Date: Tue 21st July, 2009
Venue:
Number of Guests Attended: 80
More than 75 business people crowded into Nottingham’s East Midlands Conference Centre Hotel for Insider’s latest economic forum.
They heard a lively question and answer-based discussion chaired by Insider editor Andy Coyne and featuring local regeneration chief John Nicholls and Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) director Julian Healey.
The debate ranged from the city’s reputation as a place to shop, live and work to regeneration plans and Nottingham’s focus on the biotech sector.
Helen Sisson, tourism leader at Experience Nottingham, said the city is aware that regional rivals such as Leicester had raised their game in regard to their retail offering.
“We need to realise our potential by getting our retail sites up and running,” she said. “When that happens we can compete with our regional counterparts. It’s time for joined-up thinking and for people to work together to promote the city.”
Nottingham Regeneration interim chief executive Nicholls said: “I do feel the Highcross development in Leicester is a bit of a beacon regionally for what can be achieved. Contrast that with Broadmarsh which, frankly, is quite a dismal experience and Nottingham has got some catching up to do.”
Nottingham should also up the ante on the marketing front, the panel suggested. Healey at LSH said: “What has shocked me recently is the ability of Derby to market itself. I’m not convinced Nottingham is doing anything like that in terms of marketing itself.”
On the controversial plan to introduce a workplace parking levy, Nicholls said it is important the money made by the council should be put straight back into public transport in the city.
Steve Green, director of local firm Octavian Security, accentuated the positive from the parking levy debate. “If we want evidence that Nottingham is in the lead in the region, the fact it is having this debate now is very good evidence of that. If we want to develop as a city we have to invest in infrastructure and have to make hard choices about that,” he said.
Read the full debate in September’s Midlands Business Insider.To subscribe visit our Shop.
