Some of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs will be speaking at The New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Conference on 28^th November at Wherstead Park, Ipswich.

The event, which is free to attend and sponsored by East of England Co-op, is entitled ‘New Anglia: Next Generation Conference 2013’.

New Anglia Chairman, Andy Wood, OBE, said: We wanted to give our 28^th November Conference a name that would reflect the strong themes it will address – which are the skills that businesses will need in the future, and also the Strategic Economic Plan, which looks at how we can create more jobs in the region over the coming years. So ‘Next Generation’ seemed to be the perfect choice.

“We are very excited to welcome a host of inspirational speakers to the event who we know will bring together the business community and galvanise it into action.”

In addition to Skills Minister Matthew Hancock MP, who will unveil New Anglia’s Skills Manifesto at the event, the line-up of speakers includes Paul Drechsler, Chief Executive of Wates plc, who is also Chair of Business in the Community’s Education and Leadership Team.

Paul joined Wates Group in 2004 as Chief Executive and was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive in 2006. He was previously an Executive Director of ICI plc, Chairman of ICI Pension Trustees and a member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. He is the Senior Non-Executive Director of Filtrona plc and Chairman of its Remuneration Committee.

He was appointed to the Board of the BITC in 2011 and is Chairman of the BITC Education Leadership Team. Paul is a member of the Trinity College Dublin Business School Advisory Board, a board member of the CBI, a board member of Business in the Community and Chairman of its Education Leadership Team. He is also Chair of The Prince’s Trust Construction and Business Services Leadership Group.

Also speaking at the Conference is Will King - Founder of King of Shaves. Following redundancy, King decided to build his own business, and his first product was shaving oil, which solved his personal problem with shaving - razor burn.

It wasn’t long before he was filling thousands of small plastic bottles in the kitchen of his home, and then his big break came when he landed a deal for Harrods to stock his product in September 1993, followed by Boots in May 1994.

Fast forward seventeen years and Will King is now a multi award-winning businessman, considered by many as one of the UK’s most creative and successful entrepreneurs.

Dr Andy Wood OBE, Chairman of New Anglia LEP is also a speaker. Andy joined Adnams in 1994 with responsibility for developing its customer service and supply chain operations.

He joined the Board in 2000 as Sales and Marketing Director becoming Managing Director in 2006 and Chief Executive in 2010. Andy has an MBA, a doctorate from Cranfield University and also has an Honorary doctorate in Business from Anglia Ruskin and an Honorary Doctor of Science from Cranfield University. He was also awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2013. Andy is also a Director of Adnams Bio Energy.

To book your free place at the Conference, go to www.newanglia.co.uk