BritSpine, a leading conference and exhibition bringing together spinal surgeons, physiotherapists, and other specialists in spinal health from across the UK and beyond, held its latest event in Manchester Central’s Exchange Hall.
Alongside the professional programme, the event organisers hosted a Back Pain Health Day, a free community outreach initiative designed to support residents of Greater Manchester with expert advice on managing back pain.
This health-focused initiative was a collaborative effort between Versus Arthritis, Manchester Convention Bureau, Mosaic Events, and Manchester Central. The idea was brought forward by Rajat Verma, a BritSpine ambassador and consultant at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, who had seen the success of previous BritSpine events and advocated for bringing the conference to Manchester.
The collaboration between teams, along with charities, health professionals, and community representatives, paired with multiple site visits and planning sessions ensured that the event would be accessible, relevant, and impactful.
The overarching aim was to extend the reach of the BritSpine conference beyond the professional audience and generate lasting social value in the city.
By offering free access to guidance, consultations and educational resources, the event sought to reduce health inequality and empower individuals with knowledge and tools to improve their quality of life.
Feedback from attendees highlighted the value of the information provided, as well as the rare opportunity to engage with specialists outside of clinical settings.
The legacy that BritSpine is going to leave behind in Manchester is a brilliant one. For Greater Manchester residents to come to the event, learn about back health, and get advice on back pain from some of the top experts in the country for free is a brilliant opportunity. Hopefully, they’ll share this advice with friends and family so it has a wider impact.
Richard Walker, Tourism Sustainability Manager at Manchester Convention Bureau
The Back Pain Health Day served as a model for how business events can leave a positive legacy in host cities. Beyond the professional insights shared within the conference, this initiative demonstrated how knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and strategic planning can create community-wide benefits.
It also marked an important milestone for Versus Arthritis, as it was their first event with local staffing in Manchester, enabling the local charity staff to build new partnerships and connections in the community.
BritSpine’s Back Pain Health Day demonstrated how large medical events can make a real difference in local communities. With teams working together across different organisations with a shared goal, the event helped people improve their understanding of back health and created a lasting, positive impact in Manchester.