by Thinus Ferreira
Sky News (DStv 402) is adding Big Ideas Live from Tuesday 12 October as a new series of live thought-leadership events of which parts will also be shown on the British TV news channel and in which experts will discuss certain critical topics facing the United Kingdom.
Sky News says that it will launch Big Ideas Live on Tuesday 12 October in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, as the first in a series of live in-person events designed to bring together a diversity of views from around the United Kingdom to try and "brainstorm solutions to some of the most pressing problems facing the UK today".
Big Ideas Live will have Sky News presenters joined by business leaders, industry commentators and political players in an interactive, conference-style setting to explore ideas surrounding the most prominent issues, ranging from business and economics to the arts, climate, science and health, as well as technology.
held at Magna in the former Templeborough steel works in Rotherham, the first Big Ideas Live will revolve around the topic of "How to fire up UK business and the economy in the wake of the pandemic".
Sky News' economics editor and data editor Ed Conway, business presenter Ian King, and presenters Trevor Phillips and Samantha Washington will host panels and interviews with guests including the former governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney, the chief executive of Siemens UK Carl Ennis, UK managing director of Arla Foods, Ash Amirahmadi, climate activist and former Mayor of Sheffield Magid Magid and CEO of Smart Green Shipping - Diane Gilpin.
There will also be contributions from an in-person audience of regional business voices.
Analysis from the Sky News data journalism team will explore what the data shows about how the pandemic has impacted UK business and the economy. The event will focus on the future of jobs, the future of green growth and the future of the North as a powerhouse for economic growth post-pandemic.
Sky News says that the event will be live streamed across the Sky News website and app as well as appearing throughout the day on the Sky News TV channel.
"Sky News has proven through the past 18 months that we provide a vital public service to make the critical topics of our day accessible and relatable to our viewers," says John Ryley, head of Sky News.
"This is an ambitious next step to take Sky News’ specialists live into communities around the country and examine some very big ideas."
"Our business and economics specialists and data journalists are the among the best in the business, so this first topic was an obvious choice. Big Ideas Live will step away from rolling news and instead create a format to break down the important issues of our time, starting with reigniting UK business and the economy."
