Rising numbers lead to super-sized meet up at Keele University

Demand to attend our regular Connects Network meetings has been steadily on the increase for quite a while, which is a great testament to the informal structure and informative content. Usually, we cap the meetings at 35 attendees, and we have a waiting list for most meet ups! As we hate to let people down or exclude them, we are aiming to accommodate demand and get as many businesspeople involved as possible. Therefore we have trialled a slightly different type of meeting that caters for a larger attendance, but maintains the friendly, cooperative ethos of the network. On the 26th November, around 70 of us headed to the Denise Coates Foundation building, ic6 Keele University to enjoy double the usual amount of networking, and presentations from Keele University and the Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent LVEP. We heard about the potential of Keele’s Student and Graduate placement programme and the new Local Visitor Economy Partnership aiming to build a sustainable future for Staffordshire’s visitor economy. One onlooker described the place as “absolutely buzzing”! This was the first of two events planned at Keele, the next is on 16th January and explores the role of art and placemaking in economic regeneration. This leads to a week-long Business Festival – NuL Shaping the Future, from 10th-14th March, find out more and sign up here: www.nulshapingthefuture.co.uk Be sure to follow our Eventbrite page for future meetings https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/connects-network-meeting-16475661938