CBI MSB Summit in London on 7th July - 'Meeting The Productivity Challenge'

Meeting the Productivity Challenge

09:00 – 10:00    Registration, refreshments and networking

10:00 – 10:05    Welcome and housekeeping

Steph McGovern, Breakfast Business Reporter (CONFIRMED)

10:05 – 10:10    Opening Address

                        Paul Drechsler, President, CBI (CONFIRMED)

10:10 – 10:30    Q&A - Paul Drechsler, President, CBI and António Horta Osório, CEO, Lloyds

                        Facilitated by Steph McGovern

10:30 – 11:00    Keynote address and Q&A

Rt Hon Anna Soubry MP, Minister of State for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise (CONFIRMED)

11:00 – 11:25    Morning refreshment break and networking

11:25 – 12:25    Breakout sessions

• Training a productive workforce

Facilitated by: Pippa Morgan/Neil Carberry, CBI

Case study: TBC

Ability to build skills at all levels is a defining factor on whether a business is productive or not. Training your own staff can be a cost-effective route to increasing capabilities, but the UK’s system for training apprentices in particular is undergoing a fundamental shift, impacting all businesses. This session will help MSBs understand the changes and challenges they face, but also the benefits and opportunities building skills can bring to a workforce.

• Taking a long-term view

Facilitated by Rob Fontana Reval, CBI

Case study: Charles Tywritt TBC

Developing the skills to implement long-term strategies and change management in a business is critical for MSBs who are looking to diversify their business or move in a new direction. Yet the task can appear complex, impacting on day to day operations with the need to ensure such changes do not impact on business performance in the short and medium term. This session will help MSBs understand the benefits and gain insights into developing a long-term approach and how it can be successfully implemented.

• Building an international business

Facilitated by Ben Digby, CBI

Case study: TBC

Lots of mid-market firms export their goods and services, but as with the rest of the British economy, many do not consider overseas markets as an opportunity for growth and expansion. In a tough and highly competitive international environment, this will session explore what is holding back companies, dispel some of the myths and outline why they should embrace the export opportunity.

• Providing finance for mid-sized firms

Facilitated by James Ashton Bell, CBI

Case study: FinnCap TBC

The financing landscape for MSBs has changed dramatically in recent years, with a rich and varied market emerging. Each year, more and more alternative finance providers have entered the arena. Understanding what type of finance is right for a particular business is critical for MSBs making long-term investment decisions. This session will look at how the market has changed, what options companies should consider before accessing a new form of finance, and the benefits and challenges firms can face when working with different finance providers.

• Staying innovative in a growing business

Facilitated by Laura Smith, CBI

Case study: Innovia Group TBC

A healthy and growing innovation eco-system is critical to the UK’s long-term economic success. Mid-market firms have a proud legacy of developing new and exciting technologies and innovations, yet the UK underperforms when investing in R&D. Addressing this issue is essential for our international competitiveness and as a place to invest and grow a business. This session will look at some of the steps MSBs have taken in becoming more innovative in their business, the benefits it has bought, but also the challenges and what stops companies from making this critical investment decision.

12:25 – 13:25    Lunch and networking

13:25 – 14:25    Afternoon breakout sessions (earlier sessions repeated)

14:25 – 14:50    Afternoon refreshments and networking

14:50 – 15:20    The Productivity Review: An interview with Sir Charlie Mayfield (CONFIRMED)

                        Facilitated by Steph McGovern

15:20 – 15:50    In Conversation with:

Richard Clothier, Managing Director, Wyke Farms (CONFIRMED, confirm speech time)

Dani Saveker, CEO and Founder, Families in Business (invited)

                        Facilitated by Steph McGovern

15:50 – 16:20    Keynote address and Q&A

Martha Lane Fox CBE, Co-Founder of Lastminute.com (to be invited)

16:20 – 16:30    Closing remarks

Josh Hardie, Deputy Director General, CBI (CONFIRMED)

Steph McGovern

16:30 – 18:30    Networking drinks reception