convention Bureau to support many events, including bidding for events, as well as developing our Ambassador programme for the city.

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WESTSIDE BID

Much closer to home, the ICC sits within the Westside area of the city. We are an active partner in the Westside Business Improvement District (BID), working alongside the BID who focus on ensuring an attractive, well-promoted, brighter, safer and cleaner business environment.

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BRINDLEYPLACE

Providing those fabulous views just outside our West entrance, situated just across the canal is Brindleyplace, an award-winning estate that includes plenty to see and do from bars, restaurants and cafés to art galleries, a theatre and the SeaLife Centre – all perfect for delegates in their downtime.

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THSH BIRMINGHAM

Town Hall and Symphony Hall are two iconic Birmingham landmarks each programming an exciting mix of classical, jazz, world, folk, rock, pop and comedy events designed to appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. Symphony Hall is one of our brilliant tenants, with entrances directly off the ICC Mall and is widely recognised as one of the world’s finest concert halls.

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTNERS

Having played host to some very high-profile events over the years, we have built a strong relationship with Birmingham City Council and west Midlands Police. This partnership is key to ensuring safety and success for events those high-profile or larger events that make an influence on the city beyond our venue walls.