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Description

Unlocking the East Midlands Economy and Driving Growth .

Building on the Chamber’s Framework for Growth, launched November 2025, the conference will explore how we can drive forward growth in the region, unlocking barriers, understanding new market dynamics in technology and international trade, supporting better skills development, improving productivity and highlighting supplychain opportunities.

Through a range of speakers, panel discussion, workshops and exhibitors, we will provide a platform to understand and discuss the opportunities and challenges, supporting growth in a year which has seen major economic and political change. It is essential we understand where we can enact change and look to shape policy, ensuring we protect our industrial heritage, driving growth and competitiveness in the East Midlands in a sustainable and inclusive way.

Overview

AGENDA:
- Sector overview – Chris Corkan, Region Director, Midlands & East of England & Affiliates Partner Programme, Make UK

- International Trade Update - Lucy Granger, Head of International Trade, East Midlands Chamber

- International Trade Business Case Study - Darren Kokuciak, International Sales Manager, Abacus Lighting (Abacus Lighting is a winner of the King's Award for Enterprise in International Trade 2025, recognising its significant global growth, strong export strategy)

International Trade Panel:

-Jonathan Rawcliffe, Inward Investment Lead, East Midlands Freeport
-Ioan Reed-Aspley, Head of Corporate Affairs – East Midlands Airport
- Darren Kokuciak, International Sales Manager, Abacus Lighting

- Supplychain Opportunity #1 - Supporting growth for "non-traditional" suppliers/SMEs in defence - East Midlands Regional Defence and Security Cluster (EMRDSC)

Supplychain Opportunity #2 - UK’s Developing Nuclear Capabilities - Andrew Storer, CEO & Founder, NucCol

- Attraction and retention of talent and improving productivity through people and technology- presentation and panel:

- Shabir Ismail, Principal/CEO, Leicester College
- Dr Gareth Thomas, LSIP Stakeholder Engagement Lead, Pro Excellence Partnership
- Pfr. James Flint, Loughborough University

- Industry 5.0 - the next big manufacturing paradigm, but how will it deliver Resilience, Productivity and Growth? - Professor Peter Kinnell, Director of Loughborough Intelligent Automation Centre and High Value Manufacturing Lead

WORKSHOPS:
- Considering the User when Gathering Digital Twin Information Requirements:An Approach.

- Don’t forget the office! AI automation flows in manufacturing context

- Beyond the Levy: Creating strategic Provider/Employer Partnerships to develop future skills together - Leicester College & Nylacast Holdings

- Building a Resilient Energy Strategy - DCC Energy

- Realising the Benefits that Digital Technology promises - Loughborough University

Additional Information

Please click here to see a list of exhibitors

This event is available for: Anybody

24th March 2026

9:00am - 1:30pm

In-Person

West Park Teaching Hub, Loughborough, LE11 3QF

FREE

Members must Sign in / Register to purchase member only tickets

In stock

*All our business prices are excluding VAT at 20%.

For further information on this event, please contact The Policy Team on 0333 320 0333 or email policy@emc-dnl.co.uk

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East Midlands Manufacturing and Trade Conference 2026

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