Will Hutton from the Work Foundation – the UK’s most influential voice on work and employment – and leading UK economist Vicky Pryce will be visiting Birmingham on Monday (November 21) to meet local business leaders in a quest to find the ‘big ideas’ to drive economic success.
Mr Hutton, Executive Vice-Chair of The Work Foundation, will be attending a special summit hosted by Idea Birmingham – a business think-tank led by Birmingham City University. Mr Hutton will be joined by fellow keynote speaker and leading economic expert Vicky Pryce, Senior Managing Director in global business advisory firm FTI Consulting.
Coinciding with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) staging its annual conference in the capital on Monday (November 14) to discuss ways to boost the UK economy, similar discussions will be held in Birmingham focussing on the regional economy – which already boasts global success stories like Jaguar Land Rover.
Leading regional business and civic leaders will be attending the prestigious regional forum chaired by Birmingham City University’s Pro-Chancellor and Deputy Chairman Vic Cocker CBE.
These include Jerry Blackett, Chief Executive, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group, Charles Morgan, Director of Morgan Motor Company, Dr David Hardman MBE, CEO of Birmingham Science Park Aston, William McGrath, Group CEO of AGA Rangemaster plc, Mike Steventon, Senior Partner, Birmingham Office, KPMG, and Councillor Tim Huxtable, Cabinet Member for Transport, Environment and Regeneration at Birmingham City Council.
“Idea Birmingham focuses on encouraging entrepreneurial design and innovation across the region – as well as showcasing the best in student-business collaborations,” said organiser Beverley Nielsen, Director Employer Engagement at Birmingham City University.
“Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group and the Institute of Directors have already been working with us on the Idea Birmingham project as they see this as a way of stimulating innovation.”
Beverley explained that Idea Birmingham members are now looking to link with the Work Foundation’s Big Innovation Centre.
“We want to work with the Big Innovation Centre to develop an ‘innovation eco-system’ for Birmingham and the wider region, working with our businesses and drawing on the knowledge in our universities to deliver applied solutions to help grow our regional economy.”
