Midlands Connect hosts first ever Rural Transport Conference

Midlands Engine’s transport arm, Midlands Connect, is hosting its first ever Rural Powerhouse conference, discussing rural transport connectivity across the Midlands. The winner of their £100,000 rural mobility competition will also be announced.

The event will bring together local leaders, leading politicians and rural organisations to discuss rural transport issues in our region.

To register for the conference, you can email paulbutters@midlandsconnect.uk or visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rural-powerhouse-midlands-connects-rural–transport-conference-tickets-307191777877

When: Monday 20^th June 10am-2:45pm

Where: Civic Suites, Parkside, Station Approach, Burton Street, Melton Mowbray Leicestershire LE13 1GH

What: Midlands Connect’s first ever rural transport conference called RuralPowerhouse and the results of our Dragon’s Den style competition to win our £100,000 rural mobility competition.

Agenda:

1000 – Introduction

1015 – Midlands Connect: Our Rural Work so far

1035 – Winner of rural prize announced

1040 – Discussion panel for the competition winner (council cabinet member, consultant, LEP/chamber) & Chair: Midlands Connect Chief Technical Officer Simon Statham

1120 – Break

1145 – Panel for two other competing schemes & chair Midlands Connect Head of Strategy Richard Bradley

1215 – lunch

1300 – Speech by Tim Farron MP

1320 – Questions

1335 – Break

1350 – Rural services panel & Chair: Midlands Connect Principal Transportplanner Steven Scarrott

1420 – Panel with DfT policy lead

1445 – Close

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About Midlands Connect

Midlands Connect is the transport partner of the Midlands Engine, and the Midlands’ Sub-national Transport Body.

Midlands Connect researches, develops and champions long-term transportprojects which will provide the biggest possible economic, social and environmental benefits for the Midlands and the rest of the UK.

We examine every option for improving major transport infrastructure in our region. The fundamental aim of these improvements is to transform regional and UK gateways, bringing the Midlands closer together and accelerating cost-effective improvements to unlock east-west connectivity that will enable the Midlands’ economies to work more effectively together.

Our 25-year transport strategy for the region has the potential to add £5 billion a year to the UK economy, contributing to the Midlands Engine vision of creating 300,000 additional jobs by 2030 and growing the economy by £54 billion.

Our partnership is made up of 22 local authorities, nine Local Enterprise Partnerships, East Midlands and Birmingham airports, and chambers of commerce stretching from the Welsh border to the Lincolnshire coast. The partnership also includes the Department for Transport, Network Rail, Highways England and HS2 Ltd, who we work alongside to drive an unprecedented level of collaboration for the good of the Midlands and the UK.

The Midlands Connect Strategy, as well as its latest reports, can be downloaded here: https://www.midlandsconnect.uk/publications/

The Midlands Engine Vision for Growth can be downloaded here: https://midlandsengine.org/wp-content/uploads/Midlands-Engine-Vision-for-Growth.pdf