Dedicated to Building, Plumbing, Heating, Hardware and Timber Merchants the popular NMBS Conference is back for 2022 and with another stunning Italian destination….
Sorrento on the Amalfi Coast.
The dates for the conference are
Thursday 16th - Sunday 19th June
The focused business programme will combine current subjects, interesting keynote speakers and structured sessions so that delegates can tailor the conference to their own needs and
requirements and take something away which can be implemented into their own businesses.
Like previous years the emphasis is on the working conference however the programme will allow plenty of time to enjoy your surroundings, socialise and indulge with group dinners and enjoy the stunning scenery in this beautiful part of the world.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Sam Hunt
NMBS Event Manager
Destination
Italian culture, buzzing bars and delicious pizzas are all on the menu in Sorrento – a sophisticated seaside town in the heart of the Neapolitan Riviera.
Cobblestone streets, colourful flowers and picture-perfect views of Mount Vesuvius and Naples – as a resort, hilly Sorrento comes up with it all. This chic setting on the southwest coast of Italy also offers designer boutiques, lively bars and authentic Italian restaurants. And it’s at the heart of the Neapolitan Riviera, so the beautiful towns of Positano and Amalfi are within easy reach as well.
Life here centres around Piazza Tasso – a picture-perfect square lined with grand old buildings and bustling cafés. Wander through the old town and you will uncover museums, galleries and leafy parks round every corner. Hop on the town’s wooden train to ride from sight to sight.
Facts
Language
Itialian but English is widely spoken
Flight Time
3 hours approx. from UK
Weather
The Average temperature in June is 23°C.
Currency
Euro (€) £1.00 = €1.15 (as at April 2019)
Closest Airport
Naples
Time Difference
1 hour ahead of the UK
Passport
A full British passport is required valid for the duration of your stay.
Hotel
The stylish Hilton Sorrento Palace is surrounded by citrus gardens in a perfect spot with fantastic views overlooking the sea.
Days can be filled lazing by the refreshing pools or exploring the historic Sorrento resort centre and evenings unwinding in the hotel’s cocktail bar. Rooms and Suites at Hilton Sorrento Palace combine Mediterranean warmth with contemporary elegance. The hotel offers Rooms with sea, garden, or mountain views.
Hotel facilities include
344 bedrooms each with either a balcony or terrace
Check in 16 June and depart on 19 June 2022. Includes buffet breakfast in a standard double or twin room (There will be a supplement for single room occupancy)
Welcome buffet dinner
(Thursday 16th June 2022)
All the conference sessions
on Friday and Saturday, including buffet lunch on both days
Meet the merchant
& Masterclass sessions
Gala Dinner
(Saturday 18th June 2022)
Please note all costs are including VAT and are for participation in the NMBS conference ground package only (i.e. flights are not included). Early Bird offer for the first 50 merchant companies only – so don’t delay and book today.
Essential Information
Climate
The temperature in June in Sorrento has highs of 31°C and lows of 23°C
Conference Information & Registration Desk
Opening times:
Wednesday 15th June 12:00 - 19:30
Thursday 16th June 09:00 - 19:30
Friday 17th June 08:00 onwards
Saturday 18st June 08:00 onwards
Currency, Cash & Credit Cards
The currency in Italy is the Euro (€)
The current exchange rate is £1.00 = €1.17
We would advise that you obtain Euros prior to departing the UK, however you will be able to exchange money locally and at the hotel.
Dietary Requirements
If any dietary requirements have been made known to us in advance, we will endeavour to ensure catering departments have been advised and special meals are prepared for you. Some food services will be in the style of a buffet and you will need to make yourself known to a member of staff. Should you suffer from any severe allergies, please inform a member of the waiting staff or the First Event team so we can clarify what you are able to eat.
Dress Code
During conference - Smart/casual
Evening dinners - Smart/casual
Electricity
Italy operates a two-pin plug socket so a European adaptor will be required.
Emergency Contacts
In the event of an emergency, please contact one of the Event Team on site -
Lucy Whitley +44 7841 698 892
Krisztina Maros +44 7877 256 310
Becky Lewandowski +44 7944 756 779
Holly Bedford +44 7500 122 868
Extras
A copy of your credit card will be requested on check in at the hotel and any additional extras added to your room account must be settled prior to departure.
Gratuities
Service charges are not usually added to bills. A 10-15% gratuity is suggested.
Hotel Check In/Check Out Times
Official check in time - 3pm
Official check out time - 11am
Should you be arriving on an earlier flight, please advise us and we will do all we can to ensure your room is ready on arrival.
Insurance & Medical
Travel insurance is NOT included in the conference package. It is essential that you and your partner have adequate travel insurance for the duration of the trip. Please ensure you have a copy of your policy when travelling in case of an emergency.
Language
The language spoken in Italy is Italian.
Passport
- For travel to Italy, your passport must be less than 10 years old on the day that you enter. Please check from the issue date rather than the expiry date.
- Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave.
Any questions about this at all please contact the event team - [email protected]
Responsibility Disclaimer
NMBS and First Event will not accept responsibility for the consequences or costs arising from the non-compliance with the customs or laws of Italy.
NMBS and First Event cannot take responsibility for injuries sustained whilst taking part in any sport activities during the event. Please ensure you have correct travel insurance to cover such activities.
Security
All rooms in the hotel have a free safe. Please use these to store any valuables. NMBS and First Event cannot accept any responsibility for lost or stolen items.
Telephone
Calls to Italy - please add 0039 to the beginning of the number.
Calls to the UK - please add 0044 to the beginning of the number.
Time Difference
The time in Italy is +1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
COVID INFORMATION
Please note, travel requirements are in line with the destination's government guidance, as well as FCDO advice, correct at 10 May 2022. The restrictions are due to change again on the 31st May 2022 and we will update this page accordingly. We would advise waiting until this date to book any pre-flight tests.
If you're arriving into Italy via another country, please make sure that you check the entry requirements for the country you are flying into, in addition to the country you are staying in.
If you're aged 6 or over and fully vaccinated, you'll need to provide either:
• Proof of vaccination and booster: If you're fully vaccinated and have had your booster, you'll need to show proof of this.
• Proof of full vaccination (without booster): If you've been fully vaccinated with a complete course of an approved vaccine between 14 and 270 days before you're due to arrive in Italy, you'll need to show proof of this.
If you've received a final dose of the vaccine more than 270 days before you travel to Italy, or you're not fully vaccinated, you need to provide one of the following:
• A certificate to prove recovery from COVID-19 dated in the last 180 days
• A COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of your arrival into Italy
• A rapid antigen test, also known as lateral flow, taken within 48 hours of your arrival into Italy
How to get proof of your vaccination status
An NHS COVID Pass shows your COVID-19 vaccination details (including if you’ve had a booster) and will be accepted for travel. If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, the process is different.
If you're not fully vaccinated, you'll need to call the COVID-19 helpline for the region you're travelling to,
to inform them of your visit, within 48 hours of your arrival. For more information, please CLICK HERE
You'll need to wear a filtering face mask of level 2 (FFP2) or higher - and make sure it's WITHOUT valves - throughout your whole journeys to and from Italy. This type of face mask is readily available to buy online. If you don't have the correct mask, you may be denied travel.
Terms & Conditions
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations are not encouraged and will be processed on a case by case basis.
Cancellation of participation on or before 31st October 2021 - a £100.00 administration fee per person will be retained.
Cancellation of participation from 1st November 2021 until the 31st December 2021 will incur a 50% cancellation fee.
Cancellation of participation from 1st January 2022 onwards will incur 100% cancellation fees.
By completing the registration form for this event, you are giving your consent that the personal data contained therein may be used to assist NMBS in supporting you and your organisation through the provision of advice and consultancy, to inform you of relevant events, to manage the issue of any documentation you may request and to administrator your registration for the 2022 Conference.
Please note that NMBS may request a contractor to support these activities and process the data on our behalf. However, use of your personal data will only be authorised for the purposes indicated above and will be lawfully processed according to the Data Protection Act 1998.
This year we have an array of activities available exclusively to NMBS All-industry Conference participants that showcase the culture, traditions and gastronomy that the beautiful region of Sorrento has to offer.
Activities are subject to availability and are on a first come first served basis.
Thursday 16th June
You will depart the hotel by coach for Sorrento port where you will embark the ferry to Capri – with only a 30 minute crossing you will soon be on the beautiful and exclusive island of Capri.
Upon arrival you will be met with official Capri guides and taxis to take you on a tour of the Island. After which, a delicious lunch will be served in the village of Capri.
After lunch there will be time at leisure to shop, explore the area further or just relax with a delicious ice cream.
This is a full day trip. Cost per person is £259.00
This cost includes transfer to the port, ferry transfers, 3 course lunch with ½ bottle of wine, water and coffee and official Capri taxi tour with guise.
Thursday 16th June
Get off the beaten track of Sorrento with a mountain bike! This activity will lead you on roads and paths to discover the marvels of the Sorrento Peninsula. By following a hill path you will enjoy views of incomparable beauty of the Bays of Naples and Salerno which, in certain places, are both visible at the same time.
During the mountain biking you will stop at a local country farm and see how the local mozzarella is made, as well as taste a few other local delicacies such as salami and olive oil. The mountain biking in this area becomes a gourmet discovery combined with stunning views.
The duration is 4 / 5 hours and covering a distance of 10km – it is suitable for ALL bikers from novice to expert.
Cost per person is £188.00
This cost includes bike and helmet hire, guide and food tasting along the route.
Thursday 16th June
Enjoy one of the most panoramic views of the area on “God’s path” along the Amalfi coast.
The “Sentiero degli Dei” links the tiny hilltop town of Agerola with Nocelle. The name of the footpath, The Path of the Gods, is an indication of the spectacular scenery you can expect on-route with magnificent views of the Amalfi Coast and the island of Capri.
A box lunch will be provided.
The duration is 4 hours.
Cost per person is £130.00
This cost includes guides, boxed lunch and transfers.
Thursday 16th June
It is said to be one of the most spectacular roads in Europe and from Sorrento, the winding cliff top road offers breath-taking panoramic views from every bend each stop a fantastic world which dazzles the imagination and inspires unforgettable memories.
Head to Positano, the village perched on the mountainside and overlooking the sea. There will be time at leisure to walk and explore the cobbled streets and enjoy the silent beauty of the village.
By midday you will make your way to Amalfi, once a Marine Republic (powerful and prosperous) Amalfi is now a thriving resort. The unmistakable cluster of white tightly packed houses rising up the hillside is dominated by the beautiful Cathedral that stands at the top of stairs leading up from the main square.
Housed in the magnificent Cathedral are the remains of the Patron Saint of Amalfi Saint Andrew. Lunch will be served here followed by time at leisure.
The drive will depart the hotel at 09:00 and return around 16:00.
Cost per person is £188.00
This cost includes transfers, guide and 3 course lunch with wine and coffee.
Saturday 18th June
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, Pompeii tells a fascinating chapter in the history of Ancient Rome.
In 79 AD time here stood still when the eruption of the nearby volcano Vesuvius covered the city, the buildings, the streets and its inhabitants.
Discover how people lived in ancient Rome in the first century and visit the monumental buildings and houses where you can still admire the walls decorated with incredible mosaics and paintings. You can also visit the forum, the center of political and social life in the city, and where plaster casts of the victims are exposed along with everyday objects.
The visit to Pompeii will depart on Saturday afternoon at 13:30 – straight after the conference closes. A boxed lunch will be provided.
Return to the hotel will be at 17:30.
Cost per person is £131.00
This cost includes transfers, guide, headphones and a boxed lunch.
The activites are sponsored by:
Transfers
We recommend pre-booking your transfers from the airport to the hotel and vice versa. The local transfer company we have partnered with to offer this service is Autonoleggio De Martino Sorrento.
Mercedes E Class (2 people with luggage) €120 each way
Mercedes Mini Van (4-6 people with luggage) €165 each way
Minibus (8-12 people with luggage) €300 each way
How to make a booking
Please contact Autonoleggio De Martino direct, using the NMBS dedicated email:
[email protected] In the email title quote ‘NMBS Conference’ and your surname.
Payment terms
After your booking is confirmed you will be sent a link by email to make payment by VISA or MasterCard. If you wish to pay by AMEX please request when booking and you will be sent a separate form to complete.
Cancellation policy
Cancellations must be made at least five days prior to the service. In this case no penalty will be applied and you will be refunded the cost of the booked transfer. If cancellation five days prior or less the booking will be non-refundable.
Taxi
A taxi will cost from €125 each way.
Contact Us
Should you have any queries relating to the NMBS 2022 Conference please contact the relevant person detailed below:
For sponsorship at the 2022 conference and general NMBS member queries please contact:
Professor Damian Hughes combines a practical and academic background within sport, organisation and change psychology to work as a trusted adviser to the business, education and sporting elite, specialising in the creation of high-performing cultures.
He is the author of ‘Liquid Thinking’, ‘Liquid Leadership’, ‘How to Change Absolutely Anything’, ‘How to Think Like Sir Alex Ferguson’, and ‘The five STEPS to Winning a Mindset’, and has worked with leading sports teams including Warrington Wolves and the Great Britain Rugby League team. He has also penned three acclaimed sports biographies of Sugar Ray Robinson, Thomas Hearns, and Marvin Hagler.
Damian believes a lot can be learnt from the world of sport, both from the strong team ethos and also from the dedication, focus and discipline found among world-class athletes. Working closely with sporting professionals, he has identified a series of values, behaviours and techniques that are transferable to the world of business. The liquid thinking approach helps ensure that people perform their best from a mental perspective, creating a culture that only accepts the highest of standards at all times.
Hosting the event this year is David Meade, a world-class keynote speaker who has been inspiring conference audiences for more than 15 years. Meade first attended the 2018 NMBS Conference as a keynote speaker, where he inspired the audience with his ability to use behavioural traits to tell what people were thinking.
Meade uses cutting-edge scientific research on leadership, performance, persuasion and influence to teach people how to encourage those around them to give their best, using motivation, mindset and simple tips to improve the way people think and act every day.
His speech at the 2018 NMBS Conference left delegates feeling energised and inspired. As well as hosting the Conference, he will again deliver a keynote speech in Sorrento, offering advice on how to ensure extraordinarily high performance among your team even in challenging times.
David's attendance at the Conference is being sponsored by Worcester Bosch.
David Smith will be joining the Conference to talk about the UK economy, and how forecasted changes may affect businesses across the nation. After a turbulent few years during which businesses have faced unprecedented challenges, the stage is set for David to provide insight into what may be coming next, and how companies can best protect themselves.
David is Economics Editor of The Sunday Times, as well as the paper's Assistant Editor and Policy Advisor, and a regular contributor to CBI's Business Voice. Among the first to predict a V-shaped recovery, he was careful to say that it would take time to become discernible.
A widely respected economics commentator, David is the author of several books, including From Boom to Bust, Will Europe Work?, The Age of Instability, and The Dragon and the Elephant: China, India and the New World Order. His most recent work, Free Lunch, is a guide to economics for the lay person now that it seems essential we all understand the subject.
Before moving to the nation's most widely read Sunday broadsheet, David worked for The Times and Financial Weekly, as well as the Henley Centre for Forecasting and Lloyds Bank. He has won a number of prizes, including the Harold Wincott Award for Financial Journalist of the Year.
Tom Diplock, a Partner at LEK Consulting is attending the Conference to discuss the future of retail for building materials.
LEK Consulting is a global strategy consultancy that works with business leaders to seize competitive advantage and amplify growth. The company has recently conducted a European survey entitled 'Online or Over-the-Counter: Inside the Future of Retailing Building Materials', and Tom will present the findings of this important survey to delegates at the Conference. He will reveal how the merchant sector has already been transformed by the online marketplace, and where he believes this change will lead the builders' merchant sector over the coming years.
Tom leads LEK Consulting's Advanced Analytics Practice in London, focusing on using advanced digital capabilities to provide fresh market insights and drive improved performance for clients. He also has extensive experience in the procurement, management, pricing and risk assessment of large, complex capital programs in both the public and private sectors.
George Brickwood is Omnichannel Director for UK&I at Schneider Electric, which he joined in May 2019. Before that he spent more than 17 years with Wolseley UK, most latterly as Head of eBusiness. George's speech at the conference will examine the ever-evolving landscape of the merchant world and how eCommerce can support that, as well as the importance of enriched data for both merchants and suppliers.
It is now more important than ever for companies to maintain and enrich their data, which means making sure data around the products they manufacturer, buy and sell is complete and provides all the information their customers could need. Advances in technology are making this easier than ever, and suppliers who embrace digital Product Information Management platforms can dramatically reduce customer queries, save time for their back office staff and significantly improve their customer service.
During George's time at Wolseley UK he was responsible for driving the digitisation of the business. This he achieved through delivering new technologies into the business and, most importantly, by supporting the move to a digital culture. He had customer-facing teams supporting the adoption of eCommerce across Wolseley's customer base, and a team focussed on engaging the branch network and internal colleagues to embrace the changes.
He also headed up the B2B integration side (EDI) as well as data analytics and product data, and worked in various roles across the business such as operations and project management.
Sustainability has become a central issue globally. In UK construction, manufacturers continue to look for ways to make their supply chain and products more sustainable, while merchants are having to grasp their role influencing and supporting their customers to create a more sustainable future built environment.
Giles Bradford, Head of Sustainability at Bradfords Building Supplies, will be attending the NMBS All-Industry Conference to talk about the central role merchants need to take in this ongoing transformation, and the collaboration required across the sector.
Giles spent a decade in leadership within the Royal Navy's Commando Helicopter Force before returning to his family's builders' merchant business in 2019. He has a track record of innovating processes and products across multiple sectors, often in closely regulated environments.
He has a deep passion for motivating people and developing their potential, and is particularly proud of the role Bradfords Building Supplies has always played in supporting the communities in which it operates, and the leading role it has taken championing sustainability within the merchant sector.
Giles is a passionate advocate of protecting the environment, and you'll find him outside of work busily rewilding his garden and using his own home as a test bed for innovative low carbon measures.
He is also Chair of the BMF Sustainability Forum, leads sustainability for the h&b buying group, and the current merchant representative on the Construction Leadership Council's Green Construction Board.
Matthew Syed will be this year's Keynote Speaker at the NMBS All-Industry Conference in Sorrento. Matthew was British Table Tennis number one for almost a decade, winning the men's singles at the Commonwealth Championships three times. He also competed for Great Britain in the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992, and in Sydney in 2000. Matthew stood out in the sport for his distinctive style, which one colleague described as playing “spectacular roof-threatening parabolas” from the back of the court.
But Matthew was not always successful. At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney he admitted to falling apart under the pressure of participating in the biggest competition on the planet, and his experience prompted him to explore how the mind responds under conditions of stress - and to develop techniques to perform without inhibition. Matthew published his first book on the science of high performance, Bounce, in 2010, and his second, Black Box Thinking, in 2015. Both received international acclaim. He is now a columnist and feature writer for The Times, writing about sport, culture, media and politics.
Matthew regularly speaks to companies, sports teams and other organisations on the links between psychology, performance and continuous improvement. He has delivered keynote speeches to global finance ministers at Harvard University, the commanders and admirals of the British surface fleet, and the General Staff of the British Army, as well as top sports organisations.
He is also passionate about young people and education, creating conferences for teachers and school leaders on how to unleash curiosity, creativity and a growth mindset in their students. He also provides tailored events for businesses and a learning course on the principles of high performance.
Matthew's speech at the Conference is being sponsored by Marshalls.
Sophie Devonshire, CEO of The Marketing Society, is an experienced business leader, marketer and bestselling author who will offer you advice on how to 'speed up success'. Her leadership book 'Superfast: Lead at Speed' was shortlisted for Business Book of the Year and achieved the number one spot on Amazon.
Sophie's highly creative and commercial approach comes from a career that includes training at Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, Leo Burnett in the Middle East, and Interbrand in London.
A successful entrepreneur, Sophie set up an award-winning e-commerce business in the middle of the recession, which she sold before running a luxury gifts business. More recently, she has been CEO of consultancy The Caffeine Partnership, which helps business leaders to work with purpose and pace. In July 2020, Sophie became CEO of The Marketing Society, a global community of marketers whose purpose is to empower brave leaders.
