An action-packed celebration of Nottingham is heading for the capital.
From Robin Hood to Boots, Speedo and Sat Bains, the people, institutions and businesses that make the city great will be showcased in a one-day takeover of Westminster.
Nottingham in Parliament Day will take place on Tuesday October 25 2016 when over 60 Nottingham institutions and businesses, led by The University of Nottingham, will come together to shout about their city.
Rooms, terraces and grounds around Westminster have been booked and a festival of events has been planned including a breakfast roundtable to discuss Nottingham’s role in the Midlands Engine, a “Great Westminster fuddle” – a smorgasbord of Nottinghamshire delicacies featuring producers such as Castle Rock; a “home of sport” showcase; a game of University Challenge hosted by John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, and numerous events highlighting the world-class research led by The University of Nottingham – working in partnership with innovators such as Michelin-starred chef Sat Bains, Rolls Royce and E.ON.
Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow: “Nottingham in Parliament day is a great idea, not only because Nottingham is such a fine city but because all parts of our country should have a stake in democratic life and public policy-making. I’m really looking forward to the October 25 and the novel ways in which Nottingham can make its mark.”
Nottinghamshire has long been making its mark on affairs of state and carries a legacy that has helped to shape the Britain we know today.
Early monarchs established bases in Nottingham and during the English Civil War both the city and county both played an important role in the turbulent collapse and reformation of Parliament.
This year marks the 370th anniversary of the end of the Civil War – which began when Charles I raised the Royal Standard outside Nottingham Castle. In a nod to this important heritage, key business leaders, politicians and well-known faces, gathered together to raise a flag to start the countdown to Nottingham in Parliament Day.
The University of Nottingham Vice Chancellor Professor Sir David Greenaway said: “We are celebrating our heritage today but this is also about the future we want for Nottingham.
“We want to improve awareness of our research and other activities amongst policymakers and other London stakeholders. This helps our research to have greater impact, which is now a key driver for how its excellence is measured by the UK Government.
“We also want to help Nottingham shout louder about its successes, to celebrate it as a seat of economic investment and growth in the home of the Midlands Engine- itself powered by collaborative research and industry initiatives such as Midlands Innovation. As Britain’s Global University, The University of Nottingham is driving this forward initially, but ultimately it isn’t just our Day, it is Nottingham’s and we are here to fly the flag for the city and the wider region.”
Paul Southby, Chairman of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire said: “Nottingham in Parliament Day is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the best of Nottingham in Westminster. The University has shown great initiative in getting this off the ground and, as the new place marketing organisation for the city and county, we are delighted to be working alongside them to ensure that it has the biggest possible impact.
“This is all about putting Nottingham and the wider county on the map as a highly desirable place to locate your business, pursue your career and spend your leisure time – ultimately helping to drive economic growth and create new jobs in the region.”
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Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham has 43,000 students and is ‘the nearest Britain has to a truly global university, with a “distinct” approach to internationalisation, which rests on those full-scale campuses in China and Malaysia, as well as a large presence in its home city.’ (Times Good University Guide 2016). It is also one of the most popular universities in the UK among graduate employers and was named University of the Year for Graduate Employment in the 2017 The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide. It is ranked in the world’s top 75 by the QS World University Rankings 2015/16, and 8th in the UK for research power according to the Research Excellence Framework 2014. It has been voted the world’s greenest campus for four years running, according to Greenmetrics Ranking of World Universities.
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