Express & Star

Business festival boasts 122 events

The Black Country Business Festival has grown to take in 122 different events in its two-week programme.

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DY5 – Dudley’s business and innovation enterprise zone – is one of the festival partners

The Festival, originated by the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and partnered by DY5 – Dudley’s business and innovation enterprise zone – will run from April 23 to May 4.

Tickets to attend the events are already available on the website www.blackcountrybusinessfestival.com and the majority of the events are completely free to attend.

The programme includes everything from seminars, workshops, conferences and exhibitions to round table debates, careers speed networking events and exclusive, behind-the-scenes tours of some of the Black Country’s best businesses.

Subjects vary widely across many key sectors with events about corporate finance, credit and funding, food safety, land acquisition, property development and investment opportunities, overseas trading, careers, apprenticeships and skills.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said: “We are delighted through DY5 to be supporting the Black Country Business Festival. It’s a massive event. With more than 7,000 attendees expected, people will be coming from far and wide to see and hear all the fantastic things the Black Country can offer.

“Businesses here are leading the way nationally and internationally in the fields of innovation, culture and commerce, and this festival will give them a perfect shop window. It’s really important that DY5 is at the forefront of such initiatives.

“Creating 7,000 new jobs and offering homes for 300 new firms with the incentive of business rate relief for five years, the festival will hopefully help us spread the word to national and potentially international audiences.”

Corin Crane, chief executive of the Black Country Chamber said: “It’s utterly brilliant how the Black Country has pulled together to make the first business festival so diverse and exciting and something that will really show off the innovation, culture and commerce, the ‘can do’ attitude of our workforce and huge investment potential of the area.

“With 122 events, there is plenty to choose from. Anyone can attend - it doesn’t matter whether they work in a SME or a large corporate organisation, whether they are start up businesses or are seeking employment. I guarantee everyone will find something in the Business Festival that will be useful.

“To get tickets, visit the website to see which events will be suitable and register to attend – it’s as simple as that! Most events are absolutely free, but tickets are available on a first come, first served basis only, so once they’re gone, they’re gone.”