‘Survive and thrive’ at the East of England’s biggest business event

Destination Growth, the East of England's biggest business and networking event, returns this year on Tuesday 3 November offering companies in the region the opportunity to 'survive and thrive' in the current climate.

Following its massive success in 2007, this year's event promises to be even bigger with over 1,000 ambitious business leaders, of small and medium-sized companies, invited to AirSpace Duxford for the East of England Development Agency's (EEDA) biennial event.   

Delegates will hear from high-profile speakers like Greg Dyke, former director general of the BBC. They can also create a fully tailored programme to meet their individual needs, taking advantage of workshops, networking opportunities with hundreds of like-minded business leaders and the unique experience of one-to-one meetings with world-class business experts under Concorde.

Richard Ellis, chair of EEDA, said:

"Destination Growth '09 will bring the country's leading business experts to the doorstep of this region's businesses, and the timing could not be more critical. With companies facing-up to some of the toughest post-war economic conditions, it's absolutely essential that they have the right tools to both survive the storm, and thrive to push forward in preparation for the upturn."

EEDA has already secured a host of renowned speakers for Destination Growth '09, providing master-classes and topical debates which focus on today's most pertinent business issues - like financing your business, sales and marketing, leadership and innovation.

Greg Dyke, chairman of the British Film Institute and former director general of the BBC, will open the flagship event with his key-note on 'leading in adversity'. Dyke worked his way up through the ranks of the television industry to the top job at the BBC, starting four new digital television channels, five new digital radio channels and helping to create Freeview on the way.

Dyke left the BBC in January 2004 in controversial circumstances following the report of the Hutton Inquiry. Many thousands of the BBC staff took to the streets to protest at his departure. At Destination Growth '09, he will share his personal insights and reflections on how to lead effectively in the most challenging of environments.

News of other high-profile speakers set to attend Destination Growth '09 will be announced over the coming months.

This year's all-day event will be held at AirSpace Duxford in Cambridgeshire and will begin with registration from 8:30am. Seminars are expected to sell-out fast, so business leaders are urged to register early for Destination Growth '09 at www.eeda.org.uk/destinationgrowth. Destination Growth '09 is £75 to attend.