Hundreds pack University for business lecture

Mike Wright, executive director for Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), was the key speaker at the University’s Crystal Lecture.

The Crystal Lecture is a free annual event is organised jointly by the University of Wolverhampton Business School (UWBS) and the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), aimed at business people from the region and will cover issues such as how a brand can help and hinder leadership and the role of company values.

At last week’s event, Mr Wright gave a talk looking at the importance of investing in training and skills, and questioning how Britain still has a clear skills deficit compared to other countries, highlight current issues about British economic growth.

It covered the competitiveness of the car market, looked at how businesses should be increasing apprenticeships and taking on more graduates, called for more jobs to be created in the supply chain and increasing the understanding of the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematic subjects.

Anthea Gregory, Dean of the University of Wolverhampton’s Business School, said: “Mike’s lecture was thought provoking and set out the challenges we face as a region.  What becomes evident is the need for collaboration between education and business. 

“This will ensure the local workforce is able to benefit from the opportunities created by investments such as that being made by JLR in the region.”

Phil Ryan, spokesman for the Chartered Management Institute, said: "Overall the event was a resounding success.

“It was uplifting to hear about the successful contribution that JLR continue to make to our regional economy and the UK export market as a whole. 

“It also gave CMI the chance to reaffirm their role alongside the University and key local employers as the provider of the leadership and management expertise required to take us forward out of the recession"

ENDS

For more information please contact Chris Jones in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736

Date Issued: Tuesday 29 October 2013