Firm flocking to sign up with the Black Country Business Festival

The official festival website went live this week, and firms were immediately signing up to host events aimed at spreading the word far and wide about the Black Country as a place to live, work, do business and invest.

The Black Country Business Festival is a joint venture between the local chamber of commerce and brand management company Associate Events, but the key is recruiting scores of companies from across the area to get involved and run events.

Alister De Ternant, managing director of Associate Events, said: "The uptake and response from local businesses has been phenomenal.

"We already know of around 35 events and have already had a number of official applications for the festival on the first day of the website starting up, which is an amazing result.

"What is already impressive the spread of the programme so far.

"One of things that seems to be driving this is the pride people are showing in the Black Country, and the desire to promote it to people outside the region.

"People want to tell the rest of the world about it."

The festival has now be launched online at www.blackcountrybusinessfestival.com, on Twitter – @BlackCountryBF – and on Facebook.

The aim of the two week festival, running from April 23 to May 4 next year – is for companies to put together a packed programme of around 100 business events to show their pride in the Black Country and put the region on a national stage, attracting new investment and stimulating economic growth.

The Black Country Business Festival will be held across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton to showcase industry of all kinds and firms of all sizes.

It was unveiled earlier this month at Wolverhampton’s Light House Media Centre and Black Country Chamber of Commerce chief executive Corin Crane said: “This is a really big day – the start of a big journey for us.”

He added: “The two weeks will be about showing how brilliant we are. It will be one of the highest profile business festivals in the country next year and in three years we want to be the biggest in the country.”

Among those backing the festival, Marston’s chief executive Ralph Findlay said: “We think Wolverhampton and the Black Country is a great place to do business.”

The head of the expanding Wolverhampton-based breweries and pubs group added: “Through the festival we have to make people understand the merits and strengths of the Black Country as a place to do business and to work. We have to bring in new people with the skills we need as well."