MORE than 100 senior figures from the UK corrugated packaging sector recently attended the Sheet Plant Association‘s (SPA) 111th conference at the Tewkesbury Park Hotel.
The event featured a day of expert insights, practical updates, and collaborative discussion on the biggest issues impacting the sector, from regulation and recruitment to innovation and investment.
The conference opened with a keynote from adventurer and former bomb disposal officer Andy Torbet, who shared lessons on performance under pressure, resilience, and calculated risk.
Andrew Large, director general of the Confederation of Paper Industries, provided clarity on regulations including PPWR, EUDR, and EPR. Analyst Neil Osment returned to discuss data on 2025 market projections, giving SPA members insight into the trends shaping demand and investment in corrugated packaging.
Another session saw industry stalwarts David Pedley, David Orr, and Nick Kirby discuss lessons from acquisitions and leadership succession. Their honesty and experience is said to have sparked a lively audience Q&A.
Dr Claire Flanagan of Kene | B Corp delivered a session on how SMEs can unlock grant funding to accelerate innovation, growth, and sustainability goals, while Andy Barnetson highlighted CPI’s national initiatives to engage younger generations and promote apprenticeship pathways into the sector.
Shotton Mill general manager Daniel Johnson invited SPA members to a VIP site visit on Tuesday 30th September – the day after the SPA’s 112th conference – offering a behind-the-scenes look at their operation.
The Conference closed with recognition for supplier excellence across the industry. The SPA Supplier of the Year 2024 was named as KM Software Systems Ltd, with Springboard Safety Services and CorrBoard UK Ltd taking the runners up spot.
