The place to be for discussion on busy trade

Nov 6 2007 By The Journal

I’M delighted to bring the BCSC annual Conference and Showcase to Gateshead and Newcastle for the first time with what looks to be more than 3,000 participants – delegates, exhibitors, suppliers and speakers all keen to network, learn, debate and do business.

We’re here to talk about shopping destinations and retail property, and what better backdrop for us than the thriving North-East!

We’re excited to be in an area with such a tremendous amount of growth and expansion.

Eldon Square shopping centre, the MetroCentre, Murton’s Dalton Park retail village and Seaham’s Byron Place are but a few of the inviting and engaging retail centres on offer.

And town centre regeneration in Prudhoe and Thornaby also set the scene for more retail development that really engages young and old alike.

A shopping centre today is often not just about shops, but is increasingly “mixed-use” and includes cinemas, restaurants, affordable housing, offices, doctors’ surgeries and sports facilities.

We’re here to help build these sustainable and happy places to shop and socialise.

There’s already a real buzz about this major event in our industry calendar.

Three days packed with presentations, debate, exhibitions and entertainment, feature some top industry leaders to inspire the discussion: Bob Geldof and Seb Coe lead this impressive list.

The Sage Gateshead is a truly inspiring backdrop. We’re offering a one-of-a-kind purpose-built, sustainable structure to house our exhibition next to the Sage – some of you may have watched this unique building go up in the Mill Road car park!

The innovative building will welcome more than 90 exhibitors – top suppliers in our industry doing business with participants.

We’re also offering our delegates the chance to venture out further afield.

Our golf competition at Slaley Hall, Hexham – the venue of the Great North Open – has proven especially popular.

Study tours to Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland will feature the latest retail and cultural regeneration projects including the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Arts and the Stadium of Light, led by Sunderland football chairman Niall Quinn.

The aptly named Survivors’ Party at Tiger Tiger on the last day introduces one of Newcastle’s leading bars.

Delegates really look forward to this chance to unwind in an entertaining venue that’s really local.

And I’m proud to say that Alan Shearer, Jonathan Edwards and Brendan Foster are among sporting legends of the North hosting a Local Heroes Tea Party.

We’ve also lined up BCSC’s Comedy Store event with Jimmy Carr – surely a night to remember.

Originally named the British Council of Shopping Centres, BCSC looks forward to its 25th anniversary next year.

Our 2,500-plus members include some of the major owners, developers, planners, architects and decision makers in the country. Conference participants will be giving their all over an intense three days – but as top decision makers in our business, they’ll have their eye on what’s happening outside too.

And what better place to network than Newcastle and Gateshead?

I would like to thank Andrew Dixon, chief executive at NewcastleGateshead Initiative, as well as Gateshead and Newcastle’s councils and communities for their ongoing support.

I’m sure that everyone organising and attending this landmark event joins me in looking forward to what promises to be our most successful conference ever.