Business networking event success

Defence clusters and supply chain opportunities was up for discussion at Ashfield District Council’s latest business leaders networking event at Sherwood Observatory.

Guest speakers at the event were Lisa Brewer, Sector Engagement Lead at East Midlands Combined Authority (EMCAA); Ian Williamson, Managing Director at ITP Aero UK; Helen Hastie, Regional Defence Representative at MAKEUK; and Hannah Cowley, Group Responsible Procurement Lead for QinetiQ.

The event was a great networking opportunity, bringing together business leaders from different sectors, across Ashfield and Nottinghamshire. During the Q&A panel session attendees had an opportunity to explore topics including what major organisations look for in suppliers, how Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) can break into established supply chains, common mistakes businesses make when bidding for contracts, and the opportunities expected to emerge across the defence and aerospace sector over the next 12 to 24 months.

The business networking events are just a small part of the wider package that Ashfield District Council offer to help businesses thrive in Ashfield, more information can be found on the Council’s website.

• Link: Business Support

John Bennett, Executive Director – Place at Ashfield District Council, said:

 “Our business leader networking events are always fantastic, and this one was no different. We’ve had great feedback from attendees who said it was extremely useful. We’d like to thank our four excellent guest speakers for bringing their expertise and knowledge to our event.

“As part of our commitment to helping business flourish in Ashfield, our business support team offer a free service to businesses of every size across the District. Whether you need help growing your business, advice on specialist subjects, or how to access funding and grants available, I’d encourage every business owner to contact our team for support.”  

Posted on 12 November 2026