The second annual Business Show Swindon has been hailed a success with more than 500 attendees and 80 exhibitors.
Organised by GWE Business West, the day-long event at Swindon's STEAM railway museum, also featured an inspiring speech by James Averdieck, founder of luxury deserts maker Gü, speed networking and an exclusive espresso bar for members of the GWE Business West’s LinkedIn group.
Exhibitors at the show, which was sponsored by Team South West, Relays, County Marquees and Manor Printing with Swindon Business News as media partner, were drawn from a variety of sectors and included Hill's Waste, communications agency Soaring Worldwide, Nexus Business Centre and Campanile Hotels.
The speed networking sessions, which enabled people to network in a fun, fast-paced environment, were a resounding success having been fully booked before the event.
The GWE LinkedIn group espresso bar also proved a popular way of bringing members together.
Business Transformers director Robin Johnson, who attended both the espresso bar and the speed networking, said: “The combination of speed networking sessions and the LinkedIn espresso bar meant this was an excellent exhibition for making connections.”
Sue Pycroft, director of Swindon PR firm Vox, said the show had a real buzz to it. "Once again it proved that, despite the current tough trading conditions, there are plenty of energetic, creative businesses out there offering customers what they want to buy at realistic prices."
The show again coincided with the annual conference of the Swindon Strategic Economic Partnership (SSEP) at STEAM. During the conference the SSEP announced its name change to Influence.
Ian Larrard, director of the Initiative in Swindon and Wiltshire, GWE Business West, said: “From the feedback we have received so far the show was a tremendous success for the local business community by providing an arena to network and meet new business contacts. We look forward to building on the success of the past two years to create an even more exciting show next year.”
GWE's next business show takes place in Bristol on September 26 at UWE exhibition and conference centre. To be one of the first to receive details, email events@businesswest.co.uk
For a full feature on the Business Show Swindon 2012 – pick up a copy of the February edition of Swindon Business News – Out February 16.
