Collaboration is Key

Robin Chave and Lucinda Lamont represented Southampton Science Park, a Business South champion, at the Business South Annual Conference on 6^th November.

Over 250 senior business leaders and key stakeholders from both the private and public sectors convened for the event, which this year carried the theme ‘Time for Change’, reflecting a focus on evolving opportunities, new collaborations and the transformational potential of regional devolution.

An impressive rollcall of speakers addressed the conference, covering a broad range of issues including leadership, policy, innovation, industry and talent – all key themes for our booming Central South region. Delegates were invited to reflect on how these voices’ experiences apply locally, and what we may learn from them.

Leigh-Sara Timberlake, Business South Chair, said, “We want to ensure the Central South is literally on the map and seen as an attractive proposition for investors to help bring forward key development sites. And we want to ensure that all our Business South Champions - the 150 plus leading employers in the region who support us - survive and thrive; that they are able to recruit to the skills they need and that we protect our fabulous environment.”

Reflecting on the event, Lucinda commented, “I found the speakers at this event insightful and the content inspiring, so congratulations to Leigh-Sara and her team!

“I particularly enjoyed hearing how Sir Andy Street applied his private sector experience at John Lewis Partnership to achieve successful outcomes in the public sector when he subsequently became Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority.

“A recurrent theme across many of the speakers was the need for a collective vision and collaborative working if our region is to fully realise the potential that devolution promises. All of the innovation-led businesses here at the Science Park know how collaboration brings about significant step changes in growth, and I’m confident that our community will make a significant contribution to the regional mission.”