Around 80 business people from across Greater Lincolnshire attended our first Big Debate which discussed the Midlands Engine yesterday (Wednesday).

LEP Board Director Councillor Colin Davie chaired the event, which was the first in a series of debates designed to encourage discussion of the big issues affecting Greater Lincolnshire.

On the panel were the LEP's Chair, Ursula Lidbetter MBE; Tom Robinson, CEO of construction firm Simons Group; LEP Board Director Steve Middlebrough, Head of Manufacturing at Siemens; and David Sharif, Director of the Midlands Engine.

Questions ranged from how we can narrow the productivity gap between Greater Lincolnshire and the rest of the UK and how can 11 LEPs collaborate to make the Midlands Engine a success to what role do businesses have to play in supporting the Midlands Engine and how can SMEs get involved?

There was a stimulating exchange of views at the event, which took place at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Lincoln.

Future Big Debates will take place on 6th July at Forest Pines near Scunthorpe (devolution), 8th July at Roythorne's in Spalding (food) and 19th July at a venue to be confirmed in Grantham (devolution).