Around 100 events will fill the calendar of the fifth annual Leicester Business Festival this autumn.
The fortnight of activities runs from October 28 to November 8, and is “already looking in great shape” according to organisers.
It will feature a series of workshops, discussions, awards ceremonies and marketing seminars, which last year attracted an estimated 1,200 businesses and 7,000-plus visitors.
Businesses still interested in hosting events have until September 4 to get their applications in.
Some of the stand-out events teed up for 2019 include a Leicestershire Entrepreneurship Day, hosted by De Montfort University, with guest speakers, panel Q&As, interviews and networking.
Elsewhere, Leicester technology and innovation consultancy Tech4i2 is running an event for developers, investors, agents and policymakers called ‘Insights into the East Midlands Commercial Property Market’.
The University of Leicester’s ‘Opportunities in Clinical Data’ which will look at how new technology and artificial intelligence is revolutionising healthcare.
That event will be aimed at medical technology, healthcare and software businesses or entrepreneurs who, for instance, want to find out about the NHS’s new product requirements.
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Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council will use this year’s festival to launch a new strategy to make the area a 21st century tourist destination.
City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, representatives of Visit Britain and speakers from tourist attractions such as Twycross Zoo chief executive Sharon Redrobe, will outline how the tourism landscape is changing and how the people managing visitor attractions in Leicester and Leicestershire are embracing new trends and opportunities.
Scott Charlish is head of East Midlands financial planning at Brewin Dolphin and chair of the business festival steering group.
He said: “The programme contains the ideal mix of outstanding, nationally and regionally-significant events coupled with a good number of useful, solid events that will address challenges faced by small and medium sized businesses in all sectors.
“This means the festival is meeting its aims of helping businesses across Leicestershire, whilst gaining wider recognition for the area as being a leader in commerce and culture, placing Leicester and Leicestershire in the investment spotlight.
“Application-wise, however, we are now approaching the eleventh hour.
“There are only a few days remaining to submit event applications and many of the dates in the Business Festival fortnight are quite busy now.
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“I would suggest anyone still thinking of submitting an event should do so immediately.”
For more information, programme and date availability, contact Sarah Johnson on 0116 464 5995 or