The West Midlands Business Festival brought together hundreds of businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across the region - all united by a shared passion for growth, collaboration, and opportunity.

From thought-provoking workshops to creative networking sessions, this year’s festival showcased the very best of the region’s business community. To learn more, we reached out to the event organisers asking them to share their experiences of hosting, and their responses painted a powerful picture of a festival that continues to inspire, connect, and deliver real impact.

Pictured above: Escape the Sales Hamster Wheel, led by Digital Glue, was an interactive event helping businesses refine their sales strategies, boost efficiency, and embrace innovation. Attendees learned practical ways to streamline processes, leverage AI, and drive sustainable growth.

It’s all about connection - bringing businesses together

Among all the organisers’ feedback, one message came through loud and clear - the power of connection.

“it was superb to see the breadth of industries and levels of expertise represented,” said Vash Bhatt from Made Ardently, who hosted Unlocking Efficiency - Automation and Data Analytics for Business Growth.

“The festival attracts such a diverse mix of attendees - from start-ups looking to streamline their processes to larger organisations exploring innovation. It’s a brilliant space for ideas to collide.”

For Florence Gwatirisa of the Maxival Centre for Skills Development, the festival offered a platform to reach new audiences and strengthen existing relationships.

“The opportunity to connect and network across industries was invaluable. We engaged with people who might never have crossed our paths otherwise. The West Midlands has so much untapped talent and the festival brings it to the surface.”

The collaborative atmosphere was a recurring theme - not just between businesses, but across sectors, support organisations, and community groups. Organisers praised the way the festival fostered genuine partnership and inclusivity.

A festival full of energy, ideas, and momentum

Organisers described the West Midlands Business Festival 2025 as “vibrant”, “energising”, and “buzzing with innovation”.

“There was such a buzz around the festival,” said Jessica Shields, Jessica Shields Coaching, who delivered Leading Teams with Confidence.

“You could feel the excitement in every conversation. It wasn’t just networking it was about learning, collaboration, and finding solutions together.”

Similarly, Rob Harrison from Glued who hosted the imaginative Unconventional Convention reflected on how the festival challenges the traditional approach to business events.

“We wanted to do something that broke the mould. Our event mixed creativity with strategy, and the response was incredible. People loved the energy and the opportunity to see business through a new lens.”

For others, like Lynsey Kitching from CAPE People Development, the festival offered a stage to celebrate leadership and learning.

“Hosting our Unlocking Leadership Excellence session in partnership with WMBF was a privilege. It’s inspiring to be part of a regional initiative that champions both personal and organisational growth.”

Collaboration and support: the festival’s secret ingredient

A key strength highlighted by organisers was the support and coordination provided by the WMBF team. From event planning and promotion to media coverage and logistics, organisers consistently praised the professionalism and responsiveness of the festival staff.

“Engage with the staff at WMBF - they’re all very supportive and really help you make the most of your event,” said Jessica Shields.
“Their communication was excellent, and their guidance made it easy to focus on delivering a great session rather than worrying about admin.”

Vash Bhatt agreed, adding:

“The WMBF team really understands how to connect local businesses and make the process smooth. Their enthusiasm is contagious - it gives the whole festival an uplifting energy.”

The Impact: turning connections into real results

Beyond the buzz and the events themselves, the West Midlands Business Festival 2025 made a measurable impact on the region’s business landscape. Organisers reported a wide range of benefits - from new clients and partnerships to increased visibility and shared learning opportunities.

“We’ve already had follow-up conversations with several attendees about collaborations,” said Florence Gwatirisa from Maxival Centre for Skills Development.

“The festival gave us a platform to showcase what we do, and it’s opened doors that simply wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.”

Ben Ashby of Waldrons Solicitors added

"We've always gained  new business from our events, however the festival increased this four-fold. It helped position Waldrons as a thought leader and as an organiser it gave us greater exposure." 

Be part of the 2026 West Midlands Business Festival

The two-week programme of free events for 2026 will bring our business community together to ignite innovation, share expertise and spark collaboration.

Businesses across the West Midlands Combined Authority region can apply to host an event. This can involve incorporating their existing business activities into the festival’s schedule or creating new events ranging from seminars and insight events to product launches.