Business leaders headlining at UK Investment Summit announced
Businesses are backing this autumn’s UK Investment Summit Wales 2014, which will explore how new technologies are fuelling business growth.
Top business leaders are backing this autumn’s UK Investment Summit Wales 2014, which will explore how new technologies are changing and fuelling business growth.
Summit speakers announced today (28 October 2014) include Mark Elborne, President and CEO of GE UK and Ireland, Raspberry Pi founder Eben Upton and Tom Williams, EVP Programmes at Airbus.
The industry experts will join Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP, Secretary of State for Wales, Rt Hon Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales and Lord Livingston of Parkhead, Minister of State for Trade and Investment at Celtic Manor, Newport on 21 November 2014. The conference is the first major event in Wales following the NATO Summit, which was also held at the venue in September 2014.
Trade Minister Lord Livingston said:
The UK Investment Summit Wales 2014 will showcase how UK companies are using new technologies to grow and generate investment around the UK. Wales is a great location for the summit, having seen record levels of inward investment over the past year and over a 5% increase in exports.
It is encouraging to see leading businesses from across Wales and beyond supporting this event, which builds on the legacy of the NATO Summit in September. Let’s show the world how GREAT Wales and the rest of the UK is for business.
Last year Wales attracted investment 79 projects, an increase of 12 on the previous year, and safeguarded or created 10,441 jobs. Individual investments in Wales, on average, also had the second largest impact in terms of creation or safeguarding jobs at 132 per project. This was only behind projects that landed across multiple regions in the UK.
Figures show the top performing sectors are Healthcare and Medical, which had 9 projects, followed by materials with 8, and automotive and engineering both with 6. The top 5 investment partners for Wales were USA, Germany, Japan, Canada and Italy.
The role of technology and how it operates within these sectors, and others, will be explored and discussed at the Summit. Topics include anticipating technology and the pull through into commercialisation, potential for business in cyber security and the development of new models of academic and business interaction.
The Summit will build on recent progress for both Wales and the wider UK, which recorded a record 1,773 projects and created 66,390 jobs last year. It will provide a forum to share expertise and exchange ideas about investment trends, opportunities and how to build on the advantages that companies employing new technologies experience.
Welsh Government Minister for Economy, Science and Transport Edwina Hart said:
Levels of inward investment in Wales are now at a record high. Next month’s event at Newport will be a great opportunity to build on our success and promote Wales as the go-to destination for quality foreign investment.
Bringing together more than 250 global investors, business leaders and ministers, it will build on the spotlight placed on Wales during the NATO summit and be a global showcase for Welsh innovation and skills.
The Summit will see businesses from across the world forge new international commercial partnerships and develop and extend global networks. It will bring together investors with senior decision-makers from companies, changing the way we do business.
Secretary of State for Wales Stephen Crabb said:
Wales is home to some of the most innovative products and services world-wide. We have a growing reputation for our high-tech, talented, inventive entrepreneurs and skilled workforce.
As part of our long-term economic plan to boost the Welsh economy, this Summit will showcase to global business leaders why Wales is such a great place to invest.
The conference will include keynote speeches, panel sessions, living case studies, networking sessions and help generate a lasting economic legacy for Wales and beyond.
Notes to editors
- UKTI’s Inward Investment Annual Report can be accessed at ‘UKTI inward investment report 2013-2014’
- UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is the government department that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy. It also helps overseas companies bring their high quality investment to the UK’s economy – acknowledged as Europe’s best place from which to succeed in global business. UKTI offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, and in British embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. It provides companies with the tools they require to be competitive on the world stage.
- Top 5 sectors for investment in Wales, financial year 2013 to 2014:
| Sector | Projects |
| Healthcare and Medical | 9 |
| Metals, Minerals and Materials | 8 |
| Automotive | 6 |
| Mechanical Electrical and Process Engineering | 6 |
| Business (and consumer) services | 5 |
4.Confirmed speakers so far at the UK Investment Summit Wales 2014 include:
- Marco Annunziata, Chief Economist, GE
- Nikki Yates, EVP UK and Ireland, GlaxoSmithKline
5.To find out more about the Summit visit UK Investment Summit Wales 2014 or follow us with #InvestinWales2014
Updates to this page
Last updated 29 October 2014 + show all updates
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Added translation
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First published.