Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, today (Tuesday 1 October) announced a major new festival for the business community offering firms the chance to come together and help turbocharge economic growth across the region.

The first West Midlands Business Festival will take place in March next year and bring together small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and the wider business community for a fortnight of inspiration, innovation, learning, showcasing, and networking.

Organised by Business Growth West Midlands (BGWM), the festival will be one of the region's biggest and most influential annual business-to-business events.

It will offer valuable opportunities for SMEs to connect with potential partners, experts, and investors as well as the chance to unite behind the Mayor’s plan to grow the economy and make the West Midlands the best place to do business.

Conferences, workshops, networking activities, exhibitions, dinners, product launches, and showcases will be held right across the region over two weeks between March 3 and 14.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), announces plans for the first West Midlands Business Festival during a speech at Millennium Point in Birmingham to mark the first anniversary of Business Growth West Midlands.

The Mayor said: "Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and it's crucial they get the support they need to thrive.

“I want to make the West Midlands the best place to start and grow a business, and the Business Festival is a key part of that. It's a chance for businesses to come together, get back to growth, and create real opportunities - especially for our young people, who need them the most."

The West Midlands Business Festival will be BGWM’s biggest ever event since being launched by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) a year ago.

BGWM’s team of front-line advisors based across the region have already supported more than 6,500 businesses with tailored packages to help grow their business, adopt digital technologies, transition to new supply chains, and access funding opportunities.

From today, businesses can apply to host an event as part of the West Midlands Business Festival. This can involve incorporating their existing business activities into the festival’s schedule or creating new events.

They can cover any business-related topic and range from seminars and insight events to product launches. All events are encouraged to be free to attend to remove barriers for participants, including those early in their careers or in education.

Businesses can register an interest in taking part in the West Midlands Business Festival at www.wmbf.co.uk.