The CEO of Nottingham College, John van de Laarschot, will be taking to the podium at Nottingham City Business Club’s April event as guest speaker.

The lunch will take place on Friday 20 April 2018, at the Park Plaza Hotel on Maid Marian Way, in Nottingham.

John was appointed to the CEO role to oversee the merger between Central College Nottingham (CCN) and New College Nottingham (NCN) to create the new Nottingham College – now one of the largest further education colleges in the UK.

As CEO, John brings experience from a number of previous senior public sector positions, including being Chief Executive of Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Torridge District Council, as well as Managing Director of major companies including Pepsico and graphics specialist Spandex.

At the NCBC lunch event, the title of John’s speech will be ‘Business and Further Education – collaborators in a skills ‘revolution’?’ He will explain his vision for establishing strong further educational foundations to underpin Nottingham’s future economic wellbeing.

Nottingham City Business Club was established in 1924, with its membership comprising of senior representatives of the local business community. The club is sponsored by national law firm Buckles, who have an office in Nottingham city centre.

The club holds monthly lunch meetings for members to meet fellow senior business people in the city, with different prominent guest speakers featuring at each event.

President of the club, Mark Deakin, added: “We are really looking forward to welcoming John as guest speaker at our highly anticipated April lunch event. The merging of the two Nottingham city centre colleges a few years ago was a big topic in the local business community, and it will be interesting to find out what is now happening at the new Nottingham College and its plans for the future.

“We are sure it will be a successful event and all members and guests will benefit from hearing what John has to say.”