Make UK National Manufacturing Conference 2024

Posted on 29 Jan 2024 by The Manufacturer

Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation, will hold this year’s National Manufacturing Conference, in London on Tuesday 27 February 2024.

The flagship annual event at the QEII Conference Centre, Westminster will once again bring together leading politicians, senior industrialists and manufacturing innovators against a challenging landscape of high energy prices, supply chain pressures and an uncertain economic climate.

This year’s conference will look at how companies can create the next generation of talent for the sector, how to thrive while driving sustainability and the future of AI across Britain’s manufacturing companies.

A number of high-profile speakers have been signed up including Nusrat Ghani, Minister of State for Industry and Economic Security, who will look at the current climate and the opportunities for to boost the sector. The audience will also hear from Jonathan Reynolds MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade who will drill down into Labour’s vision for the future of the industrial landscape and the potential for growth.

The keynote economic speech this year comes from former Downing Street Director of Communications Alastair Campbell and ex-cabinet minister Rory Stewart, from The Rest is Politics Podcast. They will give an insider’s view on politics home and abroad, as well as looking at the current UK and global geopolitical landscape, together with the likely impact on the economy and manufacturing in the near and medium term.

The conference will be chaired by broadcaster Steph McGovern, a former engineer who will take us through the line-up for the day. Delegates will hear from a series of inspirational speakers and share best practice.


Stephen Phipson
Stephen Phipson, Chief Executive of Make UK

Key themes for this year’s breakout session discussions focus on issues manufacturers have told us remain of key importance to them. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) – what is it all about drills down into what the focus on ESG means for a business; Talent – inspiring your diverse next generation of talent from A-Z looks at the skills shortage and how to best attract young people into the sector while the Future of AI in the Manufacturing Sector interrogates this increasingly important topic.

The conference will conclude with a celebratory manufacturing dinner at One Great George Street, with after dinner speaker, broadcaster the Reverand Richard Coles.

Stephen Phipson, Chief Executive of Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation, said: “Our conference comes as the sector seeks to overcome unprecedented challenges from record energy prices and chronic labour shortages while our global supply chains are under ever increasing pressure and disruption.

“Once again, we will bring together key industry voices and provides an important collaborative platform for industry and government to work together to help grow this resilient sector which already provides 2.7 million jobs around the whole of the UK.”

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