News

Club unveils plans to stimulate growth and investment

At its AGM in May, hosted by New College Nottingham current and potential members listen to a review of past achievements as well as an overview of its Action Plan.

The Club's 150 members include successful multinational businesses such as Alliance Boots, Experian and Paul Smith, along with key representatives from the city's heavyweight professional and retail sectors and a range of businesses from its growing high-value knowledge industries such as bioscience, digital and creative media and green technologies. These businesses joined forces with Nottingham City Council and other organisations to form the Invest in Nottingham Club and help promote growth when recession took hold.

At the AGM there were also two appointments, current Board member Sean Akins of Bildurn Properties was voted in as the Club's first Vice Chairman and Andrew Borkowski, who heads up the Midlands corporate and banking teams at Geldards also joined the Board.

This year the Invest in Nottingham Club launched the Creative Class, a group of creative and technology businesses selected to promote the development of the sector. The Club is also to continue promoting the city outside Nottingham, having held two success events for London investors one at the newly opened St Pancras Hotel. It also supported Team Nottingham, a small group of city businesses who mounted a trade push for Nottingham at MIPIM - the international property and development exhibition held in Cannes in March.

The Invest in Nottingham Club is chaired by the lawyer and former CBI regional director Paul Southby who outlined plans "The Club is still a young organisation and it's important that it maintains an ability to evolve in response to changing circumstances.

"We have ambitious plans for the next 12 months and we want to help realise the extraordinary potential for Nottingham: in healthcare, green and creative industries, in infrastructure projects, and in the growing interest of overseas companies.

"Despite a tough economic climate, over the last year we've handled more investment leads than ever. Our events have connected more than 1,200 business people and we've increased our membership by a third. We will continue to fulfil our aim of raising the profile of Nottingham as a business location, putting its strengths in the spotlight and pushing hard where opportunities present themselves to encourage investment and jobs.

"We will continue to promote our new international activities - with a focus on both attracting Foreign Direct Investment enquiries and supporting Nottingham businesses in pursuing new foreign trade opportunities, initially on China and Germany.

"This year we've clarified our goals and priorities. We'll play our part in initiatives such as City Deal, the extended Enterprise Zones and support for indigenous business. We'll continue to focus on key growth industries. It is a dynamic and challenging time for every city but we'll make best use of the fabulous talent and energy of our members to promote Nottingham as a great place to do business."

The next Invest in Nottingham Club event is a business lunch on Friday 27 July. For further information and details about the benefits of membership contact natalie@investinnottinghamclub.com or go to www.investinnottinghamclub.com

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