Innovation on the Agenda at LEP Conference
This year’s Greater Lincolnshire LEP Conference will bring together a host of expert speakers to highlight how innovation is changing the future for businesses in our area.
The event on Thursday 7th November will feature participants taking part in two conversations: one on innovation for growth and the other on business innovators.
The first In Conversation will discuss innovation opportunities, impacts and emerging technologies and will feature:
- Sarah Brown, Head of STEP Strategic Supplier Relationships (Nuclear Fusion/ UKAEA)
- Fiona Strens, Director of the Centre for Defence and Security Ai at the University of Lincoln
- Stuart Piccaver, CEO of JEPCO Group
- Steph Hamill, innovator, advocate, entrepreneur and consultancy leader
The discussion will cover the power of groundbreaking innovations across tech, AI, robotics, and digital platforms.
Success stories from local innovators will be the topic of the second conversation, which will feature:
- Mark Webb, Managing Director of E-Factor Group and a LEP Director
- Katie Woodward, Head of Operations at Corrboard
- Tim Jackson, Operations Director at Worldwide Fruit
- Robin Adlam, Managing Director of Lone Star
- Claire Foster, CEO of Boston College
These business leaders will explore innovation from various perspectives, showcasing some of the innovative techniques and developments in their businesses and industries. They will discuss the importance of shaping the right skills to augment and grow innovators and entrepreneurs through creative thinking and problem solving.
Also at the conference, James Pinchbeck, Chief Marketing Officer at Streets and Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Innovation Commission, will launch the Greater Lincolnshire LEP’s Innovation Routemap.
Developed by the LEP and the University of Lincoln, the routemap sets out a new approach to accelerating innovation-led growth across Greater Lincolnshire.
It aims to create an environment where problem solving and creative thinking thrives, and where a culture of innovation permeates businesses of all sizes and sectors.
The objective is to increase the capacity of Greater Lincolnshire to innovate, ensuring that more businesses can engage with and benefit from innovative practices and technologies.
The conference will be hosted by Nikki Cooke, a LEP Director and Chief Executive of LIVES.
We will also hear from Ruth Carver, Chief Executive of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP.
The theme this year is Innovation for Growth, and among the other highlights will be a keynote speech by self-styled rebel technologist Brett StClair and a Demonstration Arena showcasing the latest technology and innovation from Greater Lincolnshire businesses and academics.
Those attending will also hear personal reflections by the current Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP and his two predecessors: Professor Neal Juster, Pat Doody and Ursula Lidbetter.
The conference will take place at the EPIC Centre on the Lincolnshire Showground from 8am until 2pm on Thursday 7th November 2024. Admission is free and there will be the usual networking opportunities and a complimentary lunch for delegates.
Free transport to and from the venue will be available on the Lincoln BIG sightseeing tour bus, departing from St Mary’s Street outside Lincoln railway station at 7.45am and returning from the showground at 1.30pm.
Visit the booking page to register for your free place at the conference.
Notes for editors:
About the Greater Lincolnshire LEP
- We are a strong partnership of private, public and education leadersdriving positive economic growth across Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland.
- We areimproving the lives and opportunities of communities and businesses in Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland.
- We are 180+ leaders harnessing our economic ambitions for Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland.
- We champion Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland as a place to live, work, play and invest.
- We are the voice for business and we champion our four game-changing sectors:
- Ports and logistics and the Humber Freeport
- UK Food Valley
- Clean energy
- Defence and security
- We also work across the manufacturing, visitor economy and health and care enterprise sectors, and work on employment and skills, innovation and business support
- We work with investors in our area, support business growth and help businesses develop the skills they need.
- We work with schools and businesses to develop strong careers programmes that reflect local opportunities.
- We set out what Greater Lincolnshire needs to grow its economy and we secure and deliver funding from Government for our area.
- We cover an area including North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, Rutland and the administrative county of Lincolnshire.
- To find out more visit http://www.greaterlincolnshirelep.co.ukor follow us on Twitter @greaterlincslep, Facebook or LinkedIn.
LEP achievements
Since our creation in 2010 we have:
- unlocked over £279 million of additional investment through our funding programmes.
- engaged with 20,000 businesses through the Growth Hub programme.
- supported a successful Humber Freeport bid bringing 7,000 jobs and £2 billion-plus investment
- begun to develop a Top 10 global UK Food Valley cluster
- provided 5,000 businesses with three or more hours of dedicated support
- created 3,108 jobs
- delivered 34 transformational growth projects and programmes
- supported 2,711 learners and apprentices
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