Staffordshire prepares for inaugural Business Festival

BUSINESS and civic leaders from across Staffordshire have given their support to the county’s first Business Festival.
 
Organised by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, the inaugural Staffordshire Business Festival will take place over a two-week period from Monday November 7 to Friday November 18 with the aim of showcasing Staffordshire’s products, services and talent to a wider audience.
 
The festival will highlight Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent as a place for businesses to locate, grow and prosper and will offer a platform for businesses and organisations from across the county to connect with each other and share innovative ideas.
 
Sara Williams, Chief Executive at Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, said: “We are very excited to be organising our very first business festival. We’ve been overwhelmed with interest from potential sponsors, partners and event supporters.”
 
Keele University, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and  Staffordshire County Council have all given the festival their backing.

While local authorities in Cannock Chase, Lichfield, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire Moorlands and Tamworth Borough Council are also giving their support.

The 2016 festival is using the strapline Inspiring Innovation and Developing Talent, sentiments are designed to fit perfectly with the objectives of the two headline sponsors, Keele University and Staffordshire University.
 
Various events are scheduled to take place during the festival at locations around the county.

The festival has been timed to coincide with Global Entrepreneurship Week and International Trade Week, both of which will add impetus and focus to the festival’s events.
 
Dave Bryon, Director of the Staffordshire Business Festival 2016, said: “The festival has generated real excitement and interest from the business community across the whole county.”

Events include a conference on Digital Staffordshire, a Rural Economy Innovation and Technology Showcase and a tour of Halfpenny Green Vineyards.