After a week of big HS2-related news delegates who attended the fifth D2N2 Business Breakfast of 2016 heard how a planned high speed rail line could benefit the East Midlands.
The D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership is currently running a series of six free Business Breakfasts at different venues across the area it covers (Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire). It is a chance to hear from businesses, tell them about D2N2’s work to promote the economy and create jobs, and show how companies can get involved in future projects or access growth funding.
Delegates this morning (November 16) attended the fifth of the six free Business Breakfasts, which was held at County Hall in Matlock.
The event featured speakers including:
- David Ralph, Chief Executive of D2N2 – Speaking on recent D2N2 activities and the LEP’s future strategies given national economic changes, and about the potential economic advantage a planned HS2 route through the East Midlands would bring. Phase 2 of the national HS2 high speed rail network include proposals for a western leg (Crewe to Manchester) and an eastern leg (West Midlands to Leeds). The Government yesterday (November 15) confirmed these Phase 2 proposals (with some realignment) would be taken forward as its preferred route. The route plans include a regional HS2 ‘rail hub’ at Toton, Nottinghamshire, and a network maintenance depot at Staveley, near Chesterfield, as part of the eastern leg; with the western leg (towards Manchester) set to also bring benefits to north Derbyshire.
- Guest business speaker Sarah Fowler, Chief Executive of the Peak District National Park Authority, on the Park’s value to the area as a natural asset and as a major visitor draw (the Visitor Economy is one of the D2N2 LEP’s eight key sectors).
- Paul Stuart, Head of Enterprise at the East Midlands Chamber, on the D2N2 Growth Hub; which has helped more than 2,000 businesses with advice on business and marketing strategies, skills and training, and on how to access growth finance, since it was set-up in December 2014.
Previous Business Breakfasts held in October and November (2016) at Derby, Nottingham, Chesterfield and Mansfield have also been well attended and well received, by businesses and delegates from other organisations.
A few tickets are still available for the sixth and final Business Breakfast, to be held at North Notts College in Worksop next Wednesday (November 23). To book online to attend this event go to the D2N2 LEO website Events Page by clicking 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
