Dame Andrea on fact finding visit to North Kesteven

Lincolnshire's first Great Exhibition will be held this autumn – showcasing the brightest and best of the county’s industry to a national and international audience.

The brainchild of the Mayor of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the event will take place on October 22 at the Lincolnshire Showground.

She discussed plans for the event with representatives of North Kesteven District Council this week when the links between her areas of interest including skills, transport and infrastructure and the authority’s work and priorities.

Dame Andrea has taken inspiration for the inaugural event from the famous Great Exhibition of 1851, which was held as the industrial revolution propelled Victorian Britain into the greatest power of the time and her aim is for the event to shine a light on the county’s rich and varied business talent – highlighting the very best of innovation, invention, and technology.

“Setting up this event was a pledge I made when elected and I am delighted that it’s becoming a reality. I want to shine a light on our amazing county and all that we have to offer. We are truly world-leading in some key industry sectors and have extraordinary potential for inward investment and innovation.

“We need to show everyone just how our county is rich in so many ways – it is a place to trade, to innovate, and to invest and I’m already establishing links around the world to boost our importing and exporting opportunities,” she added.

“The aim for the inaugural 2025 event is to entice new investment and trade into Lincolnshire by exhibiting the best of our tech, creativity and innovation. Overseas delegates and investors are on the guestlist alongside our entrepreneurial business communities, and leading politicians.”

As well as raising the county’s economic profile the Mayor will use the event to set out her intention and commitment to driving and supporting growth.

 “The aspiration is for this to be the biggest and widest reaching event of this type ever delivered in Greater Lincolnshire.  I see this becoming a flagship annual event showcasing all that is great about Lincolnshire.”

Dame Andrea Jenkyns is meeting with all district douncils as part of developing her plans for the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority, GLCCA.

North Kesteven Leader, Cllr Richard Wright said: “We were pleased to have the chance to meet the Mayor and showcase what North Kesteven has to offer. We all know of the outstanding potential inherent in our district and we were proud to share that with Dame Andrea. 

“Devolution offers great opportunities for Lincolnshire, with greater powers and increased funding being available. It’s important that we work as closely as possible with the Mayor and the new authority to secure the best outcomes for our communities.

“We see strong potential for partnership working, especially on tourism, transport and infrastructure, skills, the defence economy and our work with veterans. We look forward to maximising all the opportunities available to us for the betterment of North Kesteven.” 

Pictured top during the visit to North Kesteven are (from left)  Assistant Director of Economy Tony Mabbott, Assistant Director of Planning and Climate Change Mark Williets, Chief Executive Kath Marriott, Leader Cllr Richard Wright, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Deputy Director GLCCA Ruth Carver.