14 Mar 2022
OP NOTE: Midlands Connect hosts Annual Conference to launch major new strategic transport plan
Midlands Connect will be hosting its Annual Conference on Monday 4th April in conjunction with the exciting new email newsletter from Reach plc called Midlands Message. At the conference we will be launching our ground-breaking Fairer, Greener, Stronger: Our Strategic Transport Plan for the Midlands, laying our plan for road and rail improvements throughout the region for the next decade and making sure we can meet the challenge of climate change as well as improving services for passengers, businesses and commuters.
Keynote speakers at the conference include HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson, the West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh MP, Alex Norris MP, Cllr Ben Bradley MP, Baroness Nicky Morgan and Lord Ravensdale amongst others.
Midlands Connect researches, develops and progresses the transport projects that will deliver the biggest economic, social and environmental benefits for the Midlands region. Alongside this, we use rigorous analysis to prioritise the most important transport improvements across our roads and railway, as well as focusing on new technologies and innovation – including EV charging and alternative fuels.
Other panellists come from Highways England, National Grid, The Sunday Times, CBI and East Midlands Airport.
To register for the conference, please email paulbutters@midlandsconnect.uk
To sign up to Midlands Message please click here: https://www.midlandsmessage.com/
When: Monday 4th April
Where: The Exchange, 3 Centenary Square, Birmingham, B1 2DR from 10am till 3:20pm.
What: Midlands Connect Annual Conference and launch of our ground-breaking Fairer, Greener, Stronger: Our Strategic Transport Plan for the Midlands. The plan lays our plan for road and rail improvements throughout the region for the next decade.
Contact: For further information or a pre-briefing about the event please contact paulbutters@midlandsconnect.uk or 07827 747436.
Agenda: The conference agenda is as follows:
|
Time |
Session |
|
10:00 |
Welcome & Introduction to the Strategic Transport Plan Maria Machancoses, CEO of Midlands Connect |
|
10:15 |
Keynote Speech Andrew Stephenson MP, Minister of State at the Department for Transport |
|
10:45 |
Coffee Break |
|
11:00 |
Political panel Chair: Paul Waugh, Chief Political Commentator the i. Panellists: Jane Stevenson MP ,Alex Norris MP and Lord Ravensdale |
|
11:40 |
HS2 panel Chair: Marc Reeves, Marketplace publisher, Reach plc Panellists: Andy Street, WM Mayor, Cllr Ben Bradley MP, Chair of HS2 & Maria Machancoses, CEO of Midlands Connect |
|
12:15 |
Lunch |
|
12:20 |
Maria Talks podcast recording – how can transport help us recover as a region from COVID [recording during the lunchbreak] Chair: Maria Machancoses, CEO of Midlands Connect Rick Blackmore CBI Regional Director Midlands, Andrew Pritchard Transport for the East Midlands, Clare James , MD, East Midlands Airport & Graeme Cooper, Head of Future Markets at National Grid |
|
13:00 |
Keynote Speech Louise Haigh MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport |
|
13:30 |
Levelling up & transport Chair: Hannah Al-Othman, Sunday Times Panellists: Baroness Nicky Morgan, Elliot Shaw, Executive Director for Strategy and Planning at National Highways, Darren Caplan, Chief Executive, Railway Industry Association and Leader of Staffordshire County Council Cllr Alan White |
|
14:15 |
Coffee Break |
|
14:30 |
Strategic Transport Plan Update Simon Statham, Chief Technical Officer |
|
15:00 |
Closing speech: Sir John Peace |
|
15:20 |
Close of event |
Contact Information
Paul Butters
paulbutters@midlandsconnect.uk
About Midlands Connect
Midlands Connect is the transport partner of the Midlands Engine and the Midlands’ Sub-national Transport Body.
Midlands Connect researches, develops and champions long-term transport projects to provide the biggest possible economic, social and environmental benefits for the Midlands and the rest of the UK.
We examine every option for improving major transport infrastructure in our region. The fundamental aim of these improvements is to transform regional and UK gateways, bringing the Midlands closer together and accelerating cost-effective improvements to unlock east-west connectivity that will enable the Midlands’ economies to work more effectively together.
Our 25-year transport strategy for the region has the potential to add £5 billion a year to the UK economy, supporting the work of the Midlands Engine partnership to drive pan-regional economic prosperity.
Our partnership is made up of 22 local authorities, East Midlands and Birmingham airports, and Chambers of Commerce stretching from the Welsh border to the Lincolnshire coast. The partnership also includes the Department for Transport, Network Rail, National Highways and HS2 Ltd, who we work alongside to drive an unprecedented level of collaboration for the good of the Midlands and the UK.
The Midlands Connect Strategy, as well as its latest reports, can be downloaded here: https://www.midlandsconnect.uk/publications/
For more information on the Midlands Engine partnership please visit midlandsengine.org
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