Business summit will showcase Stratford's top talent as district looks to drive growth

BUSINESS leaders will share their expertise and plans for growth at the inaugural Driving Innovation & Growth Summit taking place in Wellesbourne next week.

The event, organised by Stratford District Council, Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Hub and the University of Warwick, will be a showcase for Stratford district’s manufacturing talents in automation, AI, electrification, agri-tech, and the digital and creative sector.

Adam Taylor, co-founder of e-commerce platform for pet food subscriptions petshop.co.uk, based in Masons Road, Stratford, will be the first keynote speaker.

He will be followed by Nik Spencer, CEO of Mission HERU and inventor of a hybrid heat pump that can heat homes or businesses with discarded materials such as nappies, plastics and food.

Chief operating officer at Long Marston-based Porterbrook, Ben Ackroyd, is also speaking. The firm has developed the UK’s first hydrogen-ready passenger train.

Irene Graham, CEO of the Scale-Up Institute, will be among a panel session along with Prof Ken Young from the MTC, and Sir Jeremy Wright, MP for Kenilworth and Southam, will close the summit.

District council leader Cllr Tony Jefferson said the event would be a fantastic opportunity for companies in the area to hear first-hand about how innovation is driving growth.

“The aim of the event is to showcase and establish Stratford district, as part of a wider south Warwickshire sub-region, as one of the best places in the UK to start, grow, and develop innovative and high-growth businesses,” he said. “Innovative businesses are the bedrock of our economy and in Stratford district, we have a wide range of talented entrepreneurs making their mark in a wide range of sectors.”

He added: “The new economic plan for south Warwickshire will also be launched at the event.”

Craig Humphrey, managing director of the Growth Hub, said: “Businesses who attend will find out more about how to overcome any obstacles they feel may stand in their way of meeting their objectives because the more high-growth businesses we have in our area, the more we will attract new investors and boost our economy.”

The summit takes place at the University of Warwick Wellesbourne Campus Conference Centre, 7.30am-1.30pm on Friday, 17th February.