Businesses back first region-wide trade festival

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 Richard Parker 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 10th January 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 Host workshops.

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.

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 on the BGWM website.