The industrial strategy shaping the South West’s competitive advantage is to go under the spotlight at TheBusinessDesk’s first Business of the South West Conference.
The event will showcase the sector leaders who are investing, innovating and scaling their operations in the region in a session exploring its strategies for industrial growth.
Taking place at the M Shed, Bristol, on 24 February, the flagship conference will showcase the opportunities that are shaping our region’s future, giving attendees the opportunity to explore place-based investment and economic regeneration. 
It will also offer a chance to hear from key players shaping the region’s infrastructure projects and investment opportunities.
Click here for more information on the conference and to book tickets
The lineup includes entrepreneurs, regional economic commentators and academics, who will come together for this unique event to highlight the region’s huge potential.
Richard Flint, interim CEO, Hargreaves Lansdown
The South West’s industrial sectors, ranging from advanced engineering to deeptech, are at the forefront of innovation and growth.
The conference will have a session dedicated to examining the industrial strategy shaping the region’s competitive advantage, spotlighting the sector leaders who are investing, innovating and scaling their operations.
Among the speakers for this session will be Richard Flint, interim CEO of Bristol-headquartered wealth management group Hargreaves Lansdown and South West CBI chair Carmen Peacock.
Carmen Peacock, chair, CBI South West
Richard previously held the position of non-executive director and chair of the transformation committee at Hargreaves Lansdown. Prior to that he built a career leading and transforming businesses, particularly consumer-facing digital platforms.
He led Sky Betting and Gaming from 2006 to 2018, where he oversaw a period of significant growth. He has also served as a non-executive director for a number of start-up and scale-up businesses including Butternut Box, Seat Unique and Ryde Studios.
Carmen, who is head of South West and Wales corporate and institutional banking at Lloyds Bank, took up her role at the CBI in February last year.
She has been a member of the CBI regional council since 2019, helping to promote the South West and collaborating with regional firms to ensure the region is represented on the national stage.