District Council to build upon the success of its second Economic Growth Conference

Held at Southwell Racecourse, 2022’s conference welcomed 90 attendees from different businesses across various sectors in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. The conference addressed the challenges and opportunities facing the local economy, and delegates participated in thought-provoking workshops and positive networking sessions throughout the day.

88% of those who provided feedback rated the conference very good or excellent, with 87.5% of respondents saying they would encourage others to attend a future conference. Elements that were highlighted as being the most useful were the presenters, particularly keynote speakers Will Hutton and Dr Ros Rivaz, the networking opportunities and presentations from local partners. 

Speakers at the event included Will Hutton and Dr Ros Rivaz, who discussed how local businesses could adapt and take advantage of the broader international and national context. Other speakers included Kevin Sharman from Nottinghamshire County Council, Penny Taylor and Tom Marsden from Lincoln College Group, and Frances Davies from Newark and Sherwood District Council, who gave updates about local projects and opportunities.

Next year’s conference will be held sometime in October, and the working theme is sustainability in business and great customer service. The Economic Growth team are now working to put plans in place, including approaching leading experts in the field to speak at the conference and provide insight for our local businesses.

Councillor Rhona Holloway, Portfolio Holder of Economic Development and Visitors, said: “I just wanted to extend my thanks to our keynote and guest speakers and everyone who made the second Economic Growth Conference such a fantastic event. The conference fell at a crucial time for local businesses, and it was incredibly refreshing to spend a day looking at the opportunities coming to Newark and Sherwood that will help our residents and businesses.

“Therefore, I am thrilled plans are already underway for our 2023 Economic Growth Conference. We are building upon a strong foundation to continue supporting our local businesses and driving growth by providing invaluable, high-quality insights through the experts we invite and the conversations we facilitate at the conference. I look forward to bringing you details soon.”

More information about the 2023 conference will be available in the coming months.