Plans for International Business Festival in Yorkshire under way

A flagship International Business Festival to coincide with next year’s Grand Depart from Yorkshire will take in four venues and showcase the very best the regional business community has to offer.

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and Welcome to Yorkshire today (13 November) outlined the initial details of what the festival will entail – and issued a rallying call for companies large and small to get involved and make it a success.

The Festival will run from 2-4 July 2014 at the Carriage Works in Leeds, the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, Harrogate International Centre, and the National Railway Museum in York. Activity is planned at all four venues over the three days, with the focus on key sectors where Yorkshire businesses excel, such as food and drink, retail and construction, healthcare, green energy, and gaming.

The organisers have set an ambitious target of generating £20m of new business from the festival, as well as building a lasting legacy of long-term relationships.

“In July next year the eyes of the world will be on Yorkshire and we don’t want to miss the opportunity to do business with the millions of visitors, or the chance to bring in key business representatives to meet with, and buy from, local companies,” explained Peter Dodd, of Welcome to Yorkshire, a key member of the Grand Depart delivery team.

UKTI and partners, including local authorities, will lead the festival in tandem with Welcome to Yorkshire. Further information will be announced in the months ahead as the final programmes start to take shape, although they are likely to include specialist conferences and bespoke events and seminars. Some 40-plus events are being planned in total.

Mark Robson, regional director of UKTI, commented: “Many companies are already planning to bring clients or potential customers over for the Tour, and there will be unique opportunities to network and gain expert insight.

“The Grand Depart provides a fantastic opportunity to showcase the innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and leadership that has put local companies at the forefront of the global race. We are striving to create a flagship business spectacle befitting the arrival of the world’s largest annual sporting event.”