Travis Perkins’ director Andrew Harrison and award-winning broadcaster, Steph McGovern complete the line up for an inspiring Industry Forum that sets the tone for the second day at the BMF All-Industry Conference in Budapest next June.

The Industry Forum is a unique feature of the BMF All-Industry Conference that encourages delegates from every sector of our industry to debate key issues. Mr Harrison and Ms McGovern will join Glen Sabin of Polyipe and Shanker Patel of the Lords Group to lead the proceedings. They will each offer their own perspective to help set the agenda for the Q&A that follows.

Mr Harrison, a member of Travis Perkins’ group executive committee, started his merchant career in 1980 as a management trainee with Graham Reeves in Cornwall. Following branch and area management roles, he moved Sharpe & Fisher as operations director helping to grow the business to 38 branches prior to its acquisition by Travis Perkins in 1999.

He was managing director at CCF, Benchmarx Kitchens and Joinery, and Keyline before becoming divisional chief operating officer, general merchanting in 2013, with responsibility for Travis Perkins, Benchmarx and Toolhire. From January 2017 he will take the role of group commercial and business development director.

Ms McGovern not only hosts the Forum and its lively Q&A session, she will also help set the agenda by speaking about her own career, the importance of recruiting more women to work in industry, and the significance of the construction industry to the UK economy.

Working in financial journalism for over 13 years, Ms McGovern’s first taste of broadcasting came aged 19, when she made a guest appearance on a programme about women in science. She had just won the title of Young Engineer for Britain after saving Black & Decker money on a design she created for the company’s Leaf Hog product. Today, she travels all over the UK to cover economic and business news. She has broadcast live from over 500 businesses for BBC Breakfast, and makes it her mission to find out what’s going on in the real economy.

John Newcomb, managing director of the BMF, said: “With Andrew and Steph confirmed to speak at the Industry Forum alongside Glenn and Shanker, this session will kick-start a Super Saturday programme at the BMF All-Industry Conference.”

The BMF All-Industry Conference takes place in Budapest from 15-18 June, 2017 at the five-star Intercontinental Hotel. Broadcaster and TV personality, Gethin Jones, will host the event, which has already sold out. Further details are available on the Conference website, which can be found at: www.bmfconference2017.co.uk.

Picture caption: Steph McGovern (pictured above), along with Andrew Harrison, Glen Sabin and Shanker Patel, completes the line up for the Industry Forum at the BMF All-Industry Conference in Budapest next June.