Futuristic look for chamber exhibition

The event at Wolverhampton Racecourse attracted more than 370 delegates this year and also formed part of Wolverhampton Business Week.

The four-hour free admission event featured a record 70 stands from a range of businesses across the region. A dedicated manufacturing area was a new feature this year.

The exhibition was also helping to generate interest in staging events for next year's first Black Country Business Festival, which will run from April 23 to May 4.

Chamber chief executive Corin Crane said: "In the 2017 exhibition we have tried to offer a more diverse event and we expect about 600 to have attended altogether."

He said that business insight seminars from AF Blakemore, Willenhall, Credibly Green and Walsall's HomeServe had gone down well this year.

"The exhibition is really cool opportunity for local businesses to show just how good they are ant to network.

"With the business week as well there is a real feeling in the city and the wider Black Country of the business community coming together more and more," added Mr Crane.

Chamber board member and managing director of Wolverhampton Racecourse Dave Roberts said: "Thee has been a great atmosphere. It seems to be the best supported of the events the chamber holds throughout the year.

"Lots of people are genuinely doing business. The exhibition is a great opportunity for our members to sell and that's what it's all about at the end of the day."

Stone's Throw Media, which has been going for five years and is based at Wolverhampton Science Park, demonstrated a drone over the racecourse for delegates.

Director Matt Weston said: "We have had a lot of interest in our video production services and have had some good chats with companies including West Bromwich Albion."

Also causing a stir was Atmos VR, based at the Creative Industries Centre in Wolverhampton, who invited delegates to try out a virtual reality headset.

Among those who walked the plank off a 'skyscraper@ was Kevin Rogers, managing director of Wolverhampton-based Paycare, who admitted to having been "terrified" by the experience.

"It has been a fantastic exhibition. There have been more people than I have seen here before. There is a real feeling of enthusiasm around the place and lots of positivity.

"There is a feeling that despite this being a time of uncertainty, there is a need to get on and grow. No one can afford to wait around," he said.

Among those exhibiting were both Wolves and West Bromwich Albion, detailing their corporate offer, the Express & Star, MNA Digital, Star Public Relations, Halesowen's EBC Group, the University of Wolverhampton , the Midlands Engine Investment Fund, Black Country Skills and Wolverhampton steel fencing firm Zaun.

Among those exhibiting for the first time was the Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills, which is being built in Tipton, to provide training for apprentices in the casting and metalforming industries.

Following the exhibition the chamber teamed up with the Department for International Trade team to run Trading with Europe Live at the racecourse.

Companies were able to Skype with traders in nine countries to discover export opportunities and get advice on growing their business

The chamber will be returning to the racecourse on November 17 for its annual awards dinner.