Energy Resilience for Manufacturers

Event Overview

Where: Elizabeth House, 13–19 Queen St, Leeds LS1 2TW
When: Thursday 9th July | 8:30am – 10:30am

Manufacturers across the UK are facing growing pressure to balance rising energy costs, operational resilience, and sustainability ambitions, all while navigating continued economic uncertainty and tightening commercial margins.

Hosted by Made in Yorkshire in partnership with Clarion, this executive-level breakfast event will bring together senior manufacturing leaders for a focused discussion on the future of energy, investment, and operational strategy within the sector.

Designed specifically for MDs, FDs and CEOs, the session will explore how businesses can move beyond short-term cost management and begin building longer-term resilience through smarter energy strategies, digitalisation, and more informed decision-making.

The event will feature keynote insights from:

• Mike Wilkinson, Major Pursuits Director at Schneider Electric
  Mike will be sharing Schneider Electric’s perspective on the changing energy landscape and how manufacturers can use data, digitalisation and AI to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and build more resilient operations.
• Jeavon Lolay, Head of Economics & Market Insight at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking
  A highly experienced economist and regular speaker, Jeavon provides expert insight on financial markets, interest rates and the wider economic outlook to audiences across the UK and internationally.

The morning will conclude with a panel discussion featuring Mike Wilkinson, Ian Sargent, Managing Director at Sargent Electrical, and Christian Hellmund, Partner – Energy, Projects & Infrastructure at Clarion, chaired by Sarah Hex, Head of Client Relations at Clarion.

The discussion will explore the practical realities manufacturers are facing today, from energy resilience and investment confidence to sustainability, productivity, and long-term competitiveness.

Ian will bring a particularly valuable perspective from the front line of manufacturing investment, with Sargent Electrical currently developing a new 85,000 sq ft BREEAM Outstanding-targeted facility designed to be largely off-grid and powered by renewable technologies. Central to the development is an advanced Building Management System (BMS), enabling smarter control and optimisation of the site’s energy consumption, infrastructure, and operational performance.

The project also highlights how long-term investment into sustainable infrastructure can create genuine competitive advantage, strengthening energy resilience while supporting growing customer demands around environmental accountability.

Agenda

08:30 – 09:00 | Arrival, Breakfast & Networking
09:00 – 09:10 | Welcome from Made in Yorkshire & Clarion
09:10 – 09:30 | Keynote – Lloyds Bank
09:30 – 09:40 | Audience Q&A with Jeavon Lolay
09:40 – 10:00 | Keynote – Schneider Electric
10:00 – 10:30 | Panel Discussion (with Schneider Electric, Sargent Electrical and Clarion) & Audience Q&A