UK's largest business show marks 25th event

The Business Startup Show has been a regular fixture on new and aspiring entrepreneurs' calendars for more than a decade. The biannual event is a comprehensive guide to starting and running a successful business. Attracting an average of 20,000 visitors, it is the UK's largest event of its type. But with The Business Startup Show marking its 25th event in May, the team behind the event has really gone to town.

The SME community is getting ready to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship amongst the UK's leading business experts and icons at London's ExCel on Thursday & Friday, 19-20 May, 2011.

Event director John Pearce says: "Our first show consisted of a humble collection of exhibitors' stands, and a short but sweet list of guest speakers, but we knew it had a lot of potential.

“Now, we have more than 230 exhibitors, 150 seminars from some of the UK's most successful entrepreneurs behind the biggest brands, and a whole host of live and interactive features to not only inform visitors about starting or growing a business, but to entertain them as well.”

Among speakers at the event will be:
• David Gold (pictured), Gold Group International (incorporating Ann Summers, West Ham United Football Club)
• Doug Richard and Rachel Elnaugh, former panelists from TV’s Dragons’ Den
• Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, The Black Farmer
• Mark Prisk, Small Business Minister
• Lord Green, Minister of State for Trade and Investment.

“As well as some of the biggest names in business, we’ve got some really exciting up-and-coming entrepreneurs to share their stories,” John says.

Some new features being introduced for the upcoming event include 'A Question of Business', a business-themed quiz where three exhibition visitors will go head to head with three Candidates from TV's The Apprentice; The Boardroom, a board meeting-style peer-to-peer mentoring exercise where participants can share and learn best business practices; and the Inspiring Women series of seminars, where visitors will have the opportunity to hear and learn from some of the UK's most influential and successful women in business.

There will also be focus areas, existing as 'exhibitions within an exhibition', for people who want to start or improve a retail business, Internet business, or catering/hospitality business respectively.

Add to this free workshops on areas such as business planning, branding and marketing; 121 advice sessions with experts on every business-related topic imaginable; The Midas Touch, a feature that challenges contestants to pitch their business model or idea to a Dragons' Den-style panel of millionaire investors; and intensive Speed Networking sessions, and you've got an event that any serious entrepreneur can't afford to miss.

The organisers are also inviting the public to join them at a Champagne Reception at the show's official opening on the Thursday morning.

The Business Startup Show is completely free to attend. For free tickets and further information, visit www.bstartup.com or call 0117 930 4927.