Over 160 people attended the third annual SSEP conference at the Swindon Marriott Hotel on 20 November.
The mainly private sector audience heard from Ramona Derbyshire, Chair of the SSEP Enterprise Group about the range of projects they have been delivering, including:
- a new programme to support start up businesses
- and the Youth Enterprise Challenge with local schools who presented their solutions to two live projects.
Ramona also introduced the presentations to the winners of the Swindon New Business Competition.
Young People into Employment was another key theme presented by Caroline Hallatt of Nationwide, on behalf of the SSEP Employment and Skills group, with a vital programme of activity to target 500 new jobs for young people next year.
The event was chaired by Rikki Hunt, who gave an overview of the achievements for the year, and introduced the key speakers
David Tester, from Air Semiconductor, spoke on how this relatively new Swindon based company is already challenging the major names in the semiconductor industry in key product areas
Mark Saddleton, Nationwide’s Head of Economic and Market Analysis, gave the audience an update on the economy and likely projections for the next 12 months.
New Delivery Company
Other themes included Gavin Jones, Chief Executive of Swindon Borough Council, giving details of the proposed new organisation to manage Swindon’s economic development, place marketing, cultural development, and a wider regeneration remit to include the whole of Swindon.
Did you attend? Tell us what you thought by emailing ssep@swindon.gov.uk
David Evans, head of SBC Economic Development, said, "It was extremely well attended by a wide cross section of Swindon businesses, and it was good to see some new faces along. There was a really healthy level of debate and no end of enthusiasm to get engaged in directing Swindon's future."
Presentations
SSEP Conference 2009 presentations. View as pdfs.
Nationwide's Mark Saddleton's economy overview
Young People into Employment - context and background