Where will the next decade of growth come from – and how can businesses position themselves to benefit?
That is the central question behind a major Institute of Directors event taking place at Silverstone Museum on 7th October 2026, bringing together business leaders, investors, local government and experts to explore the future of business, innovation and regional economic development.
The event will also mark the launch of the IoD’s new South Central region and welcome its new chairperson, Dipa Mistry Kandola, who will share her vision for the region.
With the South Central region closely aligned with the emerging Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, the event comes at an important time for businesses across Northamptonshire and the wider region.
Opening remarks will be followed by a keynote from Toni Allen, Chief Engagement & Growth Officer at the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET). Drawing on the IET’s international perspective, Toni will explore developments in advanced technology, innovation and high-performance engineering and what they could mean for UK businesses.
The conversation will then turn to the regional opportunity, including the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster and Growth Corridor and the unique advanced manufacturing and high-performance technology ecosystem surrounding Silverstone.
Speakers include Rob Lewis OBE, co-founder of TotalSim; Ian Barham, Head of Business Partnerships & Investment at Buckinghamshire Council; Chris Taylor, Net Zero Programme Director at the Broadway Initiative; and Jon Geldart, Director General of the IoD.
Discussion will also explore the practical ingredients needed to turn growth ambitions into reality, including skills, leadership, executive development, innovation, investment and cross-sector collaboration, alongside the latest government funding landscape, including the newly announced £20 million Local Innovation Partnership Fund.
Curated by Adrian Pryce DL, the event offers an opportunity to understand what is changing, meet people shaping the region’s future and consider what these developments could mean for individual organisations.
With networking, lunch and access to the iconic Silverstone Museum included, it promises to be an important day for anyone interested in the future of business across the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.
7 October 2026 | 9:30am–3pm | Silverstone Museum
IoD members: £35 | Non-members: £75
Picture: courtesy of the IoD
