HIGH PRAISE FOR FORTHCOMING SILVERSTONE CLUSTER REPORT FROM REGION'S INFLUENTIAL ENGINEERING FIGURES

May 18, 2016 by Silverstone Park

Senior business figures have been full of praise for a networking event hosted by Silverstone Park developer, MEPC, to thank them for their valued contribution towards an eagerly anticipated report focusing on the exceptional engineering capability within the Silverstone region.

The event was held at supercar manufacturer Porsche GB's Experience Centre facility, which sits on the 130 acres of land that MEPC is developing around the Silverstone Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit as a global destination for high tech companies.

MEPC and its partners are currently in the final throes of publishing the report – produced by highly respected economic and social development research specialist, SQW. The report is due out on Friday 27 May and could prove influential in garnering Government support and interest from investors. A 'symposium' event aimed at the investor community will follow on 30 June at report partner Barclays' premises in Canary Wharf, London.

MEPC's event at Porsche GB marked an opportunity to thank the high-tech businesses – ranging from SMEs to established larger organisations – which have provided invaluable input into the report's findings. Included in the report are fascinating case studies on each. The majority already enjoy success in areas as aerospace, automotive, defence, marine, medical devices, electronics and sensors with some having transferred skills and know-how gained in motorsport to these sectors.

Kieron Salter, Managing Director of KW Special Projects in Brackley, said: 'It was a great event put together by MEPC attracting many like-minded individuals to one place at the same time making for a very valuable networking opportunity. It was also very clear just how aware everyone is of the forthcoming report's importance to the region's high-tech firms.'

And added Kevin Lambourne, Managing Director of Aylesbury 3D printing specialist Graphite Additive Manufacturing: 'This was a very useful event and at a fabulous venue – I heard some very interesting stories, the businesses there were all very relevant to what we do and it became clear we might be very useful for each other. I'm really looking forward to the report's launch. This report could lift the lid on what makes this region special.'

MAHLE's Engineering Director Simon Reader enthused: 'MEPC's event at Porsche GB was very impressive – it was excellent fun but also a great way to get some thought-provoking dialogue going that might otherwise not happen. There were certainly some very interesting people and ideas in the room! The backdrop to it all of course was the soon be released research report that MEPC has commissioned and it's fair to say this could be a crucial piece of work for engineering in Britain with global consequences.'

Roz Bird, Commercial Director for MEPC at Silverstone Park, commented: 'It was great to bring some of the key figures from leading engineering firms in the cluster together at the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone for time out on the track as a thank you for their input into the SQW report and to give them the chance to meet each other and consider how they might work with one another in the future.

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Their feedback during the round-table discussions were really valuable. We now very much look forward to publishing the report's findings at the end of this month.'

In addition to KW Special Projects, Graphite Additive Manufacturing and MAHLE other companies to attend MEPC's event with Porsche GB included Zeta Specialist Lighting Ltd, Vayon Group, PwC, Sandwell UK Ltd, Racelogic, Ilmor Engineering, Barclays, Flybrid/Torotrak Group, EDM Precision Technology, TotalSim, Advanced Automotive Technologies Ltd and Leading Edge Only.

Barclays and PwC have joined MEPC as partners behind the cluster report that has been sponsored by: the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA); Buckinghamshire County Council; Northamptonshire County Council; Aylesbury Vale District Council; South Northants Council; Cherwell District Council; Buckinghamshire & Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership (BTVLEP); Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership (NEP); South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP).