The Black Country Business Festival is a two-week celebration of innovation, culture and commerce throughout Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Dudley and Walsall. It will run from Monday 23 April to Friday 4 May 2018 with thousands of people attending hundreds of events in a range of partner venues across the region.

The festival is managed by Associate Events Ltd and run in association with the Black Country Chamber of Commerce. The aim is to enable local businesses to meet, share best practice and collaborate, showcasing the region’s strengths and boosting the local economy. Any organisation, whether commercial, public, education or charity, can apply to run an event, which could be anything from a seminar or workshop to a trade show or major conference – as long as it benefits Black Country people or business.

One of these, ‘Are you ready for GDPR?’, is being organised by Think Sandwell in conjunction with the University of Wolverhampton. The free session takes place in the final run up to the launch of new General Data Protection Regulations, due to come into effect on 25 May. It aims to help local companies make sure they’re prepared for the change. It will be taking place at the Sandwell Business Solutions Centre on Spon Lane in West Bromwich on Tuesday 24 April.

Another free festival event is a funding ‘bring ’n’ buy’, which will be an opportunity to find out about the various funding opportunities available to Black Country businesses. Also hosted at the Sandwell Business Solutions Centre, this will take place on Tuesday 1 May.

A full calendar of festival events, most of which are free, is available on the website, where you can also subscribe to email updates. Tickets are now available to book, and there is also still time to become a venue partner, sponsor or sector lead for the festival, or to host an event of your own.

Think Sandwell will continue to bring you news and updates from the BCBF as the festival approaches, and festival events will be listed on our calendar.