Annual Business Event 2026 celebrates 20 years of shaping place

The partnerships that have helped shape the city over the last 20 years have been celebrated at this year’s Marketing Derby Annual Business Event.

Yesterday morning, ‘Team Derby’ assembled inside Derby Theatre as around 500 people packed out the venue for the investment promotion agency’s annual showcase, which featured fascinating speakers, engaging discussion and inspiring statistics.

This year, Marketing Derby turns 20 – and the Annual Business Event provided an opportunity to reflect on how far the city has come in that time, thanks to the collective efforts of its public and private sector partners.

It also considered what the future holds – and how the city can make the most of its opportunities, while also meeting the challenge of achieving inclusive growth.

Bob Betts, executive chairman at Marketing Derby, said: “Cities don’t succeed by accident – they succeed because enough people care. They succeed because they have inclusive growth, which is absolutely key.

“There’s a sense of momentum here – the cranes are moving in again. What’s behind this is the alignment of our business Bondholders, Derby City Council and the East Midlands Combined County Authority.

“Delivering sustainable growth, creating jobs and contributing locally, regionally and nationally – this is all critical to our city’s future. But what is also critical is achieving inclusive growth.”

Following a welcome by Sarah Brigham, the theatre’s artistic director and chief executive, and opening comments from Bob, Councillor Nadine Peatfield, leader of Derby City Council and Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands Combined County Authority, took to the stage for a conversation with Steve Hall, director of Steve Hall Communications, about the state of play in Derby and the wider region.

Nadine reflected on the momentum of Derby’s development and talked about some of the projects to look out for in 2026 at both city and regional level.

It was then time for Tony Butler OBE, executive director of Derby Museums, to deliver his keynote address looking at how culture can help build a better future for the city through iconic figures like the world-famous artist Joseph Wright.

This year has been dubbed Derby’s ‘Year of Wright’, with a major exhibition of his works – Wright of Derby: From the Shadows – relocating from the National Gallery to the city later this year.

The audience were then tested on how much they knew about some of Derby’s headlines as Dean Jackson MBE, founder of HUUB, took the stage with his take on the game show Play Your Cards Right – or in this case Play Your Cards Wright.

The ABE also provided an opportunity for Marketing Derby to pay tribute to the Bondholders who have supported the organisation since the beginning of its journey in 2006.

They are: Derby City Council, Geldards, Innes England, East Midlands Chamber, East Midlands Railway, Cathedral Quarter Hotel, Matthew Montague Architects, Derby Theatre, Royal Crown Derby, Katapult, Lathams, QUAD and Smith of Derby.

Speaking at the ABE, Bob said: “A good number of Bondholders have been with us since day one – 20 years of unwavering support.

“They’ve been with us through economic crashes, pandemics, threats to some of our flagship companies and sporting institutions.

“Thank you for that incredible support.”

Marketing Derby’s Rising Star competition is designed to give fledgling businesses a helping hand, and at the ABE the 2026 winner was revealed – Victoria Dunn Coaching – with Victoria herself receiving the award from Marvin Cooke OBE, Professor of Enterprise at the University of Derby.

Finally, following an introduction from former High Sheriff of Derbyshire Theresa Peltier DL, Gillian Sewell, chief executive of YMCA Derbyshire, delivered a powerful ‘Dare to Dream’ address in which she called upon Team Derby to get behind a new initiative called ‘Tale of Two Cities – Early Years’, which aims to give youngsters living in the city’s poorest households a better start in life.