Business leaders from the creative and digital industries (CDI) were given a unique opportunity to open dialogue with the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) on the sector.

Around a dozen representatives from companies across the region attended an inaugural executive dinner, which was organised by networking group Matrix Sheffield City Region (SCR).

The business owners and Matrix members were able to speak with Professor Mike Holcombe, head of the LEP's CDI sector group, and Lee Strafford, LEP board member, on what was being done to support the CDI.

Richard Wright, executive director of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, chaired the meeting which was staged at the offices of Nabarro LLP.

Ben Hendry, partner at Nabarro LLP, said: "We felt that business leaders from the Sheffield City Region needed clarification from the LEP on what was being done to support their sector. 

"Approximately, 50,000 people from the region work in CDI, so it is an important area to review and ensure everything is being done to support businesses.

"The dinners provide an opportunity for people to engage with the LEP, ask questions and give opinions on where they see economic growth can be achieved. It also provides the LEP with a platform to outline their plans and speak with high-level management at key organisations.

"We are pleased with how the CDI dinner went and arrangements are already underway with organising similar meetings for the other LEP sector groups. We would encourage business leaders from these sectors to get involved with the Matrix SCR, interact with the discussions and play a role in shaping the growth proposals."

Discussions on the CDI were the first to be arranged by the Matrix SCR group, with sport leisure and tourism taking place on May 16. Manufacturing, property and construction, retail, low carbon and healthcare technologies will also take place throughout the year.

Representatives from each LEP sector group will be attending the relevant dinners to provide an outline of their economic support plans, as well as take questions from the business leaders. 

All the key actions and viewpoints raised at the sector dinners will be collated in an economic report from the Matrix SCR which will be published in the autumn.  

Matrix SCR is a platform for the business community to promote discussion and thought leadership, and to raise awareness of the key issues which influence the economic growth and success of the city region.

Originally a LinkedIn group, Matrix SCR is made up of 200 business leaders, owners and directors. It was formed by six leading organisations Elevation Recruitment, HR Media, Lloyds Banking Group, Nabarro LLP, PwC and Sheffield Chamber of Commerce.