INTERVIEW
MPs, about the vital role the East Midlands plays as one of the biggest drivers of economic growth outside of London. A similar session last year, chaired by the Chamber’s
Director of Policy, Chris Hobson, was a huge success, playing to a packed crowd and covering topics such as Brexit, economic growth and the real value of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire speaking with a united voice. “We’ve always tried to deliver value to everyone
associated with Love Business,” Steve continued. “Whether you’re one of our commercial partners or sponsors, here for the day as an exhibitor or just popping in for an hour for a coffee and a walk around the expo, we want everyone to walk away thinking they’ve got something out of the experience. “So that might be signposting you in the direction of
a potential customer or facilitating an introduction, connecting you with a support organisation that can help your business grow, giving you a number of high- value networking opportunities or just laying on a talk that will really make you think about your business and inspire you to take action when you get back to your workplace.
‘Love Business is very much becoming more about shouting about what we have got here in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire’
“We always try to think of the many different types of
people who attend the event and the reasons why they come, then set things up which meet their needs or expectations. “It’s fantastic that we have the Chamber on board, alongside our other partners as well, because the Chamber not only sits at the forefront of the business community in our three counties, but it does such great work across a whole range of issues which it often doesn’t get the credit it deserves for, and Love Business gives it a platform to showcase all of that.” Clearly, the annual Love Business event is a massive undertaking. As soon as one event finishes, planning is pretty much underway for the next year, so what does the future hold? “Love Business is very much becoming more about shouting about what we have got here in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, about planting our flag in the ground and being proud of our region, our people, our businesses and our achievements. “Working closely with organisations like the Chamber,
we are using the event as a focal point to bring together a good mix which informs, inspires and provides an enjoyable business-stimulating experience.” So, what does that message look like? “I think that (Marketing Derby Managing Director)
John Forkin was right with what he said at last year’s event, that this part of the East Midlands is quite a fragmented region and there is a need for the three cities and counties to collaborate on the big issues to be able to compete with other regions when it comes to attracting investment and support. “Let’s look at the facts about Derbyshire,
Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. Innovation is in our DNA. We are the site of the world’s first factory, so the industrial revolution started here. “Ada Lovelace – Lord Byron’s daughter – was a
prophet of the computer age, helping to decode the world’s first computer programme, so the digital revolution started here. “The world’s first and oldest department store,
Bennett’s, is in Derby, so we started the retail revolution. Thomas Cook, the godfather of modern travel, was born in Leicester, so we started the tourism revolution.
60 business network February 2020
“Florence Nightingale lived in Matlock, she started the healthcare revolution, aided and abetted by Jesse Boot, from Nottingham, who brought us the high street pharmacy. “Alice Hawkins, from Leicester, was a leading suffragette
who revolutionised women’s rights and equality. “We’ve got two of the world’s first football teams, who
started the football league. “There are so many inventions and innovations from our
three counties that it’s impossible to list them all… traffic lights, tarmac, ibuprofen, the MRI scan, hot dogs, HP Sauce, the list goes on and on. “We’ve got the Peak District, the National Forest and the
Legend of Robin Hood. The spiritual home of rock music is on our doorstep, at Donington Park. “We’ve got iconic brands – Paul Smith, Raleigh, Triumph,
Norton, Rolls-Royce, Toyota. “We don’t talk about these things enough. “We take them for granted, but we don’t use what we’ve
got to big up the three counties like we should. “What we’ve got here is unique, but I don’t think we
package it up and sell it properly. “When you look at somewhere like the Black Country,
they’ve got it right. They’ve got a really strong identity, which not only fits into the regional agenda of the West Midlands, but also sets them apart as a unique part of a greater whole. “That’s what Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and
Leicestershire should be working towards, creating a strong identity that reflects everything that’s great about the three counties, their people, their culture and their economies, and presenting it as a full package. “At the end of the day, when we come together to collaborate, we’re always stronger for it.”
Love Business is entering its ninth year
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