SMI Conference 2026
Delivering a flagship maritime conference with commercial strength, sector access and full end-to-end execution in Glasgow.
Overview
The SMI Conference is a key annual gathering in the UK maritime calendar, moving location each year and bringing together senior leaders from across industry, government and defence.
In 2026, the event was hosted in Glasgow at the Technology and Innovation Centre, with the gala dinner held at the Radisson Blu. This marked our fifth collaboration with the Society of Maritime Industries, building on an established partnership and a deep understanding of both audience and client expectations.
Across three days, the programme welcomed 240 delegates from 120 companies and featured 24 speakers. Alongside the daytime conference, the event included a welcome networking reception, a formal gala dinner, and exclusive shipyard visits.
Approach
Delivery was comprehensive and commercially focused from the outset.
Over a five-month project period, we managed full end-to-end planning and execution, including:
- Agenda development and speaker coordination
- Venue sourcing and contract management
- Commercial strategy, sponsorship sales materials and budget planning
- Marketing and promotional delivery
- Government relations and stakeholder engagement
- Creative production, branding and event assets
- On-site event management across all venues
The daytime conference was designed to balance strategic insight with operational relevance, ensuring a well-paced programme that maintained delegate engagement across 24 speakers.
Beyond the conference itself, we curated and delivered a welcome networking reception and a gala dinner for all attendees, ensuring continuity of experience across formal and informal settings.
The event also partnered with Ferguson Marine and BAE Systems to offer exclusive shipyard visits. This required close coordination with shipyard teams to manage delegate logistics, security considerations and transport planning, providing a valuable behind-the-scenes industry experience.
Commercial planning was embedded into the structure of the event. We developed tailored sponsorship materials and a defined revenue strategy to ensure the conference not only met but exceeded its financial targets. The 2026 edition attracted 12 industry sponsors and 9 exhibitors, reinforcing its position as a commercially sustainable flagship event.
Outcome
SMI Conference 2026 delivered:
240 delegates
120 companies represented
24 speakers
12 sponsors
9 exhibitors
Two exclusive shipyard visits
The event successfully combined strategic discussion, commercial performance and high-quality networking in a single, coherent programme.
By taking responsibility for the full lifecycle of planning and delivery, Tide ensured that creative, operational and commercial elements worked in step. The result was a confident, well-executed conference that strengthened SMI’s flagship event and demonstrated the value of sustained partnership and sector expertise.
