A YEAR after city leaders set an economic strategy to guide growth until the end of the decade, a York hotel has hosted a two-hour gathering to look back at progress so far.

The Monk Bar Hotel - soon to become York’s first DoubleTree by Hilton - was the venue for the York Economic Strategy: One Year On event.

The hotel has its own ambitions for the future and was at the time putting the finishing touches to a refurbishment that has reduced the number of conference rooms significantly in favour of more bedrooms.

Cllr David Carr, leader of City of York Council, opened the afternoon, speaking about York’s ancient heritage as something which the city should have pride in.

“It doesn’t mean we are backward looking or wallow in nostalgia, but it does mean we have a priceless heritage,” he said.

Cllr Carr also pointed out the things York leaders still need to push for to make sure the city can fulfil its potential - like the better East-West rail links which are vital to keep York’s status as a communications hub.

It is entrepreneurs and businesses who create jobs and wealth, he said, rather than the public sector - but the council, education and voluntary sectors need to work together on growth.

The event gave businesses a chance to trumpet their successes over the last year - from Hiscox’s recruitment of 260 new staff to the £4 million invested in the city by the BID, and pharmaceutical company Covance’s expansions creating 30 new jobs.

As well as looking back, council chief executive Mary Weastell said it was important to look ahead.

The environment never stays still for long, she added. Neither Brexit, the industrial strategy, nor the new momentum behind Yorkshire devolution existed a little over a year ago, and the education and skills sector has changed considerably in that same time, she said.

The event gave business leaders chance to learn about progress in a number of areas in the city - including the Local Plan, which goes out to its major public consultation today.

Updates were also given on the York Central brownfield development, with National Railway Museum representatives speaking of its nationally significant £50 million development project stretching from the renovation of the Great Hall by 2021 to the re-routing of Leeman Road around their site by 2025.

Looking to the strategy’s coming years, delegates spoke of the need to attract and retain 18 to 35-year-olds in York, to re-articulate York’s brand as a city, and to come up with investment plans and a long-term strategy for the city centre.