The Future of Manufacturing Conference at MKM Stadium

THE Future of Manufacturing Conference will explore the future trends relating to productivity gain via digital transformation, as well as reduced energy costs via energy efficiency measures and renewables generation.

The event, a collaboration between Invest Hull, Invest East Yorkshire and the HEY Business, Growth and Skills Hub, will feature expert speakers, panel discussions, interactive breakout sessions and a marketplace for exhibiting business support and funding organisations.  

The conference will welcome keynote speaker Prof Juergen Maier, chair of Great British Energy, co-founder of vocL and former CEO of Siemens UK.

Prof Maier also led the government’s “Made Smarter Review” into how the manufacturing industry in the UK can make better of use of emerging digital technologies, primarily to help drive productivity gain.

Other confirmed speakers are Jo Young, vice-chair of The Yorkshire and Humber Made Smarter Advisory Board and MD of Additive X, Michael Riding, director special projects at Eltherington Group, and Dr Sean Casey, lead energy engineer at Environmental Strategies Ltd. Further guest speakers will be announced in due course.  

Prof Maier said: “Great British Energy’s mission is to invest and develop green energy projects - energy engineered in the UK. Quite simply, we dismantle the anti-net zero narrative by getting on and doing.

“Hundreds and thousands of jobs have already been created by net-zero and we will help create thousands more in supply chains up and down the country.

“Great British Energy will work to ensure that manufacturing stays in the UK as much as possible, so that communities don’t get left behind in the green energy transformation.” 

Jason Speedy, chief operating officer at Groupe Atlantic and chair of the Hull & East Yorkshire Business Board, added: “Hull and East Yorkshire’s manufacturing sector is a vital component of the region’s economy, employing nearly 40,000 people.

“As chair of the region’s Business Board, I am delighted to see the fantastic line-up of speakers and breakout sessions on offer at the conference and would strongly encourage all of regional manufacturers to attend this free event.

“As a manufacturing business ourselves, the team at Groupe Atlantic are very much looking forward to the conference.”

There are more than 1,400 manufacturing businesses in Hull and East Riding employing 38,000 people and those businesses are welcome at The Future of Manufacturing Conference.

Taking place from 8:30am to 2pm on Thursday 23 October, the conference will provide ample time for networking, with a buffet lunch also included.

Places at The Future of Manufacturing Conference are limited and can be booked here.