Plymouth is reinventing itself – and nearly 100 business leaders from across the city and the wider region gathered on 25 September at one of the city’s significant regeneration sites, Royal William Yard, to take stock of progress for a city that is still in transition – and to quiz some of those with a stake in Plymouth’s reinvention.
Insider’s panel included Gavin Carrier, the new chief executive of Plymouth City Development Company, in one of his first public outings since taking on the role, as well as the South RDA’s head of regeneration, Carl Budden. The principal of City College Plymouth, Viv Gillespie and David Parlby, chief executive of the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, completed the Plymouth contingent, with the final panellist, Urban Splash chair Tom Bloxham, coming down from Manchester to bring an outsider’s perspective to proceedings.
Issues that were covered included the impact of the economic downturn on Plymouth’s plans for physical regeneration, and the question of whether Plymouth City Development Company Team has the finances it needs to achieve its strategic objectives (a strong yes from Carrier). The relationship between the private and public sectors in the city was also explored, as was the question of why the city doesn’t have a stronger profile nationally – and how it could.
For full coverage of the event click here
Date: Fri 25th September, 2009
Venue: Mills Bakery, Royal William Yard, Plymouth, PL1 3RP
Number of Guests Attended: 100