The 7th Natural Stone Show, being staged at ExCeL, London, 14-16 March 2006, has, once again, gained the backing of the professional and trade bodies representing those who use stone.

The most influential bodies in British architecture and conservation - the Royal Institute of British Architecture (RIBA) and English Heritage - are both once again backing the exhibition and its associated top level conference.

The event also has the backing of Stone Federation Great Britain and the National Association of Memorial Masons, the two bodies that represent British stonemasons. The Italian trade organisation AIMM are also backing the event.

And the Natural Stone Show at ExCeL has the unique advantage of being promoted and previewed by the Architect\'s Journal group of publications and the stone industry\'s own Natural Stone Specialist magazine, delivering exhibitors a combined audience of more than 50,000 before the Show even opens.

As show director Richard Bradbury says: "The Natural Stone Show has always had an element to it of promoting as well as selling stone, which is why we put so much effort into letting the professionals know about it.

"It is also why we run the conference in association with the Show - a conference that addresses real issues of new build and conservation and attracts speakers from the highest levels of academia and the construction industry\'s professionals."Designers love to use stone - understandably - but there is still some mystery surrounding it. Hearing about the issues as well as seeing the materials, fixing systems and the machinery used to work it can be a great eye opener."

The stone industry in the UK today is about three times the size it was when the first Natural Stone Show was staged in 1995, so it is not surprising that the exhibition has also expanded with each event staged at the industry-preferred interval of two years.

The 2006 event is already showing all the signs of being another record breaker with 74% of this year\'s exhibitors, who get first refusal on space at the next show, having reserved space for 2006.

From this month (October) new orders are being accepted. To book your stand, contact Richard Bradbury on Tel: 0115 945 3889. Email address below.

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