Lloyds Banking Group, National Grid and Centrica unveiled as Commercial Partners for ITT Hub, as the new business event for the transport and technology sector gears up for the inaugural exhibition and conference in 2020.
Lloyds Banking Group, National Grid and international energy and services company Centrica, were today (Tuesday 14th May) unveiled as Commercial Partners for Innovation & Technology in Transport 2020 (ITT Hub 2020), a new business event for the transport and technology sector.
The event will take place at Farnborough International Conference & Exhibition Centre in May 2020, on the site where the first powered flight took place in 1908.
The joint announcement was made at a special ‘Innovators’ Day’ held at Farnborough. The preview marked the start of the one-year countdown to the opening of the inaugural event in May 2020.
Each company has a strategic objective to work closely in the transport sector and, as a Commercial Partner at ITT Hub 2020, they will receive extensive brand exposure over the next 12 months and seats on the Advisory Board. Individually and collectively, all three Partners will further add to the growing profile of the newly launched event, which will include thought leadership and business networking activities.
Speaking to an audience of 180 invited guests, CEO of the organisers of ITT Hub 2020 Mark Griffin said; “Today’s announcement is the culmination of months of working very closely with a number of carefully selected blue chip brands, who share our vision and commitment to working within the transport sector. It marks the beginning of, what I know will be, a very important and successful collaboration.
“All three of our new Partners share our view that transport is changing rapidly. We are delighted that, by working together, we can provide our visitors, exhibitors and industry stakeholders with an injection of fresh innovation through thought leadership and shared goals. Each Partner has their own individual role to play in shaping the future of mobility and we are proud that ITT Hub 2020 has been recognised as an event which they want to partner with to achieve this.”
Lloyds Banking Group (including Lex Autolease and Bank of Scotland) will be the Financial Commercial Partner. James Courtenay-Evans, Head of Transport, Large Corporates, Lloyds Banking Group said; “This is a very exciting announcement. Mark and the Binswood Media team clearly have a passion for providing the transport market with something new, ground-breaking and sustainable. It is a fantastic opportunity for LBG and a number of its key brands to further strengthen our position in the sector.
“Given our unique position at the heart of the UK economy and our purpose to Help Britain Prosper, the successful transition to a more sustainable, lower carbon economy is of strategic importance to us. We really do look forward to playing our part to help build and grow this event, which is much needed in the road transport arena.”
Representing National Grid, Project Director of Electric Vehicles Graeme Cooper said; “National Grid is excited to be an ITT Hub 2020 event Commercial Partner. With the road transport space being vitally important to the UK economy, we are actively engaging with many stakeholders to accelerate the decarbonisation of transport (as well as heat).
“The rollout of electric vehicles is fundamental to achieving this, and National Grid’s proposal to provide an upgraded electricity network connection at 54 motorway service areas would allow 99% of drivers in England and Wales to be within 50 miles of an ultra-rapid charging hub – one which would allow them to achieve a 200 mile charge in the time taken to buy and drink a coffee. This would complement home, workplace and destination charging (such as retail sites and leisure facilities) and provide a solution for those unable to charge their vehicles at home, including drivers on the move, plus fleet and bus operators looking to maximise vehicle utilisation.”
Carl Bayliss, Vice President of Mobility for Centrica Innovations, said; “As the UK’s largest energy supplier and operator of one of the largest fleets in the country, we know better than most the challenges facing the energy and transport sector as we look towards a low carbon future.
“We believe that meaningful partnerships will be key to unlocking the electrification of vehicles in the UK and beyond, and look forward to driving forward opportunities to develop thought leadership, innovation and collaboration in this space.”
The three new Commercial Partners announced today join Strategic Partner FTA, and five other Event Partners – Farnborough International, Highways UK, the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, the Renewable Energy Association and Transport for the South East – who, along with Zenobe Energy, have already put their weight behind the new Exhibition & Conference.
They also join a growing list of quality organisations signing up to participate at ITT Hub 2020. With over 75% of original exhibition space now taken, plans are underway to bring on stream extra space at the venue to facilitate anticipated demand.
Mark Griffin concluded; “Working closely with all of our Commercial and Event Partners and, of course our strong Advisory Board, we will be further developing all aspects of this exciting new event for a key sector in the UK economy, as we countdown to 13th May 2020. There will be plenty more news and information over the coming weeks and months as we build towards delivering ITT Hub 2020 here at Farnborough, appropriately known as the home pf pioneering spirit.”
Caption for Photograph – Commercial Partners give their backing to ITT Hub 2020. Background (in cab left to right); Chris Chandler (Lex Autolease), Graeme Cooper (National Grid). Foreground (left to right) James Courtenay-Evans (Lloyds Banking Group), Leon Daniels OBE (Binswood Media), Stuart Fowler and Emily Highmore-Talbot (Centrica) and Mark Griffin (Binswood Media).
