The first West Midlands Business
Festival is shaping up to be one of the region's biggest and
most influential business-to-business events.
It's been just one month since its launch by Mayor and more than 20 events
have already been registered on the 2025 festival's calendar.
They cover essential topics like artificial intelligence,
business growth and a special celebration of women in business to
coincide with International Women's Day.
The two-week festival - organised by Business Growth West
Midlands (BGWM) - is being backed by all three of the
region's Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses
(FSB), universities, and other business organisations.
From March 3rd to 14th next year, the festival will offer small
and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and the wider business
community valuable opportunities to come together and help
turbocharge economic growth across the region.
Venues in all parts of the region will host free conferences,
workshops, networking sessions, exhibitions, product launches and
showcases.
There is still time for businesses to get involved by submitting
event proposals through the festival's website by the January
10th deadline. Event details do not need to be final at the time
of submission - businesses can continue to refine content until
the deadline.
The Mayor said: “The first ever West Midlands Business Festival
is a fantastic showcase of the creativity and innovation driving
our region forward. It's inspiring to see so many businesses,
entrepreneurs, and industry leaders coming together to make the
West Midlands the best place in the UK to start and grow a
business.
"I want us to share ideas, inspire each other, and work together
on new innovations that create real jobs, offer career-defining
training opportunities for young people, and grow our economy in
a way that benefits everyone.”
To support the festival's goals, a Steering Group has been
established. It is made up of representatives from both public
and private sectors, including the region's three Chambers of
Commerce, the FSB, Venturefest, universities, and various
business organisations.
The group will meet regularly to provide strategic direction and
make sure the festival offers a fortnight of inspiration,
innovation, learning, showcasing, and networking.
Sian Roberts, sales and marketing lead for Black Country Chamber
of Commerce and WMBF Steering Group Member, said: “We're excited
to see businesses collaborate throughout the festival's two weeks
and create a positive economic impact that lasts well beyond the
festival. This is our chance to show the rest of the world that
the West Midlands is the place for business innovation and
opportunity.
"Thanks to all the businesses who've submitted their events so
far—there's still time to join in and host your own. We need
everyone to get behind the festival and make it a real success.”
For businesses interested in hosting an event, WMBF organisers
are running a series of How to Hostworkshops.
The first takes place online on Monday, 25th November,
from 2pm-3pm.
In-person events will be held on Tuesday, 3rd
December, from 10am, at Access to Business, 81 Tempest
Street in Wolverhampton, and on Thursday, 12th
December, from 11am, at Highlife Centre, WAVA Hall,
31 Barras Green in Coventry.
These sessions will guide businesses through the essentials of
planning a successful event aligned with the festival's
objectives and include personalised one-on-one support. More
dates will be added if required.
To book a place or submit an event proposal, visit the West
Midlands Business Festival website atwww.wmbf.co.uk
The West Midlands Business Festival will be BGWM's biggest event
since being launched by the West Midlands Combined
Authority (WMCA).
Find out more about how the tailored packages available to help
grow business, adopt digital technologies, transition to new
supply chains, and access funding opportunities that are
available to businesses in the West Midlands at www.businessgrowthwestmidlands.org.uk.
