New Business Forum unites Melton’s stakeholders and businesses to support the town
Melton Borough Council, in partnership with Melton BID came together to host the Melton Mowbray Business Forum last night. Welcoming a wide range of local businesses and key stakeholders from across the borough, the event provided a valuable platform for networking, collaboration, and sharing insights that support the growth and development of Melton’s business community.
Held at the Parkside Council Offices, the forum was attended by representatives from Melton Mowbray Town Estate, Department for Work and Pensions, Gillstream who are the current operators for Stockyard Melton Mowbray and the Cattle Market, Leicestershire County Council and the Carnegie Museum, and Loughborough College Group, alongside a strong turnout from local businesses.
The evening featured a range of engaging presentations from key partners and stakeholders, each offering valuable insights and opportunities for collaboration. Lydia Rusling, Director for Place and Prosperity at Melton Borough Council, opened with an overview of current and future projects across the town centre and wider borough, highlighting the importance of working in partnership with Melton BID, Melton Mowbray Town Estate, and other external organisations.
Building on the theme of collaboration, representatives from Loughborough College Group encouraged businesses to play an active role in shaping future talent by offering work experience placements, attending careers fairs, and raising awareness of career pathways for young people. Leicestershire Promotions also took the opportunity to spotlight the upcoming Tourism & Hospitality Awards 2025, urging local businesses to submit entries ahead of the 13th September deadline.
Rupert Turton, Managing Director at ActionCOACH Oakham & Kettering, shared practical advice on how specialist business coaching can unlock growth potential, while keynote speaker Alex Wright from Knapton Wright delivered a thought-provoking presentation on effective place marketing. His insights into how shared ambitions and collaborative storytelling can enhance the appeal of market towns received particularly positive feedback from attendees.
A highlight of the evening was the final keynote from guest speaker Alex Wright of Knapton Wright who delivered an engaging presentation which received overwhelmingly positive feedback. His presentation gave insights into effective marketing for market towns and sparked meaningful conversations and around place-based promotion and shared ambitions.
Councillor Sharon Butcher, Portfolio Holder for Growth and Prosperity, stated that:
“The Business Forum was a great showcase of the diverse ranges of businesses, across both the town and wider borough. We’re working closely with stakeholders within the business community to build on events like this and encourage continued growth and investment in Melton.”
James Colclough, Manager at Melton BID added “It was fantastic to see so many businesses attend the Business Forum and to see the success of the collaborative working between Melton BID, Melton Borough Council, Melton Town Estate and Stockyard. Businesses were pleased to hear about the latest investments into the town and were inspired by the speakers. Overall, it was a great chance for businesses to share their views and get thinking about their important role in the vibrancy of our incredible town”
The evening reinforced the importance of partnership working and highlighted the collective ambition to support economic growth, innovation, and community resilience across the borough.
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For more information please contact: communications@melton.gov.uk