Rotherham makes debut as it plays host to leg of YIBC

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, he said that as well as putting an “innovation spin” on the event, to be held on March 28 next year at Magna, it will also have an emphasis on inward investment, with an eye on China in particular.

YIBC, now in its 18th year, will also be held at Bridlington Spa on June 6. The East Yorkshire leg was formerly a satellite event for the main YIBC in Harrogate, but it became so popular in East Yorkshire, that it is now run as a standalone event.

Next year will mark the first time Rotherham has hosted the convention. The YIBC has in the past been held at Harewood House, the Great Yorkshire Showground and at Wellington Place, Leeds.

Adventurer Rosie Swale Pope, who spoke at the YIBC at Bridlington Spa earlier this year, has been confirmed as a speaker at next year’s Rotherham event.

She is known for having completed a solo, 20,000-mile run around the world, as well as 27 marathons in 27 days. Her accomplishments also include twice completing a 150-mile race across the Sahara, and riding more than 3,000 miles on horseback across South America.

The full speaker line-up has yet to be announced.

The business convention, which was founded in 1994 by Mr Firth, has previously welcomed speakers as diverse as Bill Clinton and the Dalai Lama.

Mr Firth said: “We are here (in Rotherham) because this is a fantastic region for manufacturing, they’ve got real businesses, names like Rolls-Royce, Tata Steel, that’s all incredible, and there’s a real enthusiasm for business down here so we’re looking to play our part to put South Yorkshire, Rotherham, Sheffield City Region on the map.”

He said that the convention will be looking to attract potential investors in the region from abroad, particularly China.

“There’s a lot of business to be done and we’ve got companies down here who can take advantage of it.

“So if we can get people there on the day, get people interacting, it’s a soft sell rather than a hard sell. So what we put on is a day of fantastic speakers, very inspirational, educational, entertaining, so we give people a great day, plenty of networking, if they can also go away having made a meaningful business contact that’s a win-win,” said Mr Firth.

Bridlington Spa’s event earlier this year attracted speakers including television personality and scientist Professor Brian Cox, Olympic and Paralympic heroes Luke Campbell and David Weir.

The launch of next year’s Rotherham event took place at the Advanced Manufacturing Park.