Former Yorkshire Man of the Year, Sir Gary Verity DL, will share some of the secrets of his – and the region’s – success when he joins the York Business Week line up next month.
Sir Gary joins a stellar speaker list that includes Asda chief financial officer Rob McWilliam; Homeserve founder and CEO Richard Harpin; Nestlé global innovation lead on confectionery R&D Lee Statham; Hiscox Direct UK managing director James Browne; York Racecourse chief executive William Derby; and FERA Science Ltd CEO Andrew Swift for a week-long celebration of business in York.
Former BBC broadcaster Jon Hammond Booth will present a Parkinson-style Q&A session with Sir Gary at York Business School on 14 November for a special ‘The Business Of Selling Yorkshire’ event. Deputy Vice Chancellor for Advancement at York St John University, Professor Christopher Moore, will host the evening.
Professor Moore says: “It will be a pleasure to welcome Sir Gary to York Business School. As well as leading the winning bid to bring the Tour de France Grand Départ to Yorkshire in 2014, generating an economic boost of over £100 million, Sir Gary has been instrumental in the creation of Yorkshire’s own international stage race, the Tour de Yorkshire, which is going from strength to strength and has attracted some of the biggest crowds in the racing calendar.
“These achievements, coupled with many others and his roles across the region and beyond give him great insights into what makes the north of England such a special place. We’re looking forward to him sharing some of those insights.”
Andrew Sharp, head of business at York Business Week organisers Make it York, says: “Sir Gary’s involvement completes the 2018 York Business Week line up, and what a line up it is.
“We’re opening the week with a conference showcasing world class York, with top class speakers sharing a wealth of knowledge and experience of running some of the country’s best businesses. They include Homeserve CEO Richard Harpin, Nestlé’s global innovation lead on confectionery R&D Lee Statham, Hiscox Direct UK MD James Browne, and Tim Leigh from Stage One, a company that has been involved with every Olympic opening and closing ceremony since 2004.
“And it doesn’t stop there. There are events running throughout the week featuring innovators such as Dr John Park from York Business School, whose globally patented stain removal technology for Ariel Future washing tablet innovation helped make millions for Procter & Gamble, plus dozens of other speakers from organisations including ITV media, the Bank of England and the Small Business Commissioner. The calibre of speakers this year is second to none, and the week-long programme of events really is designed to inspire.”
Make it York is expecting to welcome 1,000 people to the city for York Business Week, which runs from 13–19 November with a wide range of events across the city.
