News - 14 April 2015

Big Crowds at first Venturefest East Midlands Event

Crowds flocked to the very first Venturefest East Midlands event – co-sponsored by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership – at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham today (Tuesday April 14).

More than 1,000 delegates attended the free event aimed at bringing together innovators, potential investors, entrepreneurs, and those with an interest in business and economic growth for the region. Exhibitors in the Innovation Showcase Expo included Nottingham, Derby and De Montfort universities, the East Midlands Chamber, Innovate UK, KPMG, SMS Electronics, Creative Quarter Nottingham, and the D2N2 LEP with the D2N2 Growth Hub and D2N2 Skills teams.

D2N2 – the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – was an early advocate of the event and one of its regional partners. It has identified and supported innovation as a key driver for economic growth in its area, and in helping towards the D2N2 target of creating 55,000 (mainly private sector) jobs in ten years.

Simon Woodroffe, YO! Sushi founder and one of the original ‘dragons’ on BBC business programme Dragons’ Den, spoke on ‘Changing the Game’ for business, at the event.

D2N2 Chairman Peter Richardson and the LEP’s Chief Executive David Ralph were part of an expert panel speaking in the event’s morning sessions, on ‘The Need for Innovation:National & Regional Strategies’.

David also spoke on ‘Business Growth’, as part of Venturefest East Midland 2015’s Innovation Hub sessions (pictured below), and MC-ed the afternoon sessions, announced the winner of a crowdfunding contest which had been run leading up to today’s event – won by Mobile Viva Venues – and closed the successful day’s activities.

D2N2 Chief Executive David Ralph (Left) giving a business growth workshop at Venturefest East Midlands

D2N2 Chief Executive David Ralph (Left) giving a business growth workshop at Venturefest East Midlands

Plans are already underway for Venturefest East Midlands 2016, to be held in Leicester in March 2016.

D2N2 Chief Executive David Ralph said: “There was a real buzz about Venturefest East Midlands 2015 today. We had more than 1,000 delegates signed up, very engaged audiences at the sessions and big name speakers such as Simon Woodroffe. Innovation is key to business and there was plenty of enthusiasm for it today. I look forward to an even bigger and better Venturefest event in 2016.”

For more information about Venturefest East Midlands 2015 go to the Venturefest East Midlands website 

Latest News & Events

19 July 2024

Local business support boosted with launch of Early Stage Angel Investment Fund

Read Article

21 June 2024

Spotlight on our Board: Scott Knowles, Chief Executive, East Midlands Chamber, on the D2N2 LEP transition and East Midlands devolution

Read Article

11 June 2024

The D2N2 LEP staff team joins the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA)

Read Article

07 June 2024

Becky Rix, Marketing Director at Roadgas, explains why Roadgas is a proud member of the East Midlands Hydrogen Consortium

Read Article

05 June 2024

Spotlight on our Board: D2N2 LEP Board Member Natasha Johnson, Director of Partnerships at Global Entrepreneurs UK

Read Article

05 June 2024

Free Expert Business Advice and Support available through East Midlands Chamber’s Accelerator Programme

Read Article

03 June 2024

Spotlight on our Board: D2N2 LEP Board Member Professor Edward Peck CBE, Vice-Chancellor and President, Nottingham Trent University

Read Article

24 May 2024

Focus on the East Midlands: our time is NOW!

Read Article

24 May 2024

D2N2 LEP CEO, Will Morlidge, shares our East Midlands Hydrogen ambitions at UKREiiF

Read Article

24 May 2024

East Midlands Freeport and Freeport East Sign Green Freight Corridor Initiative at UKREiiF

Read Article

Get in touch.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up
Address

D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership
8 Experian Way
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
NG2 1EP

Social

Our Partners