Quotes from legendary Nottingham and Derby football manager Brian Clough were the springboard for a business discussion about the cities’ future, at a national event’s business showcase featuring D2N2.
MIPIM UK is the UK-based sister event to annual global property and developers’ conference, MIPIM (from the French Le Marché International des Professionnels de l’Immobilier) held annually in Cannes, southern France.
The three-day 2016 MIPIM UK event, currently being held at the Olympia London exhibition centre, kicked off day one yesterday (October 19) with a range of events; including a lunchtime ‘Derby Showcase’.
The half-hour panel – entitled ‘Derby-Nottingham Metro: The Brian Clough Way’ – was chaired by Marketing Derby Managing Director John Forkin. Its expert panel – pictured above, with D2N2 CEO David Ralph seated second from right (photo courtesy of CPMG Architects) – included:
- Nottingham City Council Leader Jon Collins
- East Midlands Airport Head of External Affairs Jack Kelly
- HS2 Growth Partnership MD Jamie Kerr
- Derby City Council Deputy Leader Martin Rawson
- D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership Chief Executive David Ralph.
Using as its starting point the traditional rivalry between Nottingham and Derby, the panel discussed how a planned new ‘Nottingham-Derby Metropolitan Strategy’ could see them working much more closely together, to boost the economies and property development opportunities of both.
Famous quotes from the late Brian Clough, who managed both Nottingham Forest and Derby County, were used as a starting point for discussions on closer working. For example:
- “I wouldn’t say I was the best manager in the business, but I was in the top one.” – To spark a discussion on the key strengths of the two cities, and how these can be used to distinguish them from rival areas and attract inward investment.
- “I have a reputation for getting things done.” – To look at different ways of getting the message out to the wider UK and beyond, that Nottingham and Derby are places which deliver for business.
Questions were also taken from an audience of around 50delegates on subjects such as how the Nottingham and Derby Enterprise Zone (five business park sites across the two cities for which D2N2 oversees the Zone strategy) can support key sectors; and the importance of a recent £12million additional funding for Midlands Connect – the region-wide initiative to improve transport connectivity in the Midlands, and between it and the rest of the UK – to the cities’ areas.
Commenting after the event, David Ralph said: “The Metropolitan Strategy is a new idea, bringing together two cities long seen as rivals. As the D2N2 LEP covers both cities and their counties, looking to boost the wider economy of all and create jobs, closer working of this nature is something we strongly support.
“I think yesterday’s MIPIM UK showcase event was well received and a good opportunity to air some of the ideas around the Metro strategy; including the potential economic benefits of a proposed future HS2 line through the D2N2 area and how the East Midlands needs to come together to show its strengths.”
For more information about MIPIM UK 2016, which is due to finish tomorrow (October 21), see its website at www.mipimuk.co.uk
To learn more about the ‘Derby-Nottingham Metropolitan Strategy 2030’ click HERE.
Media wishing to know more about the work of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership can contact Sean Kirby, D2N2 Communications Manager, on 0115 957 8749 or email: sean.kirby@d2n2lep.org
