EEF launches National Manufacturing Conference 2017

The flagship annual event – sponsored by Lombard, the UK’s largest asset finance provider – will bring leading politicians, senior industrialists and manufacturing leaders from across the UK together to discuss the critical challenges ahead.

With the UK on the cusp of Brexiting from the EU, this year’s conference has a strong and timely global slant. Key themes up for debate include the UK’s ability to compete globally, UK manufacturing’s prospects in the year ahead, how to make Britain the best place to manufacture and digitising supply chains in a global environment.

A number of high-profile speakers have been lined up, including Martin Wolf CBE, chief economics commentator at The Financial Times, Vicky Pryce of the Centre for Economics & Business Research and Alison Rose, CEO Commercial & Private Banking, NatWest. By popular demand the conference will be chaired again by broadcaster Steph McGovern, a former engineer.

The conference will be followed in the evening by EEF’s annual Manufacturing Dinner, where Alastair Campbell – the journalist, broadcaster, political aide and author, best known for his work as Downing Street Press Secretary and Director of Communications and Strategy for Tony Blair – will be the after dinner speaker.

Terry Scuoler, Chief Executive of EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, says: “With Brexit on the horizon, our conference comes at a critical time for industry, which has a key role to play in ensuring that post-Brexit Britain is a great success.

“This conference provides an important collaborative platform for industry and Government. Mutual understanding and respect will be critical in developing a robust industrial strategy and delivering a carefully-engineered Brexit that supports investment, ensures business certainty and allows manufacturers to play a full and unfettered role in helping the UK achieve post-EU economic and global trading success.”

Ian Isaac, Head of Lombard Sales, says: “We’re once again proud to be headline sponsor of EEF’s National Manufacturing Conference. We continue to recognise the importance the manufacturing sector has on the wider UK economy, and we’re dedicated to supporting businesses by funding the equipment they need to innovate and grow. We look forward to the event and to welcoming manufacturers and industry leaders from all across the UK, unite together to tackle the challenges that lay ahead.”