Why the ABE is the perfect solution to banishing the January blues

Here, in his latest monthly column, Robin Johnson, our Press and PR Executive, looks ahead to Marketing Derby’s 2025 Annual Business Event.

It’s fair to say that January can be a bit of a slog – following the excesses of Christmas and New Year, we all fall back down to Earth with a bump.

We’re a little heavier and a little poorer – particularly if you’ve got children! And we are all out of our working rhythms.

Knowing some of you, you were probably ready to get back to work as soon as the closing credits for the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special appeared.

But I know there are others who probably didn’t want the festive holidays to end.

The cold fact of the matter is that they have – and we now must motivate ourselves for the year ahead.

We need something that can pep us up – to inspire and prepare us for what 2025 will bring.

Don’t worry, I have the solution – Marketing Derby’s Annual Business Event!

For those of you who do not know what the Annual Business Event is (where have you been?) I shall elucidate.

The ABE, as we refer to it here at Marketing Derby, has been running for a number of years.

Our biggest event of the year, it brings together our Bondholders and stakeholders for a look back at what has been achieved over the past year – and a look forward at what is to come.

But the event has evolved over the years to become far more than just that.

Far removed from some of the ‘death by PowerPoint’ events I’ve previously attended, the ABE is an inspiring, engaging and entertaining showcase of all the great things happening in Derby at the moment – told by some of the key people behind them.

Every year, the ABE regularly attracts an audience of almost 500 people, who descend on Derby Theatre to hear about some of the city’s top achievements and business collaborations over the past 12 months, while getting an insight into the city’s regeneration pipeline.

The event is the embodiment of ‘Team Derby’, with all those who share the common goal of making Derby a better place gathered under one roof.

They come from all corners, including the public sector, the private sector and the third sector.

They represent major global companies to ‘one-man bands’, with longstanding Bondholders mingling with those who are new to the club.

Together, they are treated to speeches, presentations, interviews, films and more at the ABE.

They are updated on the city key schemes and future projects, while at the same time inspired by individual stories.

This year, the ABE is taking place earlier in the calendar compared to previous years.

Once again taking place at Derby Theatre, the 2025 event will take place on Tuesday 21 January.

And we have assembled another stellar line-up of speakers and panellists.

Of course, I don’t want to give away too much – you’ll have to come along to see for yourselves! But here’s what I can tell you.

Our speakers and panellists will include Councillor Nadine Peatfield, leader of Derby City Council and Mayor of the East Midlands Claire Ward, the figurehead of the East Midlands Combined County Authority, who will be interviewed by Marvin Cooke OBE, Professor of Enterprise at the University of Derby.

And there will be a panel discussion featuring representatives from Derbion, Becketwell Live, Derby Market Hall, the University of Derby’s Derby Business School and the Great British Railways Transition Team.

We will find out the identity of our Rising Star competition winner, which aims to give an up-and-coming business a helping hand by giving them a year’s free Bondholder membership.

And Jackie Wild, chief executive of SmartParc, one of the firms behind SmartParc SEGRO Derby, the high-tech food manufacturing hub at Spondon, will be filling the ever-popular Dare to Dream slot.

Of course, there have been many memorable highlights from ABEs gone by.

We’ve had insightful speakers, some of whom have used the ABE to make significant announcements that positively impact Derby.

We’ve had fascinating panel discussions involving people at the coalface of our economy and regeneration.

We’ve had moving presentations from charities and social enterprises, who are making a real difference in our communities – much of which has been done under the radar until being highlighted at the ABE.

We’ve heard inspiring Dare to Dream pitches, which has opened our imaginations up to new possibilities.

And we’ve had some fun along the way. An abiding memory is from 2023, seeing the whole audience on its feet learning a dance routine led by Nadia Jane, the principal of Nadia Jane Performing Arts, who was that year’s Rising Star winner.

And who can forget the year the supremely talented young musicians of Hot House Music took to the stage to perform an upbeat jazzy number called ‘Wright-oh’ specially written for the ABE in honour of Derby’s most famous artist, Joseph Wright?

Years ago, I remember attending my first ABE when I was business editor at the Derby Telegraph.

Now, I know that some of us who work in the media are often viewed as being a bit cynical. Glass half-empty kind of people, if you like.

But I will never forget that feeling I had when I left the auditorium having experienced my first ABE.

I felt really positive about my city. I felt encouraged by the plans for its future.

And I felt inspired to do what I could to pass on that positive vibe to my readers – and anyone else who would listen.

I’ve now been to quite a few ABEs – and the feeling is always the same.

And I know many of my fellow attendees get that same vibe.

As the curtain comes down after each ABE, there is a buzz of positivity – just the kind of thing you need on a cold January morning.

So, if you need that kind of a pick-me-up but haven’t yet signed up to the 2025 ABE, I implore you to do so.

A number of invites have been sent out already – so, please, check your inbox and sign up. It’ll be great to see you there.

Believe me, it’s the perfect way to banish the January blues!