Scores of events pack out Black Country Business Festival programme

Over 100 different events have been confirmed in the first Black Country Festival - from 23 April to 4 May.

The Festival, developed by the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, aims to help other Black Country individuals and businesses to make new connections, create new opportunities and learn from each other to help their development.

It will also put the Black Country in the national spotlight, with the wide variety of interesting and exciting events showcasing the innovation, culture, commerce and range of diverse and innovative businesses based in the region. Attendance during the fortnight is anticipated to top 7,000 people with 15 per cent of these being from outside the region.

During the Festival, events are put on throughout the region by local businesses. There is an exciting programme of seminars, lectures, workshops, large trade shows and conferences covering a wide variety of business topics both within the Festival’s nine key sectors and beyond.

There are events taking place in all corners of the Black Country from prisons, the army reserve centre, theatres, casinos to golf clubs, football stadiums, hotels, offices.

Nearly every event is completely free to attend, but tickets do need to be booked in advance. These are available on the Black Country Business Festival website on a first come first served basis.

There are several Professional Business Support, Communications and Marketing events in the programme including data protection, merchandising, sales, copywriting, social media, marketing seminars as well as intellectual property rights, making tax digital, legalities surrounding new start ups, advice on buying and selling businesses and much more.

Business Festival sponsor, Talbots Law, is running several events one of which involves top legal services advisor, Mitch Kowalski (right) flying in especially from Canada to speak at ‘2030 - A Completely New World for Professional Services Firms' on 26 April. Intended for professional services business owners, managers and employees, this event will examine how firms in the industry need to adapt to the changing environment to create a competitive advantage and deliver superior financial returns.

Ian Bond (pictured left) from Talbots Law and the Festival’s Sector Lead for Professional Business Support, Communications and Marketing said,“Mitch is widely known as one of the foremost commentators on the effective delivery of legal services in the modern, technology driven, world. His insights have taken him around the world with speaking engagements and his books and articles are published in many countries. Talbots are absolutely delighted to welcome Mitch to the Black Country Business Festival”

Corin Crane, chief executive of the Black Country Chamber said: “It makes me really proud that so many Black Country businesses have got on board with the Business Festival. Over 100 events in our first year is awesome! The programme is looking really comprehensive offering something for everyone, whether they are a micro-business owner, SME or part of a large corporate enterprise.

“We now need everyone to get involved by taking a look at the website and registering to attend one, two or lots of events in the Festival.”

The Black Country Business Festival is partnered by the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and DY5 – Dudley’s Business and Innovation Enterprise Zone. It is also supported by the following organisations which all understand its importance and relevance and want to contribute to its success: Cox & Plant, Federation of Small Businesses, Ramada Park Hall Hotel, University of Wolverhampton, Talbots Law, Wolverhampton Racecourse, Casino 36, Express & Star, Midlands in Business and Signal 107.