Leaders behind Nottingham’s bid to be European Capital of Culture and of a £50million Derbyshire tourism and leisure project are among the speakers due to feature in the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership’s series of six free Business Breakfasts.
Each year the D2N2 LEP – the private sector-led partnership of business, local authorities, higher and further education providers, community and voluntary services, and other organisations which promotes economic and jobs growth across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – holds six free Business Breakfasts across its area. The events are a chance to update businesses on past successes and consult them on future plans.
The Breakfasts include presentations by D2N2’s Chief Executive David Ralph or Chair Peter Richardson and by senior LEP officers, speaking on activities including:
- plans to make the most of economic growth opportunities presented by the HS2 network, which is set to have a line going through Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire as part of HS2:Phase 2;
- projects now showing practical benefits thanks to investment via D2N2’s allocation of € 250million in European funding;
- skills and training development;
- how funding via D2N2’s Local Growth Fund allocation is being used to create the infrastructure needed to aid the area’s economic growth;
- D2N2 Growth Hub activities helping small and medium-sized enterprises, with more than 6,000 businesses engaged with since it launched in December 2014;
- promotion of community and voluntary services which help the area’s economy.
The free Business Breakfasts will feature a range of guest speakers, from the area where they are being held, talking about their experiences and companies or organisations; and what they think the economy needs in a changing environment.
This year, delegates attending the Business Breakfasts will also be contributing to a consultation to ‘refresh’ the Strategic Economic Plan; D2N2’s overall, detailed strategy which sets out how it will develop its area’s economy and the key sectors it will focus on.
The 2017 D2N2 Business Breakfasts – all of which will run from 8.30am to approximately 11am – will be held on:
Tuesday October 17 – In Discovery Room 1 at the BioCity Discovery building, Pennyfoot St, Nottingham (NG1 1GN).
Guest business speakers will be Brendan Moffett, Chief Executive of Marketing Nottingham & Nottinghamshire, speaking about Nottingham’s bid to be European Capital of Culture in 2023; and Dr Glenn Crocker MBE, Chief Executive of BioCity Nottingham, talking about the site’s facilities (the new £30m BioCity Discovery building was part-funded by D2N2’s Local Growth Fund allocation).
Thursday November 2 – The Oakham Suite, 155 Nottingham Rd, Mansfield (NG18 4AE).
Guest business speaker – To be confirmed.
Tuesday November 7 – The Derby Silk Mill, Silk Mill Lane, Derby (DE1 3AF).
Guest business speaker – Mary Maguire, joint Managing Director of Astute Financial Recruitment (with offices in Derby and Nottingham).
Tuesday November 14 – Buxton Pump Rooms, The Crescent, Buxton (SK17 6BQ).
Guest business speakers – James Berresford, Chair of the Buxton Crescent and Thermal Spa Heritage Trust, and University of Derby Vice-Chancellor Professor Kathryn Mitchell.
Tuesday November 21 – The Best Western Lion Hotel, 112 – 114 Bridge Street, Worksop (S80 1HT).
Guest business speaker – Claire Monk, General Manager and Brewer of Welbeck Abbey Brewery.
Tuesday November 28 – Pavilion Room, The Derbyshire Hotel, Carter Lane East, South Normanton (DE55 2EH).
Guest business speaker – Isobel Brown, Interim Programme Director for the Midlands Engine.
Tea and coffee, and breakfast rolls, will be provided for delegates at the events.
For online booking to attend any of the six free D2N2 Business Breakfast events, go to the D2N2 LEP website Events page at www.d2n2lep.org/Events . Alternatively contact Sam Burbage, D2N2 Social Media and Marketing Officer, on 0115 957 8254 or email: sam.burbage@d2n2lep.org
David Ralph, Chief Executive of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We talk to businesspeople in our area in a variety of ways right across the year but the Business Breakfasts have always proved popular. It’s a chance to network over a coffee and breakfast roll, hear from some interesting guest speakers and engage with what D2N2 is doing to help the economy.
“This year we’re keen to get businesses’ input on ‘refreshing’ our Strategic Economic Plan; the blueprint for how and where D2N2 will focus its economic activities in future. It’s important we get delegates’ views on what they see as important.”
More than 300 delegates booked to attend last year’s (2016) Business Breakfasts.
More information about the 2017 D2N2 LEP Business Breakfasts and online booking to attend can be found at web link www.d2n2lep.org/Events and, on Twitter, via the hashtag #D2N2BB2017