A record number of City Centre champions gathered to innovate in the city.

Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID and their Business Support Officer, Emily Whitehead, hosted a city centre collective at the iconic Smithfield Works, to celebrate the first anniversary of the hugely positive and successful networking events. The Innovation Collective was designed to bring together some of the pledges from the previous collectives to galvanise some action for the future. With collaboration and innovative thinking at the heart of the event last Wednesday, there were record numbers of attendees and perspectives shared. This 6th collective had the simple purpose of unlocking potential in the city.

Over the last 12 months, there have been 6 collectives, 160 attendees, 5 key topics that matter to the city, 3 amazing venues and a broad spectrum of people and agencies taking part & supporting the events. These have included the Chamber of Commerce, Smithfield Works, the LVEP, County/City and Borough councils, We Are Staffordshire, The Police, The NHS, local alternative educational provisions, charities, the BCB, Stoke Creates, Emma Bridgewater and The Staffordshire Film Office, not to mention multiple businesses & city centre champions.

The Innovation Collective heard from Ayad Al-Ani, MD of the London Central Academy & Queen’s Award Winner, who shared his powerful words & story to explore the role of diversity & inclusion to drive innovation in the city. Also on the panel was Jenna Goodwin, founder of The Staffordshire Signal, who shared her innovative vision for creating cohesive and empowered communities through algorithm free storytelling as a positive force for good. Adele-Marie Simmons, Centre Manager for Smithfield Works, was also able to share her innovative approach to bringing community based work, stay and relaxation to the heart of the city centre by being the catalyst to community building & entrepreneurship.

Emily Whitehead, said, “It was absolutely our best collective yet with many open, honest & powerful stories and ideas shared. I want to say a huge thank you to all who attended and supported us, particularly Ian from Fiesta on Piccadilly for the top buffet!”.

For more information or to get involved, contact: emily@simplygreatbritain.co.uk