Member Article

Lloyds Bank pledges £1 billion a year to industry at Sheffield Global Manufacturing Dinner

More than 500 manufacturing experts and industry insiders gathered in Sheffield last night to hear from keynote speaker Vince Cable MP, at the Global Manufacturing Dinner sponsored by Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

The dinner launched the annual Global Manufacturing Festival, which is now in its fifth year and aims to connect UK manufacturers with major international customers through supply chain education and investment advice.

The Bank has pledged to commit an additional £1 billion a year from 2014 to 2017 to the sector and has partnerships with manufacturing organisation EEF and Coventry’s Manufacturing Technology Centre, where Lloyds Bank has invested £1 million per year in its Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre, due to open in 2015.

Companies such as Siemens, GE Oil and Gas, Tata Steels and MacLaren Automotive were welcomed by Tim Hinton, Managing Director of SME & Mid-Markets Banking at Lloyds Bank, who introduced the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Lloyds Bank’s sponsorship of the dinner is further evidence of its commitment to UK manufacturing, having worked with SME and mid-market businesses in the industry for more than 250 years.

Tim Pryor, area director at Lloyds Bank in South Yorkshire, said: “Encouraging growth of the manufacturing industry is a top priority for Lloyds Bank, and the annual Global Manufacturing Festival in Sheffield plays a crucial part in connecting home-grown business with overseas opportunities.

“The inaugural dinner has a well-deserved reputation for bringing together the most influential industry figures to debate issues facing the sector. Sharing best practice and expertise enables UK manufacturers to thrive, and we are proud to be involved in such a vital process.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .