Next week will see hundreds of the region’s entrepreneurs arrive in Birmingham for the launch of Global Entrepreneurship Week.
Launched on November 15 by entrepreneur and Michelin-starred chef Glyn Purnell, the annual event will bring together key agencies and professional bodies with local entrepreneurs to offer advice and support to new and existing small and medium sized enterprises.
Now in its fifth year, the event has been devised by Enterprise UK and is being spearheaded by Birmingham City Council to promote and support global enterprise. This year’s event organised by Birmingham Central Library offers a week of themed days based on young enterprise, gaming and technology, women’s enterprise, social enterprise and high growth.
Last year was the city’s most successful event to date with over 950 participants benefiting from a range of free accessible business support.
This year’s event has a string of experts delivering a programme of informative sessions offering advice on how to survive in these challenging economic times. Speakers include council chief executive Stephen Hughes, Urban Coffee Company owner Simon Jenner; Patricia Geraghty from Central England Business Angels, Mike Byrne from Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Mohammed Zahir, head of business development and innovation for Birmingham City Council.
Councillor Mullaney of Birmingham City Council said: “Times are difficult at the moment with high numbers of people made redundant across industries, many are deciding to utilise their own skills and contacts to set up businesses. The Government recognises the need to do more to support these emerging entrepreneurs as it is their businesses that will provide a brighter future for the UK. We hope that many cities will look to Birmingham as an example of how local authorities, organisations and professional bodies in partnership can support entrepreneurs.”
For more information call 0121 303 4531or visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/businessinsight
