Embassy marks 500th Bondholder event and counting…

This year’s London Embassy was a particularly special occasion as it marked the 500th Marketing Derby Bondholder event.

To celebrate the landmark, attendees at last night’s event cut a cake and enjoyed a glass of fizz.

And copies of a newspaper, ‘The Bondholder Standard’, specially created by Marketing Derby to mark the anniversary, were distributed among the guests.

John Forkin MBE, managing director of Marketing Derby, said: “Our unparalleled Bondholder events programme continues to provide a platform for building the Team Derby vibe, showcasing brilliant businesses, generating new relationships and previewing pipeline developments.

“Many of our Bondholders have been loyal for over a decade and to reach the milestone of half a century of events is an incredible achievement.

“Of course, we were delighted to achieve this at our prestigious annual London Embassy at the historic Mansion House, which made it feel even more special.”

Marketing Derby, which is a Queen’s Award-winning inward investment agency, held its very first event at Rolls-Royce more than 15 years ago, to launch the Bondholder concept.

Today, the Bondholder community is made up of 350 proactive, local businesses with a passion for place – who together help to make Marketing Derby a genuine public-private sector partnership.

Since that very first event, every year Marketing Derby has held an extensive events programme – even during the Covid years, when physical events moved online.

Of course, events are just one part of the overall offer to Bondholders and stakeholders – but they serve many purposes.

They put Derby on the map and help change perception, not just locally and regionally – but also nationally and internationally.

They bring people together – to celebrate and collaborate.

And they span the sectors, bringing together businesses from a variety of industries.

Jackie Carpenter, assistant director of strategy at Derventio Housing Trust, feels Bondholder events play an important role in bringing together Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) and the wider business community.

She said: “At networking events, you tend to find the VCSE organisations in an area all know one another, as do the public sector. But businesses typically look uncomfortable and have no one to talk to.

“Not in Derby. Here, through Marketing Derby, it’s completely the opposite. Businesses, councils, charities – from the largest international giants like Rolls-Royce and Alstom through to the smallest new start-up – are all energised, laughing and chatting.

“And, as a charitable company, we’ve had fantastic support from so many Bondholders – at least 25 at the last count.

“Truly, everyone is making Derby and Derbyshire stronger and more attractive, as well as getting so many benefits themselves. Every area should have one!”.

One of the most popular gatherings in the Bondholder calendar is Derbyshire County Cricket Club’s ‘Start of the Season’ event.

Jimmy Drew, commercial manager at Derbyshire County Cricket Club, said: “Our annual start of the season event is a real highlight for us each year, and provides us with a fantastic platform to share with the local business community all the exciting cricket and non-cricket events we have on offer each season.

“The engagement we receive on the back of this event each year is second-to-none, and we love sharing our optimism, bringing the club to life as well as communicating the range of opportunities we can offer businesses of all kinds, big and small, at The County Ground.”

For Blu Hardy, marketing manager at Hardy Signs, Bondholder events help the firm feel part of a community.

She said: “Being part of the Marketing Derby group is incredibly valuable to us at Hardy Signs.

“The collaboration, shared insights and networking opportunities within this dynamic community not only strengthen our business but also deepens our ties to Derby’s thriving business landscape.

“It’s inspiring to be part of a group that champions local growth and we’re proud to contribute to and benefit from this supportive network.”

The Bondholder events calendar is diverse, from breakfast events and socials to key events such as the Annual Business Event and Derby Property Summit.

They even include awards in the form of the Marketing Derby Food and Drink Awards.

At this year’s awards, which took place in October, Morley Hayes’ Dovecote restaurant carried off the prestigious Restaurant of the Year title, while the business itself was the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award.

Andrew Allsop, managing director of Morley Hayes, said: “The Marketing Derby Food and Drink Awards at the Chocolate Factory is always a great event, which celebrates the incredible talent and dedication of Derby’s food and drink scene.

“The event showcases the best of our local culinary community, and it is always inspiring to see so many passionate businesses and individuals recognised for their hard work and innovation.

“Morley Hayes has won a number of awards over the past 21 years and we hope the event continues to go from strength to strength.”

To read a digital version of The Bondholder Standard, click here.