Sir John Peace announced as a further keynote speaker at LEP Business Live.

Interactive exhibits including low carbon technology and the latest 3D simulators will be amongst the highlights of LEP Business Live next week.

Visitors to the annual Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership summit and networking event on Friday 21st October will be able to admire haulage vehicles decorated with works of art, test drive a low-carbon car and try their hand at an immersive combine harvesting simulator.

Delegates will get to hear from the LEP’s Chair, Ursula Lidbetter MBE, about Greater Lincolnshire’s achievements over the past year and its plans for the future.

And two keynote speakers have been lined up for this year’s event at the Lincolnshire Showground, which is now established as the region’s essential business networking opportunity.

Sir John Peace will talk about the role of Greater Lincolnshire and the opportunities presented by the Midlands Engine, of which he is Chairman, while Olympic bronze medal-winning high jumper Steve Smith will give a talk about how businesses can raise the bar and achieve success.

Among the activities and attractions on the day will be the chance to:

  • Test drive the latest low carbon Nissan LEAF, which can be charged at home or en route – courtesy of Nissan Marshall
  • Try out the latest in simulator technology – a full-size combine harvester simulator complete with steering wheel, gearbox and 360-degree screens, used as a teaching tool at Bishop Burton's Riseholme College Showground Campus
  • Find out how businesses can get involved with the Access Lincoln Hirebike scheme and view some of their 100-strong fleet of bikes on display
  • See two FreshLinc produce trucks decorated with local landscapes as part of the Transported community arts project
  • Look inside the UKTI Export Hub truck, where a Skype room allows you to connect with a network of overseas advisors about doing business in different markets
  • Hop on board the Visit Lincoln tour bus to discuss private hire, tours and events
  • Tour The Edge, a new housing development on the showground site by Lincolnshire firm Gusto Homes - book on the day for tours from 1pm onwards

Keynote speaker Sir John Peace is Chairman of Burberry Group Plc and Chairman of Standard Chartered Plc. He is also Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Nottingham. 

He was knighted in 2011 for services to business and the voluntary sector.

As Chairman of the Midlands Engine he is playing a leading role in turning the vision of a more prosperous and economically dynamic Midlands region into a reality.

Meanwhile high jumper Steve Smith will be speaking about how businesses and public sector organisations can work together to ‘raise the bar’ in Greater Lincolnshire.

Britain’s most successful ever high jumper, Steve won bronze in the 1996 Atlanta games, and the British record he set in the event in 1994 has remained unbroken for 22 years.

Since retirement he has gained extensive experience of working with leading corporate organisations and elite level sport. His talk will give a unique insight into the crossovers from sport to business and will draw on his own experience of performing at the highest level, as well as on the work of influential figures behind the success of the 2012 London games.

LEP Business Live 2016 takes place at the EPIC Centre on the Lincolnshire Showground on Friday 21st October, when the theme will be ‘raising the bar’ and encouraging businesses and politicians to shout louder about what puts the ‘great’ in Greater Lincolnshire.

LEP Business Live is the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s annual summit and networking event which concludes Lincolnshire Business Week. It will take place from 8.15am until 1pm.

The dedicated exhibition area features zones corresponding to some of the LEP’s most important priorities, from agrifood and manufacturing to the visitor economy and the low-carbon sector.

Admission is free and complimentary refreshments and brunch will be served.

To book your free ticket visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lep-business-live-2016-tickets-26679549250?aff=es2

To keep up to date the conversation about LEP Business Live on Twitter follow @GreaterLincsLEP or use the hashtag #LEPBusinessLive.