News
Cash and prestige at stake in city's euro bid
04/05/2006
Efforts to put Derby on the European map have taken a huge step forward with news that the city is in the running to host an international conference.
The city is competing against the likes of Turin and Malmo to stage the 2009 General Assembly of the Council for European Municipalities and Regions - which brings together around 1,000 delegates from across Europe and could boost Derby's trade and tourism by £1m.
Robin Johnson reports.
When John Forkin and his team at Derby Marketing came up with the idea of putting Derby's name forward to host a major European conference, it was more a case of ambition than real expectation.
The city had underplayed its strengths for years. But John, as project manager of the Derby Does It campaign, felt that applying to host the 24th General Assembly of the Council for European Municipalities and Regions in 2009 would be, if nothing else, a useful exercise in selling the city
You may be unfamiliar with the event unless you are into European politics in a major way. But it is a big deal - especially for the city that hosts it.
Held every three years, the assembly brings together around 1,000 delegates from cities in 42 European countries - influential people like mayors and council leaders - to discuss common issues.
Staging the conference provides a wide range of marketing opportunities for the host city. So, Derby Marketing with the backing of the city council and other partners, decided to throw the city's name into the hat.
But before taking on the rest of Europe, Derby had to beat other UK hopefuls. Among the potential bidders were London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Birmingham and Doncaster.
But Derby was chosen to be put forward by the UK Local Government International Bureau - the UK arm of the Council for European Municipalities and Regions.
"We're delighted that they felt our bid was worthy to be put forward against the other European cities," said Mr Forkin.
"I think the moral of the story is that to win the lottery, you must buy a ticket first.
"After all, the conference, which will run for three days, could generate £1m for the local economy - and really enhance Derby's reputation."
The European cities in the running are now Derby, Groningen, in Holland, Malmo, in Sweden, and Turin and Bari, both in Italy.
Although clarification is still being sought on whether two places from one country can bid - if not, then Turin is likely to be Italy's option.
From now until October 22, when the winning bid will be announced in Seville, Spain, John and his team will be pushing Derby's case in partnership with the bureau.
Yesterday, Mike Ashley, its chief executive, came to Derby to find out what he and his colleagues would be trying to sell to the Council for European Municipalities and Regions.
According to him, as with all the other bidders at this stage, Derby has been recommended for shortlisting - although its inclusion on the final list, should be something of a formality.
"I was very impressed with Derby's bid," he said. "The last time I visited the city was in the 1980s - and all that I knew of the city was the Assembly Rooms, Derby County and some of the industries.
"But I can see now that it has changed a lot - and is continuing to change with the cranes on the skyline acting as harbingers of new development. Derby's bid is based on a partnership between different organisations - something that appeals to the council.
"It's an attractive city - and what struck me is how low rise it is. It's not as closed in as other cities feel. The Market Place as a central space has a very European feel about it."
In comparison to the other cities that have put themselves forward, Mike was fairly bullish about Derby's chances of success.
"I believe Derby has a good chance of being chosen," he said. "The infrastructure at Groningen is not the best, Scandinavia has been well served by the council in recent times so it may not be Malmo's turn this time.
"I believe it could come down to Derby or Turin."
Not the first time that our city has been in direct competition with the northern Italian city as Derby County fan John points out.
"It reminds me of when Derby County played the Turin side Juventus in the European Cup in the 1970s," he said. "That time the Italians got the better of Derby, so I'm hoping that we'll be able to put that right."
Firstly, as John points out, we all know that Derby is very well-connected in terms of its infrastructure.
Centrally located, it is right next to East Midlands Airport and within a couple of hours of most of the UK's other major airports, thanks to the local road and rail network.
By 2009, it is hoped that Derby will have at least two or three new quality hotels in the city centre, which will mean the delegates will be staying in close proximity to the conference venue - which has been earmarked as the Assembly Rooms .
"What Derby is offering is not a bland conference centre on the outskirts of the city off some motorway junction," said John.
"What the bureau liked particularly about our bid was that we were not just offering the Assembly Rooms as the conference venue, but the city itself - all centred around the Market Place.
"As well as the Assembly Rooms being the main conference venue, spin off meetings could be held just across the way at the Guildhall and the Quad, which will be built by the year of the conference in 2009."
Although the bid started off as an exercise in how to sell the city to other people, John is now raising his expectations.
"Derby will be a very different kind of city in 2009," said John.
"At present, I don't think Derby would be able to handle anything as big as this, but in a couple of years I'm absolutely convinced we will."
Even if Derby is not chosen, it has begun to feel the benefits of making its name known to the conference circuit.
"We're actually putting a bid together for a creative industries conference that's due to take place in 2007," said John.
For futher information please visit: www.locateinderby.co.uk
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