Corporate leaders: region is powering ‘national growth and resilience for years to come’
More than 500 business leaders are highlighting how the south west’s role on the national stage is crucial in ‘powering growth, innovation and industrial delivery.’
Great South West Annual Conference 2025 was held in Exeter at the end of last week. It was hosted by journalist and broadcaster Daisy McAndrew.
The annual conference saw attendees from government, business and academia, including Luke Pollard, Minister of State for Defence Readiness & Industry.
‘The Great South West Annual Conference 2025 has demonstrated the scale of ambition, expertise and collaboration that exists across our region,’ says Karl Tucker, Chair of the Great South West Partnership.
‘The South West is not only ready to deliver the UK’s Industrial Strategy, we are already doing it.’
‘From clean energy, agritech and defence to skills and innovation, our industries are driving real-world solutions that will power national growth and resilience for years to come.’
Organisers say the theme of the conference centred on ‘Leading the Delivery of the UK’s Industrial Strategy.’
They explain it reflects the South West’s growing national significance as a region with ‘world-class strengths in clean energy, defence, digital innovation, and advanced manufacturing, with passionate calls from delegates that the Great South West’s time had come, and needed to be backed by Government.’
Image provided by Program
‘Collaborative spirit thriving across the South West’
‘The conference highlighted the exceptional innovation, talent, and collaborative spirit thriving across the South West,’ says Dave Tansley, Practice Senior Partner for South West & Wales at Event Partner Deloitte.
‘Deloitte was proud to participate in an event that so clearly demonstrated the region’s pivotal role in delivering the UK’s Industrial Strategy. The region will be fundamental to implementing the long-term vision for growth.’
Conference sessions explored how the Industrial Strategy can be delivered on the ground, from tackling the UK’s productivity challenge to scaling regional clusters, strengthening investment pipelines and building its workforce strength.
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‘Babcock is proud to have supported and attended this year’s Great South West Annual Conference,’ says Brendan Staniforth, Head of External Affairs at Event Partner Babcock International Group.
‘As one of the region’s largest employers and industrial anchors, we play an integral role in driving the UK’s national industrial delivery.’
‘The conference underlined the region’s vital contribution to the nation’s defence and clean energy sectors, and to long-term prosperity, powered by collaboration, innovation and shared ambition.’
‘Region’s vital contribution’
The conference also heard from Steve Race MP (Exeter), Richard Foord MP (Honiton & Sidmouth), David Reed MP (Exeter East & Exmouth), and Jayne Kirkham MP (Truro & Falmouth).
Civic and business leaders were also in attendance with organisers reporting there were a series of discussions on investment, productivity, skills, devolution and policy influence.
The conference was delivered with the support of Babcock International Group, Deloitte, Leonardo UK, Browne Jacobson, KPMG, Plessey Semiconductors, Supacat, and UCS College Group.
Panels across the day featured leading national and regional voices, including Tessa Griffiths, CEO of Skills England; Tom Adeyoola, Executive Chair of Innovate UK; Lorna Pimlott, Managing Director, National Wealth Fund; Carmen Peacock, Head of Private Capital, Lloyds Bank; Richard Potter, Director of Digital Strategy, Microsoft; Clive Higgins, Chair and CEO of Leonardo UK; and Dave Tansley, Practice Senior Partner, Deloitte.
David Reed MP, Jayne Kirkham MP, Steve Race MP and Richard Foord MP. Image provided by Program.
