Leaders at trade body EEF have said its conference in March will provide a platform for manufacturers to sway Budget decisions.
The organisers of EEF’s second National Manufacturing Conference, due to be held on March 5, have urged manufacturing leaders to use their event as an opportunity to voice their concerns and needs directly to key political figures.
Current advisor to government, and former deputy prime minister Lord Hestletine will speak at the conference, as will shadow Chancellor Ed Balls.
Last year the conference became the centre of a headline hitting political debate over the role of manufacturing in the UK economy, coinciding as it did with the leak of a letter from Business Secretary Vince Cable which denounced the Government’s lack of industrial strategy.
With leading industrial figures such as Siemens CEO, Roland Aurich, due to attend as well as key national and industry press representatives, including Channel 4 News’ Krishnan Guru-Murthy, EEF hopes that the conference will again spur decision makers in government to promote business and industry-friendly policy which resonates with real world needs.
The conference, sponsored by Lombard and delivered in partnership with JAM Recruitment and The Manufacturer, will take place in the heart of Westminster at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, followed by dinner at the Dorchester Hotel.
Terry Scuoler, EEF chief executive, said: “This powerful gathering of UK manufacturing leaders will remind policymakers that they must take the same single-minded approach to growth promotion as they are applying to deficit reduction. Timed just ahead of the budget, the conference will call for bold, joined-up action to ensure that the UK economy moves out of the doldrums by taking full advantage of our industrial capabilities.”
