South West is business 'powerhouse' for future

Over 500 senior leaders came together to set out the South West's national role in powering growth, innovation and industrial delivery.

National and regional leaders came together in Exeter for the Great South West Annual Conference 2025, showcasing how the region is driving the delivery of the UK’s Industrial Strategy and cementing its position as a powerhouse of national growth.

The event, hosted by journalist and broadcaster Daisy McAndrew, brought together over 500 delegates from government, business and academia, including Luke Pollard, Minister of State for Defence Readiness & Industry.

This year’s theme,  ‘Leading the Delivery of the UK’s Industrial Strategy’, reflected the South West’s growing national significance as a region with world-class strengths in clean energy, defence, digital innovation, and advanced manufacturing, with passionate calls from delegates that the Great South West’s time had come, and needed to be backed by Government.

Conference sessions explored how the Industrial Strategy can be delivered on the ground, from tackling the UK’s productivity challenge to scaling regional clusters, strengthening investment pipelines, and building the workforce of the future.

Karl Tucker, Chair of the Great South West Partnership, said: “The Great South West Annual Conference 2025 has demonstrated the scale of ambition, expertise and collaboration that exists across our region.

"The South West is not only ready to deliver the UK’s Industrial Strategy, we are already doing it. From clean energy, agritech and defence to skills and innovation, our industries are driving real-world solutions that will power national growth and resilience for years to come.”

Panels across the day featured leading national and regional voices, including Tessa Griffiths, CEO of Skills England; Tom Adeyoola, Executive Chair of Innovate UK; Lorna Pimlott, Managing Director, National Wealth Fund; Carmen Peacock, Head of Private Capital, Lloyds Bank; Richard Potter, Director of Digital Strategy, Microsoft; Clive Higgins, Chair and CEO of Leonardo UK; and Dave Tansley, Practice Senior Partner, Deloitte.

The conference also heard from Steve Race MP (Exeter), Richard Foord MP  (Honiton  & Sidmouth), David Reed MP (Exeter East & Exmouth), and Jayne Kirkham MP (Truro & Falmouth), alongside senior civic and business leaders, in a series of lively discussions on investment, productivity, skills, devolution and policy influence.

Brendan Staniforth, Head of External Affairs at Event Partner Babcock International Group, said: “Babcock is proud to have supported and attended this year’s Great South West Annual Conference. As one of the region’s largest employers and industrial anchors, we play an integral role in driving the UK’s national industrial delivery. The conference underlined the region's vital contribution to the nation’s defence and clean energy sectors, and to long-term prosperity, powered by collaboration, innovation and shared ambition.”

Dave Tansley, Practice Senior Partner for South West & Wales at Event Partner Deloitte, said: “The conference highlighted the exceptional innovation, talent, and collaborative spirit thriving across the South West. Deloitte was proud to participate in an event that so clearly demonstrated the region's pivotal role in delivering the UK's Industrial Strategy. The region will be fundamental to implementing the long-term vision for growth.”

The conference was delivered with the support of Babcock International Group, Deloitte, Leonardo UK, Browne Jacobson, KPMG, Plessey Semiconductors, Supacat, and UCS College Group.