Expanded partnership to inspire and engage business and social organisations

The organisations have worked in partnership for over 25 years to deliver a series of annual lectures delivered by leading academics at the University. The Science Discovery Lecture has run since 1996 as a platform to inform the people of York about discoveries made at the University, focusing on important contributions made to academic knowledge in the pure or applied sciences, and how that contribution can be applied to mankind. The Arts Discovery Event was added to the programme in 2010, to explore similar discoveries and their impacts made in the humanities.

This annual programme of lectures will be supplemented with an additional enterprise lecture and a series of breakfast business networking events, with talks delivered by leading City figures and members of the Merchant Adventurers network. 

The first breakfast event will take place on 19 October and feature Judith McNichol, Director of the National Railway Museum who will provide a fascinating and informative insight into the Museum's master plan for the coming years.

The National Railway Museum and Locomotion is currently planning and delivering an ambitious multi-million-pound redevelopment that will transform the museum into a world-class visitor attraction. Judith will lead on this masterplan, which will see the museum as the cultural heart of York Central, a new city quarter around the museum site, featuring new public spaces as well as leisure, commercial and residential areas, and a Wonderlab to inspire the next generation of engineers.

This event will be followed on 7 December with a networking event for our local and  regional entrepreneurs to meet with members of the Company, to learn from the significant experience of the Merchant’s network, create new opportunities for collaboration and to hear how our entrepreneurs are creating an innovative future for our City and region. 

The breakfast events and the evening talks will take place in the historic setting of the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall. All these events will be filmed to ensure they are available for anyone to view after the event. 

Sam Gardner, Director of Enterprise Works explains

“we’re really keen for these events to leave a legacy - of inspiration, of engagement and of expertise, but also in our own entrepreneurial community - through the creation and expansion of successful businesses brought about through the advice and support of generations of York entrepreneurs.” 

Prof Kiran Trehan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Partnerships and Engagement at the University of York said

“There is considerable depth and range to the enterprise activity in York, enough to offer the next generation of entrepreneurs from school leavers and students, innovators to career changers all they need for their business to launch, grow and succeed. We want to give every community in York and beyond the opportunity to make that journey themselves."

Governor of The Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of York, Delma Tomlin MBE said

“I am delighted to be able to support this new initiative - linking together the historic Merchant Adventurers Company with the ever-entrepreneurial University of York - offering our business community the opportunity to join together, to network and to support one another at this challenging time.”