Cranfield debate to discuss job creation in manufacturing

Following its first such event in 2010, the May debate will focus on how UK manufacturing can contribute to long term job creation and regional balance through investment, incentives and innovation. An impressive lineup of speakers led by Mark Prisk, Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, precedes the actual debate. He will be joined by a number of industry, academic and government speakers including Sir Alan Rudge, chairman of the ERA Foundation; Philip Greenish, chief executive of The Royal Academy of Engineering; Andreas Pelz, global chief of service engineering at Rolls-Royce and Airbus vice president Dr Gareth Williams, who will provide their views on the opportunities for the manufacturing sector to contribute to the UKs economic growth. Chaired by WM magazine's Ken Hurst, a 10-strong panel, comprising of a number of the speakers joined by academic and industry representatives will then debate the motion 'Can the manufacturing sector create a significant number of long-term jobs and a regional balance?'. Professor Rajkumar Roy (pictured), head of Cranfield's manufacturing department, said: "The event promises to generate some lively discussions around the future growth prospects of the sector in the UK and further afield. The range of speakers and debate topic should create some thoughtful discussions that will encourage further networking and collaboration across the manufacturing sector to enable continued and long-term growth." This free event is being held on 25 May and is preceded by an exhibition on 24 May of current manufacturing research at Cranfield with tours of state-of-the-art facilities. Further information and online registration is available at www.cranfield.ac.uk/sas/manufacturingdebate