The agenda for the SMMT’s forthcoming Open Forum has been announced, with a focus on creating a better business environment for developing the UK automotive supply chain.
Taking place on Wednesday 19 March in Worcester, and sponsored by Sunderland City Council, Open Forum will bring together approximately 300 delegates for a day of presentations from leading industry figures exploring new opportunities for UK-based automotive suppliers.
Following an introduction from SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes, the presentations will be divided into two parts. The first will concentrate on the work of the Automotive Council and resulting opportunities for UK suppliers, while the second session will look at the wider automotive landscape.
Both sessions will be followed by a Q&A session with the speakers, and an exhibition area will provide plenty of networking opportunities.
SMMT Open Forum agenda
Session one
- AIO Overview: attracting overseas investment
Joe Greenwell, Chief Executive Officer, Automotive Investment Organisation, UK Trade and Investment
- Automotive Sector Strategy Implementation: nurturing the automotive business environment
Nick Grout, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
- Technology Group: Advanced Propulsion Centre and core technologies
Jerry Hardcastle, Global Chief Marketability Engineer, Nissan; Technology Group Chair
- Supply Chain Group: workstream progress generating supplier opportunities
Dave Allen, Purchasing Director, Jaguar Land Rover; Supply Chain Group Chair
Session two
- European Production Outlook to 2018: the prospects for all major car and van plants
Ian Henry, Director, AutoAnalysis
- The automotive industry: would you recommend it to a friend?
Mark Adams, Vice President – Purchasing, Toyota Motor Europe
- ElringKlinger: new European technologies driving global business
Ian Malcolm, Managing Director, ElringKlinger
- UYT: pressing issues and overcoming challenges to growth
Carl Milbourne, Head of Operations, UYT
Councillor Paul Watson, Leader of Sunderland City Council said, “We are immensely proud of the progress and performance of the automotive industry in Sunderland and the North East Region.
The achievements of Sunderland’s automotive and supply chain companies last year set the stage for a strong year of productivity and growth in 2014. We, as a council, have always worked closely with regional, national and indeed international organisations on the infrastructure required, we will continue to do so as the automotive industry in Sunderland continues to grow and strengthen for many years to come.”
Click through to register for Open Forum, the full programme is available here.
