Encouraging figures from the Office for National Statistics on manufacturing growth are set to provide a highly topical backdrop for the National Manufacturing Debate at Cranfield University in May.
Building on the success of the first National Manufacturing Debate in 2010, this year’s event will focus on how UK manufacturing can contribute to long term job creation and regional balance through investment, incentives and innovation.
The line-up of speakers, led by Mark Prisk, Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, will precede the actual debate. Prisk will be joined by a number of industry, academic and Government speakers including Sir Alan Rudge CBE FREng FRS, chairman of the ERA Foundation; Philip Greenish CBE, chief executive of The Royal Academy of Engineering; Andreas Pelz, global chief of service engineering at Rolls-Royce plc and Dr Gareth Williams, vice president R&T business development and parternships for Airbus, who will provide their views on the opportunities for the manufacturing sector to contribute to the UK’s economic growth.
Chaired by Ken Hurst, editor of Works Management magazine, a 10 person strong panel, consisting of a number of the speakers joined by academic and industry representatives will then debate the motion ‘Can the manufacturing sector create a significant number of long-term jobs and a regional balance?’.
Professor Rajkumar Roy, head of Cranfield’s Manufacturing Department, said “The event promises to generate some lively discussions around the future growth prospects of the sector in the UK and further afield. The range of speakers and debate topic should create some thoughtful discussions that will encourage further networking and collaboration across the manufacturing sector to enable continued and long-term growth.”
The free event will take place on 25th May 2011.
