Festival to lift Black Country business spirits

Amidst continuing uncertainty over Brexit, concern for the future of major employer Jaguar Land Rover and the decline of high street shopping centres across the Black Country, today marks the start of an event that will lift the spirits of the area's business community.

The second Black Country Business Festival is an opportunity to shout loud and hard about the many great businesses of all sizes that this region can boast.

The 12-day festival is also a showcase for the Black Country's inspirational and innovative companies.

Eight key sectors including advanced manufacturing and automotive, creative industries and education and skills are being covered.

Many of the 113 events that will be taking place between today and May 24 have sold out but tickets are still available for the others at www.blackcountrybusinessfestival.com

Major online business eBay, currently running the Retail Revival project in Wolverhampton, has signed up as headline sponsor of the festival which was launched this morning at a breakfast event at the new Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills at the University of Wolverhampton's Springfield Campus.

The former Springfield brewery has been transformed into Europe’s largest specialist construction and built environment campus by the university, bringing together businesses and the education sector to boost the economy.

More businesses than last year are involved in the festival, which is the biggest event of its kind in the region.

Corin Crane, chief executive of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce which had the original idea for the festival, said: "I would encourage people to get out of their offices, attend lots of event,see what's going on in this brilliant region and really makes the most of what the commercial Black Country has to offer."

Among events taking place today was Walsall vending equipment business Coinadrink showing off its new showroom and the Prince's Trust staging an event to help businesses unlock their potential with guidance from experienced mentors at Wolverhampton's Molineux Stadium.

Tomorrow's 11 events include Wolverhampton Racecourse playing host to careers sped networking, one of the festival's key events.

The chamber and Black Country Skills Factory are running the event aimed at inspiring the next generation. More than 150 business volunteers will be working with more than 300 youngsters aged 11 to 14-years-old from local schools and colleges to tell them about the world of work and routes into employment.

The Black Country Diners Club is also having a special festival meeting at 11.45am in the Hayward Suite at Molineux.The two-course networking lunch will include a discussion with a panel of industry experts on how to champion, support and drive local businesses forward.

Panellists include Mr Crane; Ninder Johal, Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands and chief executive of Wednesbury's Nachural Group; Anna-Maria McAuliffe, director at McAuliffe Group and Professor Michelle Shaw, director of education at the University of Wolverhampton.