Over a thousand exhibitors, delegates, and visitors congregated at the Lincolnshire Showground for the maiden Lincolnshire Great Exhibition, an event meticulously orchestrated by Greater Lincolnshire Mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns. This extraordinary exhibition, taking cues from the Great Exhibition of 1851, aimed to draw attention to the county’s industries and entice investment to reinforce Lincolnshire’s economy.
Prominent exhibits included displays of advanced agricultural robots and military defence drones, interspersed with scrumptious local food offerings. Dame Andrea discussed her vision, revealing, ‘The aim behind this is to attract investment into Lincolnshire to future-proof our economy.’ She underscored the comprehensive groundwork involving diplomatic discussions and international research to secure potential investments.
The occasion featured addresses from renowned figures including Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, and Zia Yusef, head of policy at Reform UK. International officials from countries such as India, Taiwan, and Bangladesh were also in attendance, amplifying the event’s international significance. An RAF Typhoon fly-by further added to the day’s thrill.
Local businesses seized the opportunity to showcase their innovations. Jake Norman of OAL shed light on the potential for automation in the food industry, stating, ‘There is a plethora of opportunities to automate processes where robots can be deployed to make tasks easier.’ Concurrently, Debbie Kelsey of Blyton Ice Cream utilised the event to network and advertise their new venture, The Crumble Cart, a service offering warm dishes accompanied by stewed fruit and custard.
Arranged by The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority, this exclusive exhibition offered a platform for local businesses to interact and expand. It symbolises a significant move in positioning Lincolnshire as a centre of innovation and opportunity.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
