More business leaders sign up to Invest Midlands

Further panelists from around our region have been confirmed for the landmark Invest Midlands conference, taking place online on 26 May.

The event will see around 60 business leaders debate the way forward for the Midlands economy as the region strives to come together to compete on a national – and international – stage.

Mark Davies, head of business development at Leicester Tigers and Sara Blair-Manning, CEO of Nottingham Castle Trust will join a panel called Selling the Midlands to the world, which will look at how culture, sport, history and business tourism can help the visitor economy sector re-emerge stronger from the pandemic and reconnect with millions of visitors.

Another addition to the speaker line-up is Jo Gideon, MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central & Permanent Parliamentary Secretary to the Business Energy and Industrial Strategy Department who will take part in the Placemaking with a purpose: the future of towns and cities session.

Gurmit Kler, director of business engagement at the University of Birmingham will look at how Birmingham 2022 will showcase the city and wider region in our Racing towards the Commonwealth Games session.

Elsewhere at the conference Sophie Drake, board director for young people at the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP and account director at Story Comms will be joined by Alistair Trippett, founder and director of the BM Holdings Group to look at the mood music around the Midlands’ young people in a session called Making the leaders of tomorrow part of today’s recovery plans.

Well-known West Midlands investor and entrepreneur Mark Hales and Ken Cooper, managing director of the British Business Bank will come to talk about Funding the next wave of entrepreneurs and disruptors.

The expanded line up is rounded out by Neil Murray, CEO of Impact Data Metrics, Jim Campbell OBE of Derby-based Surescreen Diagnostics and the new chief executive of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Henrietta Brealey who will reveal the findings of a major new study from Impact Data Metrics which helps set the strategy for national levelling-up and driving the Midlands economy forward.

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