Events

Sustaining Competitivness

6 July 2012

The Belfry, Wishaw, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands,B76 9PR

The West Midlands Economy in a Global Context

The West Midlands economy remains amongst the most dynamic and innovative in the world. With strengths across a broad range of sectors, namely Manufacturing, Design, Transport, Logistics, Law, Accountancy, Business & Financial Services, the structure of the local economy offers a platform for companies to thrive. Drawing in a range of expert commentators and practitioners, the “Sustaining Competitiveness” conference offer analysis and policy advice on how this global competitiveness can be sustained and enhanced.

08:00 Registration

08:45 Introduction
Moderator - Katie Rowlett, BBC
Welcome – Cllr Alan Farnell, Leader, Warwickshire County Council

08:50 The WM Economy in context
Chair - Jeremy Lefroy MP
The Global Economy - David Bloom, Head, Foreign Exchange Research, HSBC
The WM Economy - Prof David Bailey, Coventry University Business School, Local Manufacturer, Q&A

9:40 The European Market
Chair - Margot James MP
Daniel Calleja Crespo, Director General for Enterprise & Industry, European Comission


10:30 Attracting Foreign Direct Investment
Chair - James Morris MP
Glenn Barklie FDI Intelligence
Mark Cook, University of Wolverhampton Business School

11:00 Coffee Break

11:15 Breakout session

Financing Growth
Lead: University of Birmingham Business School

Manufacturing Success
Lead: University of Wolverhampton Business School

Green Manufacturing
Lead: Coventry University Business School

Hong Kong
Lead: Invest Hong Kong

12:15 Buffet Lunch

12:25 Breakout session

Russia
Lead: Russian Midlands Business Club

13:15 Breakout session

Stimulating Innovation
Lead: University of Staffordshire Business School

Middle East Trade Finance
Lead: ABC International

Transport & Logistics
Lead: Forrest Research

Sustainable Housing
Lead: Sustainable Housing Action Partnership

14:15 The Export Challenge
Chair - tba
Sarah Hewin
Regional Head of Research (Europe)
Standard Chartered Bank

14:45 Industrial Productivity
Chair - Jack Dromey MP
Rob Dobson Markit
Rhys Herbert, Lloyds Banking

15:15 Policy Response
Chair - tba
Iain Wright, Shadow Minister for BIS
Q&A

15:45 The All-Party Parliamentary Group on the West Midlands economy
Mark Garnier MP
Ian Austin MP
Lorely Burt MP

16:15 Concluding comments
Katie Rowlett, BBC
Doug Mahoney, International Trade Director, UKTI
Informal NetworkingBreakout Sessions

11:15 Breakout session

Financing Growth
Lead: University of Birmingham Business School
Chair: Gisela Stuart MP
- John Bryson, University of Birmingham Business School
- Paul Heaven, Blue Sky Corporate Finance
- Tony Stott, Midven
- Nick Tabiner, Lombard

Manufacturing Success
Lead: University of Wolverhampton Business School
Chair: Emma Reynolds MP
- Simon Griffiths, MAS
- Katie Teasdale, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce
- David Caro, Qualplast
- Stuart Farquhar, University of Wolverhampton Business School

Green Manufacturing
Lead: Coventry University Business School
Chair: Dan Byles MP
- Nigel Berkeley, SURGE, Coventry University Business School
- David Jarvis, SURGE, Coventry University Business School


Hong Kong
Lead: Invest Hong Kong
Chair: Mark Pawesy MP
- David Parker, Invest Hong Kong
- Rob Keller, Global Trade Finance, RBS

12:25 Breakout session

Russia
Lead: Russian Midlands Business Club
Chair: tba
- Rachel Farmer, RFS Consulting
- David Cant, Albion Overseas
- Dr Richard Connolly, CREES, University of Birmingham

13:15 Breakout session

Stimulating Innovation
Lead: University of Staffordshire Business School
Chair: Malcolm Harbour MEP
- Prof Geoff Pugh, University of Staffordshire Business School
- Paul Harris, PWC
- Malcolm Ryman, Spline Gauges.

Middle East Trade Finance
Lead: ABC International
Chair: Tristram Hunt MP
- Philip Patterson, ABC International
- Paul Harle, ABC International

Transport & Logistics
Lead: Forrest Research
Chair: Shabana Mahmood MP
- John Morris, Birmingham Airport
- Geoff Inskip, Centro
- Colin Leighfield, Transport Group, Black Country Chamber
- Cllr Ben Adams, Staffardshire County Council

Sustainable Housing
Lead: The Sustainable Housing Action Programme
Chair: Phil Bennion MEP
- Paul Mountain, Martineau
- Steve Newcombe, Mott MacDonald
- Alan Yates, Accord Houising
- Rosemary Coyne, SHAP