For entrepreneurs across the UK, there are some key events coming up in 2017. If you want to meet and network with like-minded people, learn from those who have been there and done it already, and give your business plan and expectations a boost, these events are well worth signing up to.
1. StartUp 2017
For entrepreneurs looking to improve their skill base, network with other business men and women and get the best start possible, the New Year begins with a bang at StartUp 2017. You can cover subjects as varied as marketing on Facebook, how tech is effecting commerce, get the best out of fund raising and how to undertake market research, all through seminars delivered by experts in their fields. Not only is this a great opportunity to network with people just like you, it’s the kind of event that can kick start your entrepreneurial efforts.
There are some excellent keynote speakers throughout the day, including Microsoft Chief Tech guru James Marshall (founder of the company Well and Truly), Sara Trenchman, and Toast Ale creator Rob Wilson. Funders such as HSBC will be on hand to give advice and guidance on where to find money for your new great idea. There are also franchise opportunities on offer as well as tips for branding your startup.
Tickets are just £10 (£7.50 for Enterprise Nation members).
Date: 14th January 2017
Location: KPMG, Canada Square, London
2. The Business Growth Show
The BGS happens every six months and the next one is in March 2017 at the Warwickshire Cricket Club. The aim is to bring small, medium and large businesses together to generate interesting networking opportunities as well as give attendees the chance to hear from industry experts and insiders. The show normally has between 50 and 60 exhibitors and they get up to 500 businesses heading through their doors. If you want to find local, regional and national businesses to network with, this is the place to come.
Date: 17th March 2017
Location: Edgbaston, Birmingham.
3. The Business Show 2017
Held at the Excel Centre in London, The 2017 Business Show is aimed at startups and SMEs hoping to reach the next level. With seminars and masterclasses from over 170 industry experts, there’s something for everyone here, whether you run a retail outlet, are a budding tech company or operate in some other business sector. Discover how to forge a path in today’s competitive market place and mix with over 25,000 other businesses across a wide range of sectors.
This year’s masterclasses include Big Data and Its Benefits and Unlocking Your Business Potential. Speakers are as varied as Raja Saggi from Google’s marketing department and Unruly CEO Sarah Wood. Tickets are free and masterclasses and seminars work on a first come, first serve basis.
Date: 17-18th May 2017
Location: ExCel London
4. Global Entrepreneurship Week
If you want to join in a truly worldwide event, Global Entrepreneurship Week can give you access to a broad range of useful information, networking through 35,000 activities and events running across several different countries at the same time. Most major towns and cities across the UK will be running events that you can attend, often for free.
It’s a great way to learn more about entrepreneurship if you are just beginning to think about it and the opportunity for startups to look at how other people across the world are doing things. Last year, there were seminars and events such as Be Your Own Boss run by the Prince’s Trust in Cardiff and various business incubator personal stories in places like Luton. The week of events isn’t just about learning. Last year there was a taskforce set up calling on the Government to provide better legislation for small businesses in the UK.
Date: November 2017
Location: Various across the world
5. MADE Festival
The entrepreneurial festival celebrating everything about startups, MADE, was held in Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre in 2016 and the next event is planned for November this year. It attracts business leaders and entrepreneurs from different industries and is designed to give you a holistic and entertaining guide to everything you need to know. Many budding business people have found it a great opportunity to meet peers and understand what is happening in their sectors. It’s one of the biggest events that brings together entrepreneurs in the North for an inspirational day that will get you motivated and ready to start a new business.
Date: TBC, November 2017
Location: Sheffield
Meeting and engaging with other entrepreneurs is a great way to develop your business skills and find out what’s happening in the world of SMEs. You can also attend excellent seminars on a variety of issues that will help you develop your skills and get new ideas that increase your chances of succeeding. Put them in your diary for 2017.
