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The National Manufacturing Debate is an annual event hosted by Cranfield University. The event brings together manufacturing professionals from a range of sectors to discuss and debate current challenges in the industry, and encourage networking and collaboration across the sector to enable continued and long-term growth.

The 2020 event will take place online and will address the topic of decarbonisation: opportunities for the manufacturing sector.

Whilst the world is slowly and cautiously emerging from a pandemic with the threat of subsequent peaks, the reality of climate change - the other big emergency of our time - is coming back into sharp focus. The roadmap to net zero is not going to be easy but, in the UK, public opinion during COVID-19 remains firmly in favour of the Government acting now to combat climate change. Whilst in recent years the UK has reduced its carbon emissions faster than the G7, business and industry still contribute a quarter of all green house gas emissions. Is it possible to 'build back better' after COVID-19 and realise the benefits heralded by the UK Government - including claims that the UK low carbon economy could grow by an estimated 11% per year between 2015 and 2030 - in its recently published Clean Growth Strategy?

Encouraged by the success of collaborative efforts during COVID-19, such as the Ventilator Challenge UK, most industry leaders are acutely aware that the concept of sustainability is firmly on everyone’s agenda, with climate change impacting global supply chains and quality of life. Enhanced resilience and agility can only qualify as 'building back better' if the UK manufacturing industry sector, along with government bodies and institutions, adopt the right decarbonisation practices, policies and support strategies.

At this year’s National Manufacturing Debate, notable keynote speakers from industry and academia will participate in a facilitated debate, giving the opportunity to connect the theme to the latest discourse on the UK’s net zero targets and explore the big questions: is British manufacturing ready to seize the net zero opportunities and is it really possible for decarbonisation to enhance the UK’s competitiveness?

With all the urgency placed on decarbonisation targets, manufacturing will continue to attract attention as the sector responsible for providing sustainable food, products, packaging and doing so with net zero CO2. Giving tangible and practical examples of manufacturing’s state of play with decarbonisation, including opportunities for new business revenue, is necessary so that an upbeat 'can do' approach to this important and complex issue can gain momentum, starting the debate with enthusiasm and hoping that manufacturing can play a leading role towards net zero and IPCC 1.5.

Speakers

The National Manufacturing Debate will be hosted by Rosa Wilkinson, Communications Director, High Value Manufacturing Catapult.

Confirmed keynote speakers for this year's debate are:

Dr Jason Jones, CEO & Co-founder, Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies

Dr Colin Herron CBE, MD, Zero Carbon Futures

Jane Gardner, Managing Director, European Resilient Flooring Manufacturers' Institute

Dr Nazmiye Ozkan, Senior Lecturer in Energy Economics and Head of Centre for Energy Systems and Strategy, Cranfield University

Ben Peace, Head of Manufacturing, KTN

Debate questions

You’re invited to submit questions in advance, throughout the event or both that you would like to be put to panellists during the debate. The debate question is: Is British manufacturing ready to seize the net zero opportunities and is it really possible for decarbonisation to enhance the UK’s competitiveness? We’ll be using the Vevox platform which is simple to use:

  • Go to: vevox.app on your PC or mobile device (no need to download any apps, just search for 'vevox.app' in your browser);
  • Enter meeting ID: 154-480-074;
  • Click on the speech bubble icon to pose your question/s.

If there are questions others have asked that you feel are important, hit the ‘like’ button to move them to the top of the list. We will put as many as possible to the panellists during the debate session.


Event programme

14:00-14:05 Welcome Professor Mark Jolly, Director of Manufacturing, Cranfield University
14:05-14:10 Introduction to the National Manufacturing Debate Rosa Wilkinson, Communications Director, High Value Manufacturing Catapult
14:10-15:00 Keynote presentations Jason Jones, CEO and Co-founder, Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies Jane Gardner, Managing Director, European Resilient Flooring Manufacturers Institute Dr Colin Herron CBE, Managing Director, Zero Carbon Futures Dr Nazmiye Ozkan, Senior Lecturer in Energy Economics and Head of Centre for Energy Systems and Strategy, Cranfield University Ben Peace, Head of Manufacturing, KTN
15:00-15:05 Break
15:05-15:10 Introduction to the debate Rosa Wilkinson, Communications Director, High Value Manufacturing Catapult
15:10-15:50 Debate session Is British manufacturing ready to seize the net zero opportunities and is it really possible for decarbonisation to enhance the UK's competitiveness?
15:50-16:00 Closing remarks Rosa Wilkinson, Communications Director, High Value Manufacturing Catapult
16:00 Close


Cost

Free to join.

How to register

Registration for this event is now closed.