Cotswold Life is delighted to announce that science entrepreneur and former Government Minister for Defence and also for Science and Innovation, Lord Drayson, will give the keynote speech at the 2016 Cotswold Life Engineering Manufacturing Innovation (EMI) Awards being held at Cheltenham Racecourse on September 22.
Lord Paul Drayson took a BSc (Hons) degree in Production Engineering, before studying for a PhD in robotics, which sparked a lifelong career as a science entrepreneur. He has developed successful businesses in food manufacturing bioscience and motorsport research and development.
In 1993 he co-founded, with his wife Elspeth, PowderJect Pharmaceuticals Plc, which floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1997. Becoming one of the world’ leading vaccine companies, it was acquired for £540 million in 2003 by a US company. In 2007 he co-founded Drayson Racing Technologies, a motorsport research and development businesses, which focuses on environmentally sustainable technology.
In 2004 he was appointed to the House of Lords as a Life Peer, then furthering to a Minister in the British Government in 2005, first in the Department of Defence and then in Science and Innovation. He has been a member of the Privy Council since 2008 and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
The Cotswolds is a centre for excellence in manufacturing; particularly in aerospace, automotive and biosciences, and the Cotswold Life Engineering, Manufacturing & Innovation Awards supports this thriving industry across Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and Wiltshire and celebrates the huge contribution it makes to the region, and to the UK economy.
Nicky Godding, Cotswold Life’s Business Editor, said: “Lord Drayson lives in the Cotswolds and epitomises everything that the Cotswold Life EMI Awards showcases: Scientific and engineering entrepreneurialism, business success and ambition. We are honoured that he has agreed to speak.”
The Cotswolds Life EMI Awards are supported by Innovate UK, WMG, IMechE (Institution of Mechanical Engineers Institute of Mechanical Engineers), The IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology), The EEF , High Value Manufacturing Catapult, SWMAS (South West Manufacturing Advisory Service), University of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire LEP and more.
Attend this celebration of regional manufacturing: Tickets on Sale Now
The black tie awards ceremony will be taking place in the Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse on September 22 where the winner in each category will be crowned. The awards evening will be attended by over 500 business leaders and representatives from this important sector and will celebrate the Cotswold companies and people who invent, research, design, engineer, manufacture and export.
The evening begins at 6:30pm for a drinks reception, followed by a four-course meal with wine and the all important awards presentations. Carriages at midnight.
Tickets to the event can be purchased for:
£95+VAT
or
£950+VAT for a table of 10.
To purchase tickets contact 01242 265897 / or email: nicky.godding@archant.co.uk
For more information visit: emiawards.cotswoldlife.co.uk
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