Award-winning business leaders to speak at LEP conference

The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership is delighted to be welcoming the leaders of some of the region’s most successful businesses to speak at its annual conference his year.

Businesses from throughout the area are invited to the conference, which will be held at Yarnfield Park Conference Centre, near Stone, ST15 0NL, on Friday October 20. The event, which runs from 9.15am to 12.30pm, followed by lunch and networking, will be an opportunity to hear first-hand from the businesses and organisations driving innovation, skills and economic growth across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire and to celebrate progress on the LEP’s aims of delivering jobs and growth.

The conference will be introduced by LEP chairman David Frost CBE, who will give a round-up of the LEP’s partnership working with business and public sector partners, its achievements to date and its future plans to continue driving economic growth.

Other speakers include:

• LEP board member Sarah Montgomery, managing director of the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, who will be speaking about the growing importance of the tourism and leisure sector to the local economy.
• Mark Bowen, commercial director of Queen’s Award for Enterprise-winning Cannock firm ATP Industries Group, whose topic will be promoting innovation and ambition in business.
• David Berks, strategic director of Penkridge-based construction recruitment specialists PSR Solutions, winners of the Business of the Year 2017 title in the Staffordshire Chambers awards.
• Josie Morris, managing director of innovative and award-winning eco-friendly packaging firm Woolcool, based in Stone.

There will also be presentations from Cllr Philip Atkins, leader of Staffordshire County Council and Cllr Abi Brown, deputy leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, and the opportunity to meet some of the LEP board members leading on the delivery of a range of innovative projects benefitting our area.

“The LEP continues to build on its solid foundation of successful project delivery throughout the area with exciting ongoing plans to promote growth and help our economy and communities to thrive,” David Frost commented.

“Recent achievements include the completion of major infrastructure works opening up sites including Meaford Business Park, Stone, Bericote Four Ashes, South Staffordshire, and Branston Locks, Burton-upon-Trent for business use. We are also seeing development gathering pace at our Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone in Stoke-on-Trent and north Staffordshire, capitalising on the area’s ceramics and advanced manufacturing expertise.

“In addition we are investing to create the highly skilled workforce of the future by creating advanced manufacturing and engineering skills hubs at FE colleges throughout our area. All these initiatives are translating into real benefits in terms of employment and quality of life.

“We are very keen to hear the views of our local businesses so we can continue to maximise the benefits of economic growth for everyone in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. The morning will include ample opportunities to put questions and discuss issues with LEP board members, as well as networking with other businesses.”

The conference, which is free to attend, is open to representatives from all businesses throughout Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, and to organisations working with the business community.

If you would like to attend please contact LEP office manager Julie Frost at julie.frost@staffordshire.gov.uk or 01785 719002, or communications manager Alison Thomas at alison.thomas1@staffordshire.gov.uk or 01785 719003.