Firms Urged to use the Sizzling Summer to Ignite Business Festival Ideas

The Coventry & Warwickshire Business Festival is now in is second year. Developed by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) and the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP Growth Hub, the Festival is an exciting fortnight filled with free business events of all descriptions. This year, it will be taking place from 19 to 30 November.

Anyone can apply to run an event as part of the Festival - which can be about anything so long as it benefits other businesses or individuals by creating learning, sharing, or business growth opportunities; it is topical or controversial event and will attract attention; or it will showcase the innovation and business excellence in the region.

All applications must be submitted by 28 September – which can be done by completing a short form on the website www.cwbusinessfestival.com/apply.

Already there have been nearly 25 applications submitted with events ranging from Cyber security to women in business such as the popular Woman Who and #Pioneer100: Celebrating the achievements of  female pioneers, leaders and innovators, by Warwick District Council.

The CWLEP Growth Hub is staging an event on Modern Technology and Artificial Intelligence in business and there are are several networking events such as the Chamber of Commerce’s 'Coventry & Warwickshire's Largest Speed networking Event' at the Ricoh Stadium. Tickets to events will be available from the end of July.

Jonathan Browning, (pictured left) Chair of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “As the largest business event in the region, the Festival is an ideal opportunity for companies however large or small to be involved and tell their story.

“It is an excellent way to showcase the outstanding potential for further investment in the region whether that is attracting new companies from across the UK or abroad or the expansion of existing businesses.

“The Festival allows Coventry and Warwickshire to clearly demonstrate how we are the Knowledge Capital of the UK and we are confident that we will build on the success of last year’s inaugural event.”

Craig Humphrey, (right) managing director of the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP Growth Hub, said: “This is the time for the whole business community to join together to be a part of the biggest business showcase in Coventry & Warwickshire. We want as many organisations as possible to be involved – through partnering or sponsoring events, attending events or running an event.

“To make sure the Festival is not overloaded, the number of applications is being limited this year and taken on a first come, first served basis. We want a fortnight of useful events with stimulating, engaging content that will be attractive to the audience they are aimed at and importantly, something that people will want to attend.

“I would encourage anyone thinking of running an event to start formulating their ideas now and try to get their application in over the summer, to ensure their event is included.”

A workshop was held on 9 July to help event organisers run a great event in the Festival. Information from this and other downloads are available on the website at www.cwbusinessfestival.com/media

The Coventry & Warwickshire Business Festival is run in association with the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP and the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP Growth Hub and it is managed by Associate Events. It is partnered by Coventry University and the University of Warwick and sponsored by thefutureworks and Coventry University Enterprises Business Solutions.

Business Festival supporters include: RDM, Deeleys, Tisski, Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council; the district councils of North Warwickshire, Nuneaton & Bedworth, Rugby, Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick, as well as media partners, Business & Innovation magazine.

For more information, visit www.cwbusinessfestival.com, contact hello@cwbusinessfestival.com or 0247 601 1447.