Building A Better Newport

Newport’s fourth City Summit will be focusing on a theme of collaborative improvement this November. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

‘We are working together to build a better Newport for the future’ – that is the theme of the next City Summit, organised by Newport City Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is taking place from 9am to 12.30pm on Monday 28 November at the Newport City Campus of the University of South Wales (USW). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

One of the speakers will be Huw Williams, USW’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, who will talk about the new National Cyber Security Academy (NCSA), which is based at the campus and aims to tackle the international shortage of cyber security specialists. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As well as explaining USW’s innovative new school in Newport combining teacher training, social work, therapies and early years education, Mr Williams will also highlight plans for a £60m Newport Knowledge Quarter, which would see USW work in partnership with Coleg Gwent, the Welsh Government, and Newport City Council to build a new learning zone in the city’s riverbank area, anchored on the flagship USW Newport campus. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

More information about the speakers will be released closer to the date but they will include leading innovators and entrepreneurs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Debbie Wilcox, Leader of Newport City Council, said: “There is a feeling of optimism in the city and we want to continue and build on that momentum so the speakers will be people who believe in Newport’s huge potential. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The council cannot realise the city’s ambitions on its own, but it can play a pivotal role in bringing together the right people to work with us, and each other, to make Newport the best it possibly can be for the benefit of all who live and work here. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are exploring a number of exciting ideas for the city and local businesses, and more details will be revealed about these at the summit. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Previous summits have drawn capacity audiences so please register as quickly as possible to secure a place. I look forward to this opportunity for people to share ideas and find out more how Newport can make itself stand out from the crowd. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would like to thank the University of South Wales for hosting this year’s summit. It plays an important role in the city centre and I’m looking forward to hearing more about the cyber academy. It’s another fantastic opportunity and another reason why we are all backing Newport.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Julie Lydon, USW Vice-Chancellor, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the Newport City Summit and supporting the continuing development of the city. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As a key player in Newport, USW is leading the way in enhancing the learning offer available in the city and the wider Gwent region. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The NCSA is one example of how we are giving students the right skills to secure well-paid employment in the future, while our partnership with Coleg Gwent and work with Newport schools are exploring new ways to develop a better future for our city and communities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We look forward to explaining these developments at the Summit, and meeting others who want to see Newport achieve further successes.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Attendance is free but places are limited so booking is essential. To register visit www.newport.gov.uk/citysummit by Wednesday 23 November. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​