The annual LEP conference in July will feature an unprecedented number of expert panel discussions.

The annual conference of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership in July will feature an unprecedented number of expert panel discussions as delegates discuss Lincolnshire’s evolving opportunities.

Hosting the event will be Susannah Streeter, World Business Report anchor on the BBC World Service and BBC World TV and a former reporter on BBC Breakfast.

Among those taking part will be international energy consultant John Henry Looney, Professor David Welbourn from change management specialists Eutropia Ltd, and robotics expert Halvard Grimstad from the University of Lincoln.

Central to the day’s proceedings at the annual LEP Conference at the Lincolnshire Showground  on Friday 12th July will be two Grand Panels to discuss Lincolnshire’s evolving opportunities.

Grand Panel One will be chaired by Susannah Streeter and will discuss capitalising on rural opportunities.

Taking part will be Jonathan Reynolds from Nautilus / Orbital Energy, John Henry Looney, Nick Chambers from LACE Housing, Mark Noonan from the Construction Industry Training Board, Mark Lam from the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust, Professor Richard Parish from the National Centre for Rural Health & Care, Charlotte Horobin from Make UK (formerly EEF) and Debbie Barnes from Lincolnshire County Council.

The focus of the panel will be how infrastructure such as energy and services such as health and social care can be provided in a rural county with a growing but dispersed population.

Grand Panel Two will be chaired by Ursula Lidbetter MBE, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP and Chief Executive of the Lincolnshire Co-op, and will discuss opportunities for industry leadership.

On the panel will be Duncan Botting from Global Smart Transformation, Lydia Rusling from Visit Lincoln, LEP agrifood consultant Martin Collison, University of Lincoln robotics expert Halvard Grimstad, Janet Bellamy from the National Centre Food Manufacturing, Professor David Welbourn from Eutropia, Naomi Clayton from the Learning & Work Institute, and Chris Baron, Resort Director at Butlins.

This panel will focus on supporting the visitor economy and agri-food sectors to deliver economic growth and high-quality, higher paid jobs.

Alongside the two Grand Panels there will also be five other expert panel discussions on:

  • Developing a quality, inclusive visitor economy
  • Future-proofing the food sector
  • Transitioning skills into a changing work environment
  • Rural energy pilots
  • Rural health and care

There will also be an exhibition showcasing business and industrial technologies which are at the cutting edge of the digital and robotics revolution.

“I’m pleased to say that we’ve taken our annual conference to another level this year, with internationally renowned panellists and a highly regarded host from the BBC,” said Ursula Lidbetter MBE, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP.

“Discussions on the day will focus on some of the biggest challenges facing Greater Lincolnshire as well as some of the evolving opportunities that are emerging. They will play an important role on helping us to shape the future of our area’s economy.

“The LEP Conference has long been an essential date in the diary of Greater Lincolnshire’s business and public sector leaders and we look forward to welcoming many of them to the event in July.”

As headline supporters of the conference, the British Business Bank will also be in attendance to highlight the success of the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), which is making strides to support SMEs in the region with commercially focused finance through debt and equity finance funds.

The bank will be hosting an early morning seminar at the conference where the fund managers appointed to deliver MEIF will speak about investments made to date and give guidance on applying for funding. 

The LEP Conference is a half-day event which runs from 8am until 2pm on Friday 12th July.

Lunch is provided and free delegates’ passes are available via the LEP Conference 2019 Eventbrite site.

Limited exhibition stands are still available, so if you are a businesses with an innovative product to showcase, new technology to demonstrate or a great idea to shout about, contact Sarah Duxbury on 01522 585501 or email sduxbury@lincolnshireshowground.co.uk to find out about exhibiting opportunities.

You can follow the latest updates about the conference using the hashtag #LEPConference2019 on social media.