‘Never step back’ from promoting Nottingham, says renowned property professional

Nottingham business leaders, councillors and politicians should “never-ever step back” from promoting the city, according to one of the region’s most well-respected commercial property figures.

Speaking at TheBusinessDesk.com’s latest networking lunch at bar esca in front of a sell-out audience, Mich Stevenson – the man widely credited with saving the Lace Market from demolition and kick-starting its redevelopment, outlined his extensive career, how he brought his two daughters Victoria Green and Becky Valentine into the Spenbeck business and sounded a message to those in charge of Nottingham’s skyline.

He said: “Nottingham is a fantastic city, and yet people only talk about what it bad. We have to believe that we can do something and then get people to share the journey with us. We must never-ever step back from pushing Nottingham forward and we need our local politicians push Nottingham forward and understand just how great the city is.”

When asked what he wanted his legacy to be, Stevenson turned to Valentine and Green, and simply said: “My girls.”

Valentine was the last member of the family to join the business. She said: “Most people don’t realise how relentless being part of family business can be. You can’t leave your work at the office. Now, we remember to talk about other things, but that wasn’t always the case!”

The audience also heard how Spenbeck, now run by Valentine and Green, has redeveloped the landmark Birkin Building in the Lace Market. The building, which was designed by TC Hine for the Birkin family in 1855, was originally used as a factory in which lace was made and exported across the world.

Earlier on Thursday, a blue plaque was unveiled on the building.

Green said: “We’ve grown up around the building – we can’t not be passionate about it.”

The building is now fully let once again, with staff at e-learning business Learning Pool, amongst other creative companies, calling it home following its transformation into a workspace fit for modern businesses.

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