Webinar

Global and UK Industrial outlook

22 January 2026 – 10.00am GMT (London)

online

This webinar is hosted in partnership with the UK Material Handling Association.

Industrial activity in the UK faces numerous economic crosscurrents at home and overseas. Tariff headwinds have begun to mount, but at the same time a tremendous boom in AI-related investments are providing new sources of growth, especially in the US. The budget tabled last November further complicates the picture with a mix of more spending and tax increases in the short term and more significant revenue raisers later in the decade.

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Speakers

Jeremy Leonard

Jeremy Leonard is responsible for overseeing the work of the industry forecasting team and managing the operation and output of Oxford Economics’ Global Industry Model as well as related consultancy work.

Jeremy’s knowledge and past experience span a broad range, including competitiveness and offshoring/reshoring, commodity price modelling, and applied economic research on sectors ranging from biotech to heavy manufacturing to telecoms. In addition to numerous recurring bespoke sales and output forecasts for industries as diverse as machine tools and consumer packaging, recent consulting assignments have included the drivers of competitiveness in the chemical sector, forward-looking analyses of high-growth sectors across a range of emerging economies, and the ways in which digital technologies are transforming economic activity across manufacturing and service sectors.

Prior to joining Oxford Economics, Jeremy ran his own consulting firm based in Montreal, Canada providing a variety of economic analysis and forecasting services related to commodity prices, competitiveness, and the Canadian and US economic outlooks for the Washington, DC-based Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation, as well as serving as economic research director for the Montreal-based Institute for Research on Public Policy.

Born and raised in Washington, DC, Jeremy was educated at the University of Pennsylvania and McGill University, where he received his MA in Economics summa cum laude. He also speaks fluent French.

Managing Director, Industry Services

Rob Fisher

Robert (Rob) Fisher is the Chief Executive Officer of the UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA), the leading trade body representing the UK’s material handling industry. Appointed in July 2024, he brings extensive sector knowledge from more than 19 years leading IMHX, the UK’s flagship material handling and logistics exhibition. As CEO, Rob focuses on strengthening member engagement, promoting safety and skills development, and guiding the association’s strategic growth.

Chief Executive Officer, UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA)