Business leaders gear up for ideas festival

TOPICS including the factors required to support business growth and how we foster a culture of entrepreneurship will be up for discussion by business leaders and economists at an event in Yorkshire this week.

York Festival of Ideas is hosting the Economy/Equality Day at the University of York’s Ron Cooke Hub on Friday, which will explore what needs to happen to increase business confidence, who are the winners and the losers in an age of austerity, how does ‘Great Britain PLC’ compete against globalisation, and how the Eurozone crisis affects prospects for British business.

Festival director Joan Concannon said: “Delivered in partnership with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, ‘Economy/Equality’ day will present an integrated exploration of the factors required to create a stronger economy for a more balanced society. It is a ‘must attend’ event for anyone interested in economic prosperity and business growth.”

Speakers will include Jonathan Portes, the director of the National Institute for Economic Research, Paul Johnson, the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the chief executive of City of York Council Kersten England and journalists including Guardian commentator Zoe Williams, David Goodhart, and Martin Vander Weyer as well as Bloomberg blogger Mark Buchanan.

The event will also feature regional economic growth specialists including Stephen Lee from the Centre Forum, Ed Cox, Northern Economic Futures Commission, Julia Unwin, the CEO of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and business leaders including Barry Dodd, of York and North Yorks LEP, Kevin Brennan of Quorn Foods, and Charles Cecil, of Revolution Games.

Former Science Minister and author Lord David Sainsbury and equality expert Professor Danny Dorling will also speak at the event.

Entrance to all panel discussions is free.