Last week a group of business leaders gathered around the table for the inaugural meeting of a new invite-only quarterly forum.
Hosted in the Directors Lounge at Stadium MK, The Executive Box, is a joint initiative from Yellowyoyo, EMW, TC Group, Barclays and MK Dons, designed to bring leaders from different sectors together to exchange ideas, share perspectives and build stronger connections.
Introducing the event, Bryan Wright, Founder and Director of Yellowyoyo, explained that the idea came from a desire to create something different from the usual networking format.
“This isn’t really about networking,” Bryan told guests. “We want to create a space where people can sit down together, talk openly and share ideas about business and the city.”
Around the table were representatives from professional services, finance, technology and advisory firms, reflecting the diverse and fast-growing business landscape that the city has developed over the past few decades.
While the venue inevitably brought football into the conversation, the tone of the afternoon was broader: a discussion about leadership, growth and the role that institutions such as MK Dons can play within the local business ecosystem.
A stadium with a role beyond matchdays
Following Bryan’s introduction, Neil Hart, Chief Executive of MK Dons, shared a clear ambition for MK Dons and Stadium MK to play a bigger role in the life of the city, not just on matchdays, but as a place where business, sport and community come together.
He described Milton Keynes as an ambitious, fast-growing city and said the real value of the stadium lies in the connections and activity it enables, not simply the building itself.
Mark Davies, Chief Commercial Officer of MK Dons built on this by explaining how MK Dons is evolving its commercial approach to create more flexible partnerships for organisations of different sizes, moving beyond traditional sponsorship and opening up new ways for businesses to get involved.
Strengthening the club’s place in the community
Together, their message was that MK Dons wants to become more deeply embedded in the city, creating a more connected, inclusive and collaborative future for club, community and business alike.
A forum designed to grow
As the lunch drew to a close, it was clear that The Executive Box had achieved its purpose.
Rather than a formal presentation or traditional networking event, the gathering allowed for open conversation between professionals from different sectors.
The Executive Box’s partners are keen that the forum becomes a regular part of the city’s business calendar, with the plan to hold events each quarter, and bring together new voices from across the local business community each time.
“Our city has an incredible range of businesses and expertise,” James Geary of EMW said. “If we can create a space where people come together and share ideas, that can only be a positive thing.”
For a city known for its entrepreneurial spirit and collaborative approach, the initiative may prove to be more than just a lunch event.
It should become a platform for conversations that help shape the next chapter of the city’s business story.
