The Homes and Communities Agency has hosted a number of events over recent years to promote the exchange of best practice between URCs – a conference and/or a symposium.

The URC Conference is an opportunity for URCs, their partners, developers and consultants to attend a series of presentations addressing the pertinent issues facing URCs.

The Symposium is a much more participative, hands-on event aimed specifically at URCs and their partners in the Homes and Communities Agency , Regional Development Agencies and Local Authorities. The URC Symposium takes the format of a series of workshops, designed to encourage delegates to engage with others on the various issues facing URCs in delivering the regeneration agenda.

In addition to these events the URCs themselves host their own conferences to examine more specifically issues affecting their areas and to share ideas.

Events to date are as follows:

• URC Conference, 29 May 2008
  
  English Partnerships hosted its fifth Urban Regeneration Company (URC) conference, at Birmingham's ICC. The theme for this one-day event, “Building on success and adapting to change”, was reflected in the various workshops, which included: Evolution of URCs; Achieving environmental aspirations through BREEAM and Sustainability Codes; Area Action Plans; and Design, cultural importance and change in today's society. Keynote speakers included Sir Bob Kerslake, Chief Executive designate of the new Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Professor Michael Parkinson, Wayne Hemingway and Paul Spooner.
• URC 4th Annual Symposium, 12 May 2005
  
  English Partnerships held its fourth Annual Symposium dedicated to Urban Regeneration Companies (URCs) at the Bescot Stadium, Walsall on Thursday, 12 May 2005, from 10.00 – 17.00. The event is being hosted by Walsall Regeneration Company. This year the Symposium will focus on the theme of "Sustainable Delivery and Effective Linkages".
• URCs 4th Annual Conference, 8 September 2005
  
  English Partnerships held its fourth Annual Conference dedicated to Urban Regeneration Companies (URCs) in Corby, Northamptonshire. This year the theme for the conference was "The Future Focus".
• URC 5th Annual Symposium, 10 - 11 May 2006
  
  The fifth URC symposium was held in the Great Victoria Hotel, Bradford. The theme for this year's programme was "Investing with the private sector".
• URCs 3rd Annual Symposium, 23 November 2004
  
  The third URC symposium was held in the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. The theme for this year's programme was "Finance and Delivery - Under the Spotlight".
• URCs 3rd Annual Conference, 11/12 May 2004
  
  This two-day event was held in Liverpool, home of one the three pilot URCs. The range of presentations offered delegates informative, innovative and practical advice on aspects of the urban regeneration business. Where possible, copies of the presentations are available to view and include overviews of: urban regeneration through private management and finance; regeneration of Liverpool, as the host city; community engagement; heritage and regeneration; and masterplanning.
• URCs 2nd Best Practice Symposium, 29 October 2003
  
  Chaired by David Taylor, Chairman of Hull Citybuild URC, the 17 seminars / workshops focused on the complexity of driving forward the renaissance of our urban centres. Topics included: Housing Pathfinders, Site Assembly, Community Planning, Housing Gap Funding, Tourism, Sustainable Developments, URC Regeneration Vehicles, Utilities, Funding Sources & Attracting Private Sector Investment, Setting Up & Running a URC, Business Planning, Marketing, Waterways, Procuring Masterplanning Consultancy Services, Writing Development Briefs and Creative & Cultural Industries.
• URCs 2nd Annual Conference, 11/12 February 2003
  
  Chaired by Alison Nimmo, the then Chief Executive of Sheffield One URC, the event included presentations from Phil Hope (MP and Parliamentary Private Secretary to Rt Hon John Prescott) on Sustainable Communities and David Lunts (Director of Urban Policy Unit at the ODPM) on The Liveability Agenda. Other presentations looked at Urban Design, Private Sector Finance for URCs and English Partnerships' role in light of its new remit. The event also offered delegates the opportunity to join in a walking tour of Sheffield City Centre taking in good and bad examples of urban design as well as the challenges ahead for Sheffield One.
• URCs Best Practice Symposium, 19 September 2002
  
  Chaired by Graham Russell of Amion Consulting, the event comprised five workshops: The Role of Clusters in URCs, The Contribution of Housing to URCs, Utilities Infrastructure in Regeneration, The Added Value of Good Urban Design, and Development Appraisals and Funding and closed with a panel session.
• URCs Best Practice Conference, 17/18 January 2002
  
  Chaired by David Taylor, Executive Chairman of DTP, this event was the first URC Annual Best Practice Conference organised by English Partnerships, and coincided with the launch of www.urcs-online.co.uk. Presentations included The Dissemination of Best Practice Advice, Overview of an Existing URC, Company Structures, CPO Procedures, Joint Venture Structures, The Transportation and Movement Strategy in Liverpool, The Retail Quarter Development in Sheffield, Community Consultation and Progress to Date with URCs.