In association with the Natural Stone Show is the now established and highly respected Natural Stone & Building Conservation Conference.

The conference includes seminars covering issues relating to the use of stone in both new build and conservation. It is held in the South Gallery Rooms of ExCeL overlooking the Royal Victoria Dock on the floor above the exhibition halls, well away from the noise and bustle of the exhibition itself.

Admission is free. There are necessarily physical limitations on the number of people who can fit into the room, but those who have pre-registered their visit to the Show will be given priority.

Offering accredited CPD for delegates, the Conference brings together all of those who have an interest in the design and use of stone as a building material.

There are themes for each day of the exhibition. You can view details of the speakers and their presentation subjects on the Stone Show website (www.stoneshow.co.uk). There follows a brief outline of the theme for each day.

Day 1: Sustainability

Environmentally and ethically responsible sourcing of stone has become a major issue for both designers and suppliers. Chemicals used for treating and cleaning stone also increasingly come under the environmental spotlight. But the industry is responding to satisfy the demand not only for a sustainable product but also evidence of that sustainability.

Day 2: New Build

Stone Federation Great Britain will present their RIBA CPD-accredited seminar on the selection and use of stone in the morning, while in the afternoon there will be presentations by architects and stone professionals involved in some of the winning projects in the 2010 Natural Stone Awards.

Day 3: Conservation

The final day is overseen by English Heritage and the English Stone Forum. Speakers include Tarnia McAlester from English Heritage and Don Cameron of the British Geological Survey who will talk about their collaboration on the Strategic Stone Study.