Manufacturers tackle key issues at East Midlands conference

East Midlands Chamber has reported on the key issues addressed at its 2025 East Midlands Manufacturing and Trade Conference.

Organised in partnership with Loughborough University, East Midlands Freeport, East Midlands Airport and sponsor Howden, a series of talks and panel discussions explored the challenges and opportunities faced by the manufacturing sector.

Invest 2035 – the government’s industrial strategy – formed a backdrop for discussion, while East Midlands Chamber shared findings from its soon to be released Quarterly Economic Survey covering the first quarter of 2025.

President of East Midlands Chamber, Dawn Whitemore said: “Getting like-minded people together to share insight, experience and knowledge provides a platform where we can all learn. This event makes sure we’re all on the same page and that makes it critical.”

Issues discussed during the conference ranged from talent attraction and retention in the manufacturing sector to identifying emerging international markets for business expansion and how to handle paperwork for exporting to the European Union.

Director of Policy and Insight at the Chamber, Richard Blackmore said: “With manufacturing a major contributor to the East Midlands economy – we’re a region renowned for making things – bringing together representatives from the sector and from education is essential, and sharing research around the changing patterns and trends going on right here in the East Midlands is really helpful for businesses.”

Howden Insurance Brokers sponsored the conference, with client director, Becky Hitchcock saying: “The East Midlands Manufacturing and Trade Conference is really important because you’re giving manufacturers a voice, and for us we’re hearing about the challenges they’re facing and seeing if there are problems we can help try and solve.”