Sixteen Business Festival events set in Sandwell

With the first Black Country Business Festival about to start in just under two weeks, the Sandwell area is set to host 16 of the events – all of which are completely free to attend.

Running from 23 April until 4 May, the Business Festival will see everything from seminars, workshops, behind-the-scenes tours and speed networking to conferences, exhibitions and debates. In total over the fortnight, there are 122 events taking place throughout the Black Country, making the Festival – in its inaugural year, the biggest business event in the region.

Sandwell Business Solutions Centre in West Bromwich – a partnership between the University of Wolverhampton, Sandwell Council and Sandwell College, is one of five centres in the region to offer support and facilities to businesses, is hosting a number of useful events. These include sales, marketing, social media, GDPR data and tender writing workshops.

Manufacturing and technology are strong subjects in the Sandwell area. An exciting workshop by Kuka Robotics will examine how robots and automation can help businesses to remain competitive and grow, whilst the Manufacturers’ Organisation is also examining the future of manufacturing from technologies and skills through to business modelling.

A unique 'Women in Tech’ panel session is being held at Currys PC World megastore – the same venue as Headz Up Business’s event 'Is Your Business Tech Ready,' which is aiming to encourage businesses to consider the latest ‘tech’ to help, support and grow their business.

Global supplier of metals and engineering solutions, the Liberty House Group in Oldbury is opening it’s doors to young people to come and find out about careers in the engineering & manufacturing industry and the different paths that can be taken to get there.

Jan Britton, chief executive at Sandwell Council - a Business Festival supporting organisation said, “This is the first Business Festival to take place the Black Country and we are keen to play our part in supporting it as we can see the opportunities it can present for the development of the Black Country economy.

“The reaction of the business community to the Festival has been superb. Sixteen events in Sandwell - contributing to a mammouth programme consisting of 122 events is fantastic – and further reinforces the need for something new and different to stimulate business growth and showcase our region.”

The list of events in Sandwell comprises:

24 April

Are you ready for GDPR? (Sandwell Business Solutions Centre) at Sandwell Business Solutions Centre

25 April

Make Your Website a Bostin' Marketing Machine! (Clickingmad Ltd) at Sandwell Business Solutions Centre

26 April

Get Connected to the Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills(Sandwell Business Solutions Centre) at Sandwell Business Solutions Centre
Manufacturing Connect: Future Factories (EEF The manufacturers' organisation) at Lemforder UK
Robotics and Automation; a feel for the Production World of Tomorrow (KUKA Robotics UK Ltd) at KUKA Robotics UK Ltd

27 April

Using Story Telling in your Social Media Marketing Campaigns(Online Marketing Growth Limited) at Sandwell Business Solutions Centre
Women in Business Networking including 'Women in Tech Panel' Session (Headzupbusiness) at Currys PC World Megastore

1 May

Meet the Funders - Breakfast & Expo (Sandwell Business Solutions Centre) at Sandwell Business Solutions Centre
Meet the Funders – Expo (Sandwell Business Solutions Centre) Sandwell Business Solutions Centre

2 May

Boost Your Sales (Cre8 Sales Solutions Ltd) at Sandwell Business Solutions Centre
Be Your Own Boss (SWEDA) at The Business Centre
Supply Chain Opportunities for the New Nuclear Revolution (Crowe Clark Whitehill) at Black Country House

3 May

Tender Writing Workshop - Improve your Chances of Success(Klick Business Solutions Ltd) at Sandwell Business Solutions Centre
Careers Open Morning at an International Engineering & Manufacturing Business (Liberty House Group) at Liberty Industries Group

4 May

Fit for Future: Developing Talent to Enable & Support Change - from Transactional to Transformational (Human Results) at Sandwell Business Solutions Centre
Is Your Business Tech Ready? (headzupbusiness) at Currys PC World Megastore

All the events are listed on the website www.blackcountrybusinessfestival.com where tickets are also available on a first come first served basis. The vast majority of events are completely free to attend so it is advisable to book early.

Originated by the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and partnered by DY5 – Dudley’s Business & Innovation Enterprise Zone, the plan is for the Festival to become an annual event in the business calendar, bringing the region together once a year to engage, share best practice and collaborate with each other on a completely new level.

The Black Country Business Festival is run in association with Associated Events and is additionally supported by a number of organisations which all understand its importance and relevance and want to contribute to its success. Sponsored include: Cox & Plant, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Ramada Park Hall Hotel. Supporters are the University of Wolverhampton, Talbots Law, Wolverhampton Racecourse, Casino 36, Sandwell Council and Nachural