Leading figures from business, politics, and academia showcased the importance of the South West to the UK economy and the new government's agenda.

They met at a major conference at Sandy Park in Exeter on September 13.

It was attended by more than 500 people, the first major gathering since the general election.

It was organised by the Great South West Partnership.

The conference aimed to highlight the region's contribution to national economic growth.

The event was attended by senior business leaders, industry experts, newly elected MPs, and political figures, including Sarah Jones MP, minister of state for industry.

Ms Jones said: "This Government’s mission is economic growth, and that means removing barriers to the innovation, skills, and potential that I saw in abundance in the South West.

"From Somerset’s new gigafactory for electric vehicles to the mining renaissance in Cornwall, the South West is a vital economic engine for the UK and will play a huge role in our mission to Net Zero."

The event also featured a business panel with representatives from Microsoft UK, Ecotricity, Deloitte UK, Legal & General, and Innovate UK.

They discussed the opportunities in the region’s energy, defence, and food sectors, and how these could drive national and international investment.

A panel of MPs, including Steve Race, Labour MP for Exeter and chair of the Great South West All-Party Parliamentary Group, also discussed the importance of the region to the Government’s agenda.

Mr Race said: "The Great South West Annual Conference was a brilliant opportunity for 500 people from business, politics, and academia to meet from across our region to discuss our challenges and opportunities.

"As chair of the cross-party Great South West Group of MPs, it’s my job to help us all to make the case for our region.

"To do that, we need to speak with one voice, to showcase our strengths, and to fight for attention and investment."

Karl Tucker, chair of the Great South West Partnership, said: "This conference facilitated vital discussions setting out the role that the region is set to play in delivering the country’s security, resilience, and prosperity, based around its critical role in food, energy, and defence.

"It’s clear that now is the time for the new Government to seize the opportunities for the South West to help to secure national economic growth and security."

During the conference, the Great South West Partnership launched its new Independent Economic Review, which provides a blueprint for driving investment and growth across the South West.

The review, to be published in October 2024, emphasises the importance of the Great South West to the new government’s plans for a decade of national renewal.

It also highlights the region’s role in the government’s key missions to achieve the highest sustained growth in the G7 and make Britain a clean energy superpower.

The conference was supported by headline sponsors Cornwall Space Cluster and Leonardo UK, and supporting partners EDF Energy, Imerys, and Supacat.