Jeremy Corbyn to speak at EEF National Manufacturing Conference 2018

The manufacturers’ organisation, EEF, has announced that the leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, will be a keynote speaker at its National Manufacturing Conference to be held in London on 20 February 2018.

In his speech, Corbyn is expected to set out his vision for industry and the economy, including his party’s proposals on Brexit and Britain’s global positioning. Additionally, he will discuss Labour’s economic plans and will take questions from delegates on what the party believes is the best way to forge a safe path through the political uncertainty as well as its vision for the future of British manufacturing and engineering.

“With Brexit on the horizon, our conference comes at a critical time for industry, which has a key role to play in ensuring that post-Brexit Britain is a great success,” said Terry Scuoler, chief executive of EEF. “This conference provides an important collaborative platform for industry and government to work together and to hear what opposition politicians are thinking. Government departments across the Brexit agenda must continue to work hand in hand with industry in order to tease out the best way forward as we form the post Brexit landscape.”

“We are once again proud to be headline sponsor of EEF’s National Manufacturing Conference — bringing together Britain’s most influential manufacturing and engineering companies. We continue to recognise the importance the manufacturing sector has on the wider UK economy, and we are dedicated to supporting businesses by funding the equipment they need to innovate and grow,” added Ian Isaac, MD of the event sponsor company Lombard. “We look forward to welcoming manufacturers, industry leaders and leading politicians to the event as we come together to tackle the challenges that lay ahead and grasp the opportunities that come with those challenges.”

Other speakers that have been lined up for the 2018 event include, Martin Wolf CBE, chief economics commentator at The Financial Times and Greg Clarke, secretary of state for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Key themes up for debate include the smart energy revolution, coping with a post-Brexit workforce and trading with the EU. With the ever-increasing threat to business from cyber-attack, Ewan Lawson, cybersecurity expert from RUSI will chair an interactive session.