Leading industry speakers confirmed for Sheffield City Region EU event

1st April 2016

Leading names from the worlds of industry, wealth intelligence and economics will argue for and against the European Union at a Sheffield City Business Region summit.

'The Quarterly Economic Survey Breakfast: The EU Referendum and What it Means for Business' event will hear from former finance lawyer Ian Baxter, wealth intelligence expert Alex Story and economist Bill Robinson in a line-up designed to relate the EU arguments to the local and national economy and give businesses a greater understanding before they vote. Organised by the City Region Chambers, with the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Sheffield University Management School, the flagship event on 12 April will also share the results of the latest Quarterly Economic Survey (QES). The speaker line-up features a mix of industry experts including Ian Baxter, Chairman of Baxter Freight, a former finance lawyer who led his family business through transformational change to become a market leader before starting Baxter Freight in 2014, which is already achieving an annual turnover of more than £10m. Ian campaigned with Business for Sterling to keep Britain out of the Euro. However, he believes, on balance, our national interest is best served by remaining in a reformed EU and by seeking to shape the change the EU needs. He recently penned an open letter on the issue published in the Evening Standard and believes the UK has 'a unique role to play in shaping a better Europe for all the members and we should be patient, stay engaged and fight for that.' Alex Story is the Head of European Business Development for Wealth-X, a global wealth intelligence business and will be providing an economic argument for why leaving the EU can benefit the British economy. A 'lifelong EU-sceptic who loves Europe', he rowed for Great Britain, before injury ended his career prematurely. An alumni of the Cambridge Judge Business School, Alex is also Head of Business Relations for the Leave.eu campaign. Bill Robinson is Head of Economics at the Economics and Regulation practice at KPMG, which he founded in 2007. He has previously worked as a macro-economist and forecaster at 10 Downing Street, HM Treasury and the European Commission. He will attempt to analyse how either decision and the arguments put forward by the in and out speakers might affect the economy of the UK and Sheffield City Business Region and what it means for local firms. Also at the summit Jillian Thomas, President of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, will reveal the results from the latest QES, sponsored by RBS South Yorkshire & North Derbyshire, and what they mean locally for business. The British Chambers of Commerce QES is the largest and most representative independent business survey of its kind in the UK and questions firms on a wide range of issues including skills, employment, and international trade. Richard Wright, Executive Director of the Sheffield Chamber, said -This is a year of big decisions, with the devolution deal, the HS2 station location and now Europe. -Listening to the debate you might think that staying in or leaving the EU is a political decision. It's not it's about the economy. But how many of us in the business world truly understand the economic realities of the decision and its effect on our local economy? -As business organisations we need the best decisions that maximise regional economic growth and underpin a successful future for our businesses and the regional population. -We hope local firms will come and hear the arguments on both sides and leave in a position to make a more informed choice at the referendum. As well as the line-up of speakers, the event will also feature a Q&A session, to allow visitors to ask the experts on issues that affect them. The event will take place at The Edge Lecture Theatre, Endcliffe, Sheffield and will run from 8am to 10:30am. For more information or to book a place visit www.scci.org.uk/events.