The Convention of the North and NP11, in partnership with Government, today announces Ruth Nic Aoidh, Executive Director – Commercial & Legal at McLaren Automotive responsible for the strategic and commercial affairs across all aspects of the business, as its keynote business speaker for the one-day Northern event at Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham on 13 September.
As a global business leader with strong connections to the North of England via McLaren’s new £50m McLaren Composites Technology Centre that will innovate and produce its next generation lightweight roadcar chassis under its Track25 business plan, which represents a significant investment in the Sheffield City Region, Ruth is responsible for all corporate governance and legal aspects of McLaren’s international subsidiaries.
Ruth will use her speech at next week’s major event to share her views on why an internationally-renowned brand such as McLaren chose to invest in the North and to outline the company’s vision.
She joins a strong and growing line-up* which will include local authority and business leaders representing the North, as well as leading experts such as; Amir Hussain, CEO of the award-winning Bradford Architectural practice, YEME Architects, and Member of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Board; Dame Julie Kenny, chair of Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust; Simone Roche MBE, founder and CEO of Northern Power Women, a campaign to accelerate gender diversity from the North of England; and Ruth Ibegbuna, Founding Director of the Roots Programme, an initiative to bring together leaders and influencers from vastly different communities.
Bringing together the North’s political, business, community and academic leaders, along with youth speakers and representatives of young people’s groups, the event will be a working convention to debate policy across a number of key themes: skills and education, housing, transport, innovation, trade and investment, and clean growth.
The event is intended to make a powerful, unified case to the new Prime Minister and Government for tangible investment in the Northern Powerhouse. It will be hosted by award-winning broadcaster and news reporter, Steph McGovern.
Ruth Nic Aoidh, Executive Director – Commercial & Legal at McLaren Automotive, said:
“McLaren is renowned for producing iconic cars with a high technical content so it’s vital we work with those who share our vision, abilities and who are agile and brave enough to push the boundaries of innovation.
“We’re extremely proud of our new £50m technology and production centre in the Sheffield region which opened last year specialising in composite materials which will help define the next generation of our lightweight products. And I’m delighted to be invited to outline why McLaren invested in the region, where our ambitions lie and why the opportunities available are beneficial not only for McLaren but for other like-minded businesses, the North and the UK.”
Amir Hussain, CEO of YEME Architects and Member of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Board, said:
“The dynamism and resilience of the North’s private sector has potential and capacity to reinforce the entire UK economy, as well as to address longstanding social issues to improve health and wellbeing.
“With Local Industrial Strategies well placed to consolidate skills, employment and place, there is a collective and collaborative will across the public and private sectors in the North to implement seismic change. Tangible investment and support from Government for the Northern Powerhouse will help to ensure this opportunity is maximised at this critical time.”
Simone Roche MBE, Founder and CEO, Northern Power Women, said:
“Northern Power Women is delighted to be a partner at The Convention of the North with NP11 and is passionate about amplifying and showcasing role models from all genders, sectors, regions and socio economic backgrounds across the North. Events such as this highlight the importance of diverse and inclusive conversations and their business benefit.”
The Convention of the North, NP11 and Government event will take place on 13 September at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham, an iconic former steelworks that has been transformed into an award-winning educational and entertainment venue.
As well as bringing together influential bodies such as the N8 research partnership, the People’s Powerhouse, Northern Power Women and leading think-tanks such as IPPR North and the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, young people from across the North will set out their vision for the North’s future, and how current leaders need to work together to achieve it.
The event has been designed to be accessible and inclusive to the whole of the North and registration is now open. However, places are limited and demand is high. To register interest in attending, please email details at your earliest convenience to North@BeaconHouse-Events.co.uk
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