Meet CDC: What We Learned from Our First Event

Last week marked the first in our new Meet CDC series – a collaboration between Doncaster Chamber and City of Doncaster Council designed to bring businesses and civic leaders together to share insight, debate ideas, and celebrate progress.

The event chocker, with over a hundred attendees from across the city’s business community and public sector. Feedback since has been positive, with both businesses and the Council agreeing that the format – particularly the marketplace networking session – offered real value in helping people connect and explore support on offer.

Why are we doing this?

The Meet CDC events have three main aims:

To celebrate good news stories – from Doncaster Sheffield Airport and new inward investors, to regeneration sites and city centre improvements.

To create a space for open debate between business leaders and CDC decision-makers, moderated by the Chamber.

To showcase CDC services – from planning and procurement to business support and environmental initiatives.

What is ‘Team Doncaster’?

You’ll often hear the phrase Team Doncaster used in conversations like these. It’s worth clarifying that this isn’t a slogan (although in some cases we also use it in that way) – it’s the formal Local Strategic Partnership that brings together public, private, voluntary, and community organisations to drive the borough’s shared vision.

Team Doncaster’s approach – “If you’re making a positive difference, you’re part of Team Doncaster” – captures the spirit that this event aimed to embody.

Opening Reflections from Dan Fell

The event began with an honest and thought-provoking address from Dan Fell, Chief Executive of Doncaster Chamber, who set the tone for the day with his trademark balance of realism and optimism. While reaffirming his belief that Doncaster is “on a journey from good to great” and celebrating milestones such as the investment to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport, Dan acknowledged that the city centre continues to face significant challenges.

Drawing on recent conversations with local business owners and residents, he spoke candidly about issues such as antisocial behaviour, enforcement, and declining retail confidence. However, he emphasised that the way forward lies not in defensiveness or negativity, but in constructive, cross-sector collaboration – the hallmark of Team Doncaster.

Pointing to the strength of local institutions, arts organisations, voluntary groups, and independent traders, he urged attendees to champion and support the city centre’s entrepreneurial spirit. The Meet CDC series, he explained, has been created precisely to foster these conversations, strengthen dialogue between public and private sectors, and help shape decisions that will move Doncaster’s city centre from good to great.

A Vision for the City Centre

Lee Tillman, Executive Director at City of Doncaster Council, kicked things off with a detailed presentation on the updated City Centre Strategy and Urban Centre Masterplan.

Building on work since 2016, the refreshed plan sits under Doncaster’s Borough Strategy to 2030 and focuses on the overarching ambition of Thriving People, Places and Planet. It identifies opportunities across four key zones:

Doncaster’s Beating Heart – the civic, cultural, and retail core

Waterfront – a major development opportunity with transformational potential

Central East – predominantly residential, with scope to improve living environments

Central South – encompassing Elmfield Park and nearby neighbourhoods

Lee’s presentation also drew on the results of the Big City Conversation, which engaged more than 8,000 residents and businesses. Top priorities identified included:

Safety, cited as the number-one issue for all age groups and businesses

City centre cleanliness (87%)

Look and feel of the environment (81%)

Protection and use of heritage buildings (65%)

He also highlighted the reality of national challenges affecting town centres – from de-industrialisation and online retail to changing work patterns – but struck an optimistic tone, focusing on the city’s strong foundation of partnership and investment readiness.

Panel Discussion: Creating a Safe, Healthy, and Vibrant Urban Core

The panel brought together voices from across the city, including Mayor Ros Jones, Lee Tillaman, Chief Superintendent Pete Thorp, and Jakki Hardy.

A recurring theme was safety and perception. There was wide agreement that communication between agencies and businesses must improve, particularly around community safety updates. The Chamber, CDC, and South Yorkshire Police committed to exploring a new city centre communications plan to make information more accessible and relevant to businesses.

The Business Crime Charter was also discussed. The initiative, led by South Yorkshire Police, invites local organisations to work together to reduce business crime and improve responses when it occurs. Businesses were encouraged to learn more and consider signing up.

Frontline Experiences and Investor Confidence

Lisa Sutcliffe, Hotel Manager at the Mercure Doncaster Centre Danum Hotel, shared candid insight from the hospitality frontline. She described how daily encounters with antisocial behaviour impact not only local confidence but also investor sentiment. Her question resonated across the room. In response, both Damian Allen and Lee Tillman reaffirmed that the Council is there to help: “Come to us – that’s what we’re here for,” they said, offering direct support to businesses engaging in inward investment opportunities.

The Business Role in Community Renewal

Another valuable reflection came from the Chamber’s recent work on employing ex-offenders. Many individuals in the city’s street community are former offenders, and businesses can play a real role in supporting rehabilitation through employment and inclusive recruitment. It’s a practical way for the private sector to contribute to safety and cohesion.

Looking Ahead

The message from this first Meet CDC event was clear: progress in Doncaster will come through partnership. Businesses, the Council, the police, and community partners all have a role to play in shaping a city centre that is safe, vibrant, and economically confident.

Our thanks to all who attended, contributed, and shared their experiences – and especially to our speakers, panelists, and the CDC team for their openness and collaboration.

We look forward to the next Meet CDC event, where we’ll continue building on this strong foundation of teamwork, transparency, and shared ambition for Doncaster’s future.