Why do businesses with brilliant technology sometimes struggle to grow?  It's a question we've encountered repeatedly across advanced engineering and advanced materials.  The technology works.  The expertise is there.  The market opportunity exists.  But commercial growth still isn't happening as quickly as expected.  Our new white paper explores why the answer often lies in the gaps between three areas: strategy, marketing and market access.  Because technical excellence alone doesn't guarantee commercial success.  Businesses need to know where they want to win, translate technical capability into clear customer value and build relationships with the people and markets that can create opportunities.  When those three things work separately, growth can stall.  When they align, the outcome can look very different.  Download our latest white paper, Best Technology ≠ Fastest Growth: Why Engineering Companies Need More Than Great Technology, here:  fluency-group.com/fluency-ex… #EngineeringGrowth #AdvancedEngineering #AdvancedMaterials #BusinessStrategy #B2BMarketing

The best opportunities at an exhibition often begin with a conversation. A new introduction. An unexpected connection. An exchange of ideas that opens the door to something bigger. That's what REFRESH & EXCHANGE is all about. At Advanced Engineering 2026, Fluency and the ICS Innovation Hub are coming together on Stand U140 to create a welcoming space for industry professionals to connect, share ideas, explore opportunities and take a moment away from the busy exhibition floor. Whether you're looking to discover new technologies, build industry relationships, explore international markets or discuss your next stage of business growth, there'll be plenty to talk about. The Fluency team will be on hand to discuss your ambitions and challenges, from identifying opportunities for growth to reaching the right markets and decision-makers. Alongside us, the ICS Innovation Hub will provide opportunities to connect with the wider composites community, discover emerging innovations and learn more about the International Composites Summit. And because good conversations deserve good hospitality, we'll be keeping visitors refreshed throughout both days. From morning coffee and pastries to afternoon cocktails, we've put together a programme of refreshments to make Stand U140 a destination throughout the show. Champagne Afternoon Tea at 2pm, featuring scones, cakes and fizz, brought to you by Women in Composites Industry (WCI). Whatever your objectives for Advanced Engineering, we'd love to hear about them. Take a look at what's on the menu and make time to join us at REFRESH & EXCHANGE.  Advanced Engineering | NEC Birmingham  4–5 November 2026  Stand U140 | Fluency + ICS Innovation Hub REFRESH & EXCHANGE Connections served all day. #AE2026 #RefreshAndExchange #AdvancedEngineering #InternationalCompositesSummit #FluencyGroup

Today is World Mental Health Day.  Work is a big part of our lives, which makes looking after our mental health at work just as important as looking after our physical health. At Fluency, we believe a positive workplace is about more than the work we deliver. It’s about creating an environment where people feel supported, comfortable speaking up, able to ask for help when they need it and encouraged to look after themselves. Mental health can look different for everyone. Sometimes it means talking. Sometimes it means taking a break, setting boundaries, checking in with a colleague or simply recognising when things are becoming too much. And while World Mental Health Day is an important reminder to have these conversations, looking out for ourselves and the people around us matters every day of the year. So today, take a moment to check in with yourself, and perhaps check in with someone else too. A simple “How are you?” can mean more than we realise. #WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealth #WorkplaceWellbeing

Today is World Mental Health Day.  Work is a big part of our lives, which makes looking after our mental health at work just as important as looking after our physical health. At Fluency, we believe a positive workplace is about more than the work we deliver. It’s about creating an environment where people feel supported, comfortable speaking up, able to ask for help when they need it and encouraged to look after themselves. Mental health can look different for everyone. Sometimes it means talking. Sometimes it means taking a break, setting boundaries, checking in with a colleague or simply recognising when things are becoming too much. And while World Mental Health Day is an important reminder to have these conversations, looking out for ourselves and the people around us matters every day of the year. So today, take a moment to check in with yourself, and perhaps check in with someone else too. A simple “How are you?” can mean more than we realise. #WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealth #WorkplaceWellbeing

There’s a new (very little) member of the Fluency family arriving soon!  With Shannon getting ready to head off on maternity leave, there was only one thing for it, an office baby shower! We took some time away from the usual meetings, emails and deadlines to get everyone together for an afternoon of food, games, a little bit of crafting and, most importantly, celebrating Shannon before she begins this very exciting new chapter. It was also the perfect opportunity for us to say a big thank you. Shannon does so much behind the scenes at Fluency and is always there to help keep things moving, answer our questions and support the team. Her contribution to Fluency goes far beyond her day-to-day role, and we’re definitely going to notice when she isn’t around the office! We’ll miss having you around, but we couldn’t be more excited for you and your family. Thank you for everything you do for Fluency and for all the support you give the team. We hope you enjoyed your celebration and are heading into maternity leave feeling very loved and appreciated.  Wishing you all the happiness in the world for this next chapter. We can’t wait to meet the newest (and smallest!) member of the Fluency family.  #TeamFluency #BabyShower #OfficeLife #TeamFluency #Fluency

We’re doing Advanced Engineering a little differently this year.  Across two days at the NEC, Stand U140 will bring together Fluency and the ICS Innovation Hub, creating a place to meet, talk, make introductions, exchange ideas and, importantly, keep refreshed.  Welcome to REFRESH & EXCHANGE.  Throughout the show, we’ll be bringing people together to talk about what is happening across advanced engineering and advanced materials, from new technologies and industry challenges to international opportunities and business growth.  For Fluency, three questions will be particularly high on the agenda:  Where do you want to grow?  Are you communicating your value to the people who matter?  And are you getting in front of the right markets, organisations and decision-makers?  Strategy. Marketing. Market Access.  They are also the themes behind our latest white paper, Engineering Growth, but at Advanced Engineering we want to take the conversation off the page and onto the show floor.  And because good conversations are always better with something to eat or drink:  09:00 | Breakfast – Coffee & pastries  11:00 | Elevenses – Tea & biscuits  12:30 | Ploughman’s Lunch – Cheese, pickles & British favourites  14:00 | Champagne Afternoon Tea – Scones, cakes & fizz  15:30 | Spritz Hour – Hugo & Aperol Spritz  Plus, refreshments throughout the day.  Come for the strategy conversation. Come to make an industry connection. Come to find out more about ICS. Or just come for a coffee and tell us what you’re seeing across the show.  Advanced Engineering | NEC Birmingham  4–5 November 2026  Stand U140 | Fluency + ICS Innovation Hub  REFRESH & EXCHANGE  Connections served all day.  #AE2026 #EngineeringGrowth #MarketAccess #InternationalCompositesSummit #FluencyGroup

Today is World Heart Day  Behind every business are the people who keep it moving. At Fluency, people are at the heart of what we do – from our own team to the clients, partners and wider communities we work with every day. World Heart Day is an opportunity to recognise the importance of looking after our heart health and encouraging the people around us to do the same. So today, we’re joining people around the world in marking World Heart Day and sharing a simple reminder to take care of the people – and the hearts – that matter. #WorldHeartDay #TeamFluency #HealthAndWellbeing #Fluency

We couldn’t resist this one… The 80s AI trend has officially made its way to Fluency. And apparently, we would have fitted right in.  But behind the big hair, neon pink and questionable fashion choices, there’s a marketing point here too. Trends move quickly. One week, everyone’s talking about the latest AI image trend. The next, attention has moved somewhere else. For brands, the opportunity isn’t to jump on every trend. It’s knowing which ones fit your audience, your personality and what you’re trying to achieve. Sometimes that means sharing industry insight. Sometimes it means reacting quickly to what people are talking about. And sometimes… it means giving the Fluency team an 80s makeover. Good marketing isn’t about following trends for the sake of it. It’s about knowing when they can help your brand get noticed, start conversations and show a little personality. We think this one was worth it.  #Fluency #Marketing #MarketingTrends #B2BMarketing #AI #TeamFluency

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day, and for Fluency, this is a day with a very personal meaning.  Jo was Gemma's best friend from school and one of the people who encouraged her to start Fluency.  She believed in Gemma, pushed her to believe in herself, and, although Jo never got to see the business Fluency became, her influence is still very much part of its story.  Jo died by suicide.  Last year, Gemma, Colin and Colin's dad walked 100km along the Jurassic Coast in her memory, raising money for Mind and marking the years since she was lost.  But the reason for sharing Jo's story goes beyond one challenge.  Suicide is something we need to be able to talk about.  We need to make it easier for people to say when they are struggling, easier to ask someone if they're really okay, and easier to know where to turn when things feel overwhelming.  Today, we're remembering Jo and everyone whose life has been affected by suicide.  And we're reminding anyone who needs to hear it that there are people ready to listen.  Samaritans: 116 123  Mind: 0300 123 3393   Read more about Jo and our 100km challenge:  fluency-group.com/walking-fo…  #WorldSuicidePreventionDay #MentalHealth #Mind #Samaritans

What's the one thing you wouldn't head to CAMX without?  With Team Fluency getting ready for Atlanta, we've asked each member to choose one essential they're packing for the trip.  Some are genuinely useful.  Some tell you rather more about the person packing them.  And we’re not promising everyone has interpreted the word "essential" in quite the same way.  Here's what's making it into the Fluency suitcases.  What's your one non-negotiable for a business trip or exhibition?  #CAMX2026 #TeamFluency #BusinessTravel #Composites #Atlanta

Strategy first. Pottery second.  Last week, we brought Team Fluency together for a day focused on the next stage of our own growth. The morning was about the serious stuff: our strategy, our markets, our clients and where we want to take Fluency next. Then we swapped business plans for paintbrushes and headed out for an afternoon of pottery painting, followed by dinner together. While having a clear strategy matters, so does making time to step away from the day-to-day and spend time together as a team. A productive morning, a slightly more creative afternoon and a great way to round off the day together. As for the finished pottery… we’ll have to wait a little longer to see how our masterpieces turned out. 👀 #TeamFluency #FluencyGroup #TeamDay #BusinessStrategy #AgencyLife

Happy Birthday to our Operations Director, Colin!  The man who can usually be found keeping projects moving, solving problems, talking about chilli, planning the next addition to his bar or somehow getting dragged into another Fluency social media video.  Colin plays a huge role behind the scenes at Fluency and keeps plenty of plates spinning across the business.  We hope you have a brilliant birthday, Colin.  Although we’re fairly certain it will involve something spicy.  #HappyBirthday #TeamFluency #FluencyGroup

School holidays don’t always mean taking time off… sometimes they’re a great opportunity to gain some valuable workplace experience. We’ve loved having Fred and Jasmine in the Fluency office, getting involved with the team, learning more about the work we do and picking up some valuable new skills before they head off to their next opportunities after the summer. Supporting young people as they take their first steps into the world of work is something we’re always proud to do, and it’s been fantastic to have them as part of the team this week. #WorkExperience #FutureTalent #TeamFluency #Marketing #CareerDevelopment

Today is National Skyscraper Day, so we’re taking the opportunity to look at the role composites can play in the buildings around us.  Across construction and the built environment, composites are being used in:  • Structural beams and profiles.  • Columns and supports.  • Roof structures.  • Load-bearing panels.  • Façades and cladding systems.  • Window and door profiles.  • Architectural features.  • Structural reinforcement and repair.  • Modular building systems.  Their high strength-to-weight performance, corrosion resistance, durability and design flexibility are helping architects and engineers rethink how materials can be used in construction.  And for the photo?  A throwback to some of Team Fluency outside our office in Bahrain, which happened to be in a skyscraper, so it felt like the perfect excuse to bring it out again.  #NationalSkyscraperDay #Composites #Construction #AdvancedMaterials #Engineering #BuiltEnvironment

Today is an important day for Fluency.  We’ve brought the whole team together to spend the morning looking at where we’ve come from, where we’re going next and, most importantly, how we get there together.  As a business, we spend a lot of time helping other companies think strategically about growth. Today, we’re turning that thinking on ourselves.  We’ll be looking at our markets, our clients, the opportunities ahead and how Fluency Marketing, Fluency Exchange, Fluency Events and Fluency People work together to deliver more for the businesses we support.  There may also be something new behind today’s conversations that we’ll be sharing very soon.  Then this afternoon, the laptops are closing, and the paintbrushes are coming out.  More on that soon.  #FluencyGroup #BusinessStrategy #BusinessGrowth #TeamFluency #AdvancedEngineering

One year of Katie at Fluency! It’s been a whole year since Katie joined the team as our Marketing Director, and she’s certainly made her mark! From working closely with our clients and overseeing everything that goes into delivering their marketing, to supporting the team and helping shape what’s next for Fluency, Katie has become a key part of everything we do. A lot has happened in 12 months, with plenty of exciting projects, busy moments and laughs along the way. Happy one-year Fluency anniversary, Katie! We’re so glad to have you as part of the team! #TeamFluency #WorkAnniversary #Marketing

CAMX is getting closer, and Team Fluency is getting ready for Atlanta.  From 21–24 September, we’ll be heading to CAMX to represent Fluency, the International Composites Summit, and our various ICS Hub exhibitors. We’re looking forward to catching up with clients and friends from across the industry, making new connections and seeing what’s happening across the composites and advanced materials community.  But what is everyone looking forward to most?  We asked the Fluency CAMX crew two questions:  What are you most excited about for the trip to Atlanta?  And what are you hoping to see or experience at CAMX?  Here's what they said.  If you're heading to Atlanta too, tell us what you're looking forward to.  #CAMX2026 #Composites #AdvancedMaterials #TeamFluency #Atlanta

National Composites Week may be coming to an end, but the conversation around scale is only getting started. This week’s theme, “Composites are built to scale,” has highlighted the breadth of opportunity across the industry, from increasing production and expanding applications to reaching new markets. But turning that opportunity into wider adoption will take more than one thing. Innovation, investment, collaboration and a clear understanding of where composites can deliver the greatest value all have a part to play. So, as National Composites Week draws to a close, we’re interested in what comes next. What do you think will make the biggest difference to the continued growth of composites? #NationalCompositesWeek #BuiltToScale #Composites #AdvancedMaterials #FluencySocials

It’s International Dog Day, so naturally, we’re giving a shout-out to the four-legged members of Team Fluency. They might not contribute much to the Monday morning meeting, but they’re excellent at boosting morale, encouraging regular screen breaks and making sure no lunch goes unattended. Today, they can take the credit. Happy International Dog Day from Fluency! #InternationalDogDay #TeamFluency #BehindTheScenes #FluencySocials

The Fluency sunglasses have landed in... Italy!   Earlier this month, the Fluency sunglasses joined Katie Homes on her family holiday in Florence, Italy.   We heard they even took a trip to the Leaning Tower of Pisa! Safe to say they're settling in nicely. ☀️😎  Where's your favourite place to switch off during the summer?  #TeamFluency #SummerTour #BehindTheScenes