PICTURE GALLERY: SocInvest 12 gets the thumbs-up
Wed 27th June 2012, 6:49 pm
More than 200 regeneration specialists from councils, central government, think-tanks and the private sector descended on Westminster for the UK's premier regeneration finance and funding conference.
Delegates make the most of networking time at SocInvest 12.
And with communities minister Bob Neill, Manchester City Council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein topping the bill, and Centre for Cities chief executive Alexandra Jones at the helm, no-one left SocInvest 12 disapponted.
Under secretary of state Mr Neill pledged the government's ongoing commitment to regeneration and confirmed that a second wave of City Deals will be unveiled this year.
Sir Howard, meanwhile, offered his unique insight from the frontline of regeneration in the North West.
Christopher Brigstocke of Squire Sanders spoke for many delegates in singing the praises SocInvest 12. He declared the Church House Conference Centre summit "an excellent event - up to the usual very high standard".
Ros Whear of the London Borough of Redbridge expressed her gratitude for a "very informative" day - exactly the same words as used by Paula Deas of Coventry City Council.
Birmingham City Council's Andrew Round praised the event for being particularly "well organised" and featuring "an interesting range of topics".
And Portsmouth City Council's Susan Aistrope was among many who praised Alexandra Jones as "an outstanding chair”.
SocInvest programme manager David Harvey said attendees' post-conference comments were always the real test of an event's success.
"We are delighted to report that their feedback showed that the event met everyone's expectations and, most importantly, provided delegates with ideas that they could apply in their organisations," he said.
"Next year, SocInvest will focus on the next phase in the shift from central government to local government financial control and from public to private sources of finance. We will also look for new ways of adding value for both our delegates and sponsors, including the role of the SocInvest website and information service."
SocInvest 12, on 26 June 2012, was organised by 3Fox International.
