Description
This year our usual "State of the Economy Conference" will focus on the importance of innovation and how we can ensure that we provide the best environment and framework to support productivity gains and economic growth.
The conference provides the opportunity to reflect on how the regional economy has performed throughout 2025, the impact of governmental policy changes and what the requirements the business community require to help support growth in 2026 and beyond.
Overview
This year’s conference brings together business leaders, policymakers and academics from across the East Midlands to engage in dialogue on the challenges and opportunities faced by the East Midlands business community.
Agenda:
- Findings of the PwC Good Growth for Cities report for the East Midlands - Ben Pykett, Partner, PwC
The PwC report assesses cities based on 12 factors important to the public, including jobs, health, income, and skills.
Plus detail on economic inactivity and their new "Hopes and Fears" research providing insights into AI and the skills gap - central to the economic and innovation narrative
- The UK’s economic outlook and the Bank of England’s monetary policy response - Dr Jamie Jordan, Deputy Agent, Monetary Analysis, Agency for the East Midlands, Bank of England
- Detail of the Chamber’s Framework for Growth, launched at Westminster on the 26 November – Richard Blackmore, Director of Policy and Insight. East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire)
- Panel Discussion - Economic Outlook
- Innovating Growth: Driving Regional Prosperity Through Innovation and Enterprise - Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL Chairman and Founder, RandalSun Capital Ltd
Exploring how accelerating and embracing innovation can help shape the future of the East Midlands economy, with key themes including empowering our young workforce and skills development, entrepreneurship and investment to enable and drive sustainable growth across the region.
- Role of academia in supporting innovation and productivity gains - Professor Rachel Granger, Professor Urban Economies and the Director of the Institute for Responsible Business at De Montfort University
- UK Research and Innovation (UKRI): How UKRI support businesses and investors to transform research into market-ready products and services – James Silver Ward, Regional Manager – East Midlands, UKRI
- Panel discussion - Growth through Innovation
- Networking over drinks and buffet lunch.
