Thursday 12th September 2024 was a notable day for small businesses, and some not so small, at the inaugural Yorkshire Business Fair in Leeds.
The Holiday Inn Conference Centre and Hotel at Garforth in Leeds was the venue for the Society’s first business expo and networking event, designed to bring buyers and sellers together and boost the economy of individual businesses, especially members. The Society has long had an ambition to organise a Yorkshire Expo Plus; a huge showcase of Yorkshire’s economic capability and capacity aimed at attracting inward investment from around the world. The first Yorkshire Business Fair (YBF) is another small step towards that end goal.
This event proved to be a great success, and 48 Yorkshire businesses filled a room with a wide variety of products and services on show. What makes an event like this work or nor work, for the exhibitors at least, is footfall and the number of visitors who see what is on offer. We are pleased, and proud, to say that we had over 600 people registered in advance to visit. The result was a great event with a real ‘buzz’ that meant every exhibitor had a very productive day.
The plan now is to review what we did, look for where we can learn and improve, and then repeat the exercise and what seems to be a winning formula. Events like this will hopefully take place in North, South and East Yorkshire too next year making it a roadshow for small and medium sized businesses that has a real impact on the regional economies and completes another step towards that ambitious goal of a Yorkshire Expo Plus.
A few comments from our exhibitors:
"It exceeded my expectations. I got some great contacts and just need to close some business from it".
Judy Parsons The LinkedIn Lady
"We'd love to book a stand for the next Yorkshire Business Fair. After the success we had we'd be mad not to". Gareth Bottomley Drivespeed Leasing
“The room has been absolutely packed full of lovely Yorkshire folk and businesses”.
Luke Kenna ICS-Digital
“What a fabulous day! The Yorkshire Business Fair was such a great local event and SO busy”.
Hayley Everingham Azesta
“What a brilliant day at the Yorkshire Business Fair in Leeds!”.
Hayley Gallimore Federation of Small Businesses
“Great meeting visitors and exhibitors at the superb Yorkshire Business Fair”.
Dave Stankler Yorkshire Podcast Studios
“Great day at the Yorkshire Business Fair at the Holiday Inn Garforth yesterday”.
Claire Longbottom Yorkshire’s Finest Hampers
THE NEXT YORKSHIRE BUSINESS FAIR
The next Yorkshire Business Fair is in Leeds on Wednesday 26 February 2025 and you can view the full event details here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-yorkshire-business-fair-is-on-wednesday-26-february-2025-in-leeds-tickets-1022485069367.
If you have any questions or want an Exhibitor Info Pack
contact John Lloyd-Hughes at j.lloyd-hughes@theyorkshiresociety.org.
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