2016 Growing Gloucestershire Conference announce Key note speakers and sponsors

Five big business names in Gloucestershire will play a key part in this year’s Growing Gloucestershire Conference which is taking place on 29 June at The Growth Hub at the University of Gloucestershire Oxstalls Campus in Gloucester.

The conference attracts around 200 local business people every year and aims to provide a platform for professionals to come together for a day to learn from some of Gloucestershire’s finest speakers and to share best practice and provide networking opportunities with other business owners and managers. 

Keynotes headlining the conference will be local speakers from Eco Park and Marketing Gloucester who were hand-picked to tell the county of their plans at the conference for ‘growing’ Gloucestershire in 2016. 

David Drew, Vice Chair of Forest Green Rovers FC & Community Lead on Eco Park will inspire conference delegates with plans for the £100m investment project at junction 13 on the M5. This 100 acre green development in the Stroud District will home a green business park, a major sports complex including a new base for Forest Green Rovers, and a conservation area, which will see a section of the Stroudwater canal reopened.

Commenting on the project and why it is important to the county, he said: “Many people are excited about the idea of new businesses coming to the county, new job prospects, new sports facilities, and a new stadium for Forest Green Rovers. I have the privilege of overseeing this development, through my links as Vice Chair, and the wider community, and look forward to the project getting outline planning permission and to starting the build as soon as possible thereafter.”

The second key note, Jason Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Marketing Gloucester will outline the success of the physical and cultural regeneration of Gloucester so far, and share plans for driving further growth and inward investment in the county’s administrative capital. 

He said: “With over £600 million spent so far on regeneration, and the next stage commencing shortly, Gloucester provides a fantastic example of a successful rebirth of a historic city. I look forward to sharing our story.”

As well as the key notes, the conference will run a popular social media masterclass and will hold talks organised by local representatives of well-known UK institutes on financial management, people, marketing and management. 

The day will also be supported by county business co-sponsors Willans LLP solicitors and Omega Resource Group.

Matthew Clayton, Partner of Gloucestershire law firm, Willans LLP shared his enthusiasm by commenting: “The Growing Gloucestershire Conference provides the perfect forum for Gloucestershire’s professionals to come together, to discuss and share ideas about how this amazing county can continue to go from strength to strength, and grasp the opportunities which the future presents. Embedded in the county’s business community as we are, Willans is delighted to be sponsoring this year’s event and to be able to contribute to that conversation.”

Alan Beresford, Chief Executive Officer of Omega, a Gloucestershire headquartered services business, said that he is delighted to be co-sponsoring the Growing Gloucestershire Conference for the second successive year.  

“We’re passionate about our ‘home’ county and in particular the health and growth of the long term employment market. We consider ourselves at the very heart of this economically vital topic and have sought to positively influence this since the company’s inception 18 years ago. We look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at the event, discussing key topics and taking you along our journey.”

David Owen, Chief Executive Officer of GFirst LEP will bring the conference to a close.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.glosprofs.com with a £5 discount on bookings before March 2016. The conference is open to anyone from any sector or industry.

To keep up-to-speed with latest conference news, seminar speaker announcements and exhibitors visit www.glosprofs.com

The conference is organised by Gloucestershire Professionals.