Funny business at festival expo
There was some funny business going on at the GTG Training Academy in Wednesfield.
The venue hosted the Black Country Chamber of Commerce's Spring Expo yesterday which attracted more than 200 visitors.
It showcased more than 50 chamber members this year and formed part of the second Black Country Business Festival. There was plenty of networking going on as businesses made new contacts at the four-hour event.
'Laurel and Hardy' turned up to support the expo and promote the Funny Things Comedy Festival being run by exhibitors Creative Black Country from October 26 to November 2. They also had caricaturist Pen Jones on hand to sketch those attending and invited people to submit jokes.
The expo had a special area to encourage Black Country firms to get involved in bidding for work on the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Wall Heath's Klick Business Solutions, which employs 12, turned out in fitness gear and had an exercise bike on their stand.
Owner Andrea Childs said: "We are the chamber's preferred partners for tender writing and we are trying to help Black Country companies to win sector work by tendering for the games. Our theme today is: Are you fit to Tender."
Chamber president Julie Cunningham said it had been a fantastic event and that it was good to see the start-up village and 2022 Commonwealth Games fitness suite introduced at the 2019 event.
Simon Bond, a partner at Brierley Hill-based law firm Higgs & Sons said the expo had been busy.
"It is a chance to raise our profile and its always worthwhile to network with other local businesses," he added.
The firm is sponsoring the chamber's start-up business club.
The expo also saw stands from Wolves about the facilities it offers to businesses at Molineux, Wolverhampton Racecourse, Monmore Green Greyhound Stadium, Grand Station and the National Metalforming Centre's NMC Venue in West Bromwich.
Other exhibitors included the Confederation of British Metalforming, Star Employment Services, BCRS Business Loans, In-Comm Training, Bilston company Nant and Thursfields Solicitors.
The festival continues into its ninth day today with 15 events due to take place – including Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre staging a public speaking with confidence workshop – and ends tomorrow with the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley hosting the closing celebration from 12 noon following a breakfast networking event hosted by the Village Hotel in Dudley.
