Amongst a packed annual events calendar, the summer conference held by the Centre for the New Midlands stands out as a critical moment for region-focussed networking and discussion.  

The 2026 conference continues this trend. It boasts a packed agenda of roundtables, keynotes and workshops all designed to create dialogue, generate new ideas and approaches, and foster collaboration. However, not all conferences are created equally and the difference between an event that has people glued to their seats all day, and an event which has people making an early exit, is made by the quality of the speakers and organisation.  

So, what made Connections for Prosperity 2026 stand out from the conference crowd? 

Headline acts to pull the crowds in  

Holding an event for an event’s sake is simply not enough. Nowadays, with more demands on people’s working time than ever before, it’s essential that speaker programmes are deftly curated, relevant, and enticing to participants. At Connections for Prosperity, the agenda ticked all the boxes, striking a balance between headliners guaranteed to generate interest, and knowledgeable experts chosen for their valuable insight into a variety of topic areas.  

Birmingham has been in the spotlight recently for its rather turbulent political landscape. In the May local elections, the city saw a drastic change of leadership, with Labour losing control and a Lib Dem-Green coalition chosen as the new force to lead the city forward. In the wider business community, this change has raised questions about the future of the region and plans for the city moving forward.  

With this in mind, starting the conference with a session involving Leader Roger Hamer and Deputy Leader Julien Pritchard was a clever move, and set the future-facing tone for the rest of the day. Similarly, a fireside chat with local legend, Sir Andy Street, kicked off the afternoon sessions with energy and frank conversations about what Birmingham has, and what Birmingham really needs.  

Anchor speakers and prominent headliners are a crucial part of conference planning and no matter how big your event is, people need a reason to come over and above networking alone.  

Preparation is key 

Conference preparation comes in many forms. For organisers, making sure the operations run smoothly on the day is crucial, but being prepared also extends to the range of speakers and panellists you have on your bill.  

Panel discussion slots are tight and there’s a need to be brief and punchy with the points that speakers make. Being a subject matter expert is one thing, but being able to communicate your points in a collaborative and memorable fashion – and being able to take part in a meaningful discussion – is another.  

One area of panel discussions that can eat into valuable time is introductions. Making sure your speakers can introduce themselves and outline their key stances in a concise and punchy fashion is crucial – after all, we’re here for the discussion. 

Pre-briefing is essential and meeting other panellists before the event is extremely useful in ensuring the discussion is natural on the day. Encourage attendees to think about their key messaging and which three points they would like to make (and which of the three is the most important) can help speakers to prepare.  

I’m a great believer that there’s no such thing as a boring subject, only boring delivery. Making sure all your panellists and speakers are prepared and ready to go will ensure that all of your panels and breakouts draw crowds and make people think.  

Breadth and depth 

‘Connections for Prosperity’ – it’s a broad phrase and can mean a huge number of things to a huge number of people. If you’re trying to pin down what the single thing is that would deliver prosperity to a region as large and diverse as the Midlands, you’re going to struggle.  

Because of this, having breadth and depth across the conference agenda was, and is, crucial. What really shone through from this year’s event was the feeling that there truly was something for everyone. Housing, transport, infrastructure and skills – to name just a few areas – all had representation across the day and really meant that all areas of interest and speciality were covered.  

This is something that a lot of conferences get wrong. Panel discussions offer no variety and repeat themselves, or simply don’t strike the right chord with attendees. Poor topic choice can often lead to poor attendance – any conference organiser’s worst nightmare. Luckily, at Connections for Prosperity there was barely an empty seat in the building.  

Here’s to next year’s conference – we’re already looking forward to it. Now, it’s down to us to help translate some of the huge ambition felt on the day into meaningful action for Birmingham and the wider Midlands.  

For more of Nick’s expert PR insights, follow his LinkedIn page here.