Leader of Lib Dems to launch new Midlands Business Network

On 9 September, business people from across the Midlands will come together in Sutton Coldfield at the inaugural meeting of LDBN Midlands, a newly formed regional business network.

LDBN Midlands will be first of six English regional business networks to be established under the "umbrella" of the national Liberal Democrat Business Network (LDBN), a 300-member strong group of liberally minded business women and men. LDBN unites the voices of business people across the country and acts as a dynamic "conduit" for the exchange of information and ideas between the business community and Liberal Democrat MPs, peers and local government leaders.

The meeting next month will hear in person from Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Lib Dems and a former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. Sir Ed will be joined by Juergen Maier CBE, a previous CEO of Siemens UK and a Deputy Chair of The Northern Powerhouse Partnership, together with a prominent West Midlands businessman, Tim Cotterill, Chair of James Lister and Sons Ltd, based in Smethwick.

Tim Cotterill said:

'It's time for business to put its head above the parapet and advocate for truly pro-business trade and investment policies that will help us return to growth. I am pleased to be in the Lib Dems, the only credible pro-business party in the UK. And it's also why I am proud to be leading a new Midlands regional business network for likeminded business people living and working in the heart of the UK.'

Simon Curtis, national Chair of LDBN, added:

"I am delighted to have been involved with Tim in the formation of LDBN Midlands, the first of six English regional networks to be established by LDBN. In a post-Brexit, COVID- dominated world, there is a clear and urgent need for British business, as the bedrock of our society, to be better heard and better governed than at present.

The Liberal Democrats are the natural party of UK business and the new LDBN Midland network will, I firmly believe, represent an influential and much needed voice for British business in a critically important, but frequently overlooked, region of the country".

To attend the launch event in person or online, please email ldben@libdems.org.uk to receive an invitation and registration information.