Following a welcome from GNP Chair Gerry Beetles, Nick Hammond, Commercial Director of Castle College, spoke about the development of the new Toyota Training Academy.

 

In an informative presentation, Mr Hammond related the development of the project from concept to completion, thanking the GNP for their “corporate bravery” in supporting the Academy through the various stages of its development. He highlighted the key role that the GNP had played within its creation, stating that “the Toyota Training academy all started because of £40,000 contribution from the Greater Nottingham Partnership – and their faith in the project”.

 

Iain Simons, Director of GameCity, then followed with an engaging talk on the annual GameCity festival, the first-ever international festival of interactive entertainment that had been piloted by Nottingham Trent University in 2006 with the support of the GNP. Mr Simons spoke of the growing cultural significance of the event, explaining how it was helping to turn a global eye on Nottingham, and said that Lorne Lanning, keynote speaker that the first GameCity festival, had compared it to the world-renowned Sundance film festival.

 

Martin Gawith, Chief Executive of the GNP, concluded the forum with an overview of the GNP's current work, also launching its new publication, Joining The Dots, which offered a snapshot of the diverse range of projects that the GNP had supported through its funding. Mr Gawith emphasised the ongoing need for organisations like the GNP, which works in partnership with many different groups and bodies, to bring about real change in Greater Nottingham, stating that “we need a community for all – and since it’s inception in 1994 the GNP has been about full sector inclusion – public, private, local authority and community involvement.”

 

For more details about the event, or to request a hard copy of Joining The Dots, please contact Katie Saxon (email katie.saxon@gnpartership.org.uk or telephone 0115 943 7161).