Suffolk Manufacturing Roundtable

Suffolk Manufacturing Roundtable

The Suffolk Manufacturing Roundtable is an opportunity for business leaders, local government representatives, councillors, trade organisations and key stakeholders to come together to surface regional manufacturing challenges and opportunities and turn discussion into informative insights.

Agenda:

14.00 – Arrival and Networking

14.15 – Welcome and Opening Remarks
Chair’s introduction:

– Why manufacturing matters to Suffolk’s economy
– Current opportunities and challenges
– Objectives for the session:
– Identify barriers to growth
– Agree practical actions
– Establish accountability and follow-up

14.30 – State of Manufacturing in Suffolk
Brief insights from:

– Make UK
– Enginuity

Discussion:

– How does Suffolk compare nationally?
– What are the biggest threats to competitiveness over the next five years?
– Where are the biggest growth opportunities?

14.45 – Skills and Workforce: Are We Closing the Gap?
Lead contributors:

– Suffolk New College
– Enginuity
– Manufacturing employers

Key questions:

– Are education providers producing the skills employers actually need?
– Why do engineering and manufacturing vacancies remain difficult to fill?
– What is the uptake of apprenticeships and technical pathways?
– What commitments can employers make to increase placements, apprenticeships and industry engagement?

Challenge for stakeholders:

– What measurable skills outcomes can be delivered within the next 12 months?

15.00 – Policy and Infrastructure: What Do Manufacturers Need from Government?
Lead contributors:

– Ipswich MP

Questions for discussion:

– What are manufacturers telling elected representatives that is not being addressed?
– How can planning, transport and energy infrastructure better support industrial growth?
– What practical changes could local and national government champion immediately?

Accountability question:

– What specific manufacturing-related actions will elected representatives commit to pursuing before the next roundtable?

15.15 – Growth, Investment and Productivity
Lead contributors:

– Business leaders
– Make UK

Discussion:

– Barriers to investment in plant, equipment and technology
– Adoption of automation, AI and digital manufacturing
– Access to finance and support programmes
– Supply chain resilience and local procurement opportunities

Roundtable challenge:

– What is preventing Suffolk from becoming a recognised manufacturing growth hub?

15.45 – Commitments and Next Steps
Chair to summarise:

– Key findings
– Agreed actions
– Named leads for each action
– Timeline for progress review

16:00 – Optional continuation off site

About NAAME

NAAME is dedicated to supporting regional manufacturing and engineering leaders/managers to come together to connect, collaborate and grow. If you are interested in sharing best practices, overcoming challenges, connecting regional supply chains and supporting the next generation of engineers then get involved!

Event attendance is prioritised for manufacturers, we have the right to remove tickets to third parties.

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