Public and private sector business leaders and MPs will attend the Doncaster Business Conference 2018 in May to discuss what the future holds for Doncaster and its impact on the local economy and residents.
The morning event, organised by Doncaster Chamber and sponsored by Doncaster Sheffield Airport, Free to Learn and Taylor Bracewell, will feature keynote speeches and panel discussions on Doncaster’s skills and education situation as well as its aspirations to be more widely recognised for its cultural assets which are all key to inward investment, growing the local economy, and retaining and attracting a happy workforce.
Keynote speaker Robert Hough CBE, will share an insight into his work as Director of Peel and Chairman of Peel Airports and in particular, Doncaster Sheffield Airport’s 20-year masterplan that could support the creation of 73000 jobs and generate £3.2bn for the economy.
Former Chair of Hull UK City of Culture 2017, Rosie Millard OBE, will also deliver a keynote speech on how it was her job to show people across the UK and within Hull that the East Yorkshire capital was the rightful place to be named City of Culture 2017 and the effect it had on business and education.
Conference delegates, including secondary school and college students, will have the opportunity to share their aspirations and challenges with local MPs, Ed Miliband for Doncaster North, Dame Rosie Winterton DBE MP for Doncaster Central, and Caroline Flint for Don Valley, to influence policy and ensure that the right business and education support structures are in place locally, regionally and nationally.
“The conference will drive conversations between the public and private sectors, education and MPs about some of the key issues that matter most to Doncaster businesses – namely skills and education and making Doncaster a more attractive place to live, work, and play. Our high profile guests will share their own business experiences and best practices and delegates will have the opportunity to ask questions and comment on what is being discussed,” says Dan Fell, CEO of Doncaster Chamber.
“Doncaster Chamber is an organisation that is strongly committed to supporting business and growing the local economy and this annual event has become the opportunity for business leaders to meet, network and hear and challenge the latest thinking for Doncaster.”
The Conference will also see two panel debates facilitated by the editor of the Yorkshire Post James Mitchinson.
The first debate on ‘Work Hard: Harnessing Doncaster’s talent’ will see Laura Bennett (Entrepreneur/SCR LEP Board), Karen Finlayson (PwC), Jo Miller (Doncaster MBC), Mark Smith (Wabtec), and Anne Tyrell (Doncaster College & University Centre), discussing Doncaster’s skills gap and efforts to address it.
The second set of panellists, Tim Banfield (Doncaster Racecourse), Rachel Horne (Doncopolitan), Ed Miliband MP (Doncaster North), Andy Price (&create), Deborah Rees (Cast) will discuss ‘Play Hard: Creating a vibrant cultural place’; how Doncaster’s current and future leisure and culture assets are a vital part of the local economy and aspirations to become the City of Culture 2020.
Over 300 hundred delegates from across the region are expected to attend the Doncaster Business Conference on Friday 18 May, 8.00am to 12.30pm at The Legacy Centre, Doncaster. Book tickets via Doncaster Chamber: www.doncaster-chamber.co.uk 01302 640100 chamber@doncaster-chamber.co.uk
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