Sporting flavour to The Business Day keeps upcoming event top of the league for organiser

Record-breaking sell-out a huge boost to team led by Stephen Parnaby OBE as he looks forward to 2023 event

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David LaisterBusiness Editor (Humber)

15:59, 10 MAY 2023
Updated16:13, 10 MAY 2023

Clare Balding OBE, centre, is the headline speaker for The Business Day, joined by clockwise from top left, Abbie Eaton, Keith Harris, Rachel Fellows and Gyles Brandreth.

The Business Day is less than a month away, with the inspirational calendar highlight having sold out in record time.

A total of 700 people will head for Bridlington Spa for the finale of Humber Business Week on Friday, June 9, hearing from TV personality Clare Balding, former Football League chairman and investment banker Keith Harris, Yorkshire Tea CEO Rachel Fellows and motorsport champ Abbie Eaton.

And organiser Stephen Parnaby OBE is looking forward to welcoming the headline acts and hordes of delegates through the doors, while relishing the regular lift he gives to host Gyles Brandreth.

The former East Riding Council leader and senior figure on the Hull and East Yorkshire LEP, was instrumental in launching the event six years ago, having filled the void left by the loss of the Yorkshire International Business Convention.

Mr Parnaby said: “It was our concept, we started in 2017 when I was still leader of the council, and when I decided to stand down, I thought I’d best carry it on. It has been tremendous, and developed into such a success.

“I’m delighted with the lineup for this year, it is a really good mix, and while we have always managed to get to the maximum number in, this one sold out six weeks before - and it is the first time we’ve ever achieved that.”

brings inspiration to the Humber region, with those attending leaving the office behind to take in the prominent figures’ back stories, life lessons and outlooks.

Former East Riding Council leader Stephen Parnaby — Stephen Parnaby OBE. (Image: jellerby)

“It is a really difficult thing to describe to anyone what it is, you have got to be there to experience it,” Mr Parnaby said. “I know a lot of people, when they attend for the first time, think it is just another exhibition, a full day of business-to-business, but afterwards it is a case of ‘wow, I didn’t realise it would be like that’. We try to put the wow factor in, it is important, as is getting everyone together. It is great to have 700 people in a room, with plenty of time for networking, for conversations, people taking the opportunity once a year to meet up, exchange business cards and arrange meetings. And there’s fun in there too, as well as good food and inspiration!”

While BBC broadcasting heavyweight Clare Balding CBE is the headline act, Mr Parnaby tips Keith Harris as being “quite surprising” for the audience. “He has a tremendous background in banking and sport,” he said. Having spent 20 years as a senior corporate financier and takeover advisor, with Morgan Grenfell, Drexel Burnham Lambert, Apax Partners, and HSBC Investment Bank on his CV, he has played a part in transactions involving Chelsea, Newcastle, West Ham, Aston Villa, Fulham, and Manchester City, while serving as a director of the Football League, and Wembley National Stadium Ltd.

And the man who will interview them during their time on the seaside stage is of equal appeal. “Gyles Brandreth has done this event for a number of years now, and he loves the event and really wants to be there,” Mr Parnaby said. “He loves coming to Bridlington, he is such a professional, a great interviewer, and such an easy chap to get on with. I pick him up from York every year, and we have a great chat about it all.”

The Grand Tour test driver Eaton may make for a ready replacement should he fancy sharing taxi duties. The Amazon show star with several championship titles to her name has overcome adversity well beyond marshalling Clarkson, May and Hammond, having broken her back in 2021, only to be back in the driving seat six months later.

Thanking the “terrific” sponsors, and reflecting on some huge hits in events gone by, from Lord Sugar, Baroness Brady and Bob Geldof KBE to John Simpson, Alexander Armstrong, Naga Munchetty and Josh Littlejohn - with British ‘scent queen’ Jo Malone starring last year - Mr Parnaby said the abounding excitement is what makes it for him.

“What stands out for me is the atmosphere and the enthusiasm that just comes through the whole day,” he said. “When people go home and say it was fantastic, that’s great. Someone said to me last year when we finished “you have got a real problem, how to top that’ - we will!”