Members hail successful Chamber business expo

Chamber members reported positive discussions “from the minute we arrived ” as the region 's biggest business expo made its return at Villa Park.

Around 80 exhibitors and hundreds of delegates packed into the Holte Suite at the home of Aston Villa Football Club for the Spring edition of the Greater Birmingham Business Expo.

The event was sponsored by Three Business and runyourfleet.

And Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce members from a variety of sectors said they had held positive discussions and made new connections.

Dennis Kennedy from Inspire Activity, which operates the Community Games, said: “The expo has been fantastic. We 've had the chance to speak to everyone about our forthcoming Retro Games.

“Literally from the minute we arrived, we 've been in conversations with different businesses. ”

Simon Dexter, from global risk and compliance specialist GWCI, said: “The expo is a great place to meet people and understand more about people 's businesses. ”

Paul Barnes, business owner at Tamworth-based Cloud Accounting Support Services, said: “The expo is great and very well organised. We 've been talking to potential clients, but for me it 's about the ability for brand awareness - who we are and getting ourselves out there. ”

The expo 's seminar programme also proved popular, with Stuart Thomas, head of BBC in the Midlands, discussing the national broadcaster 's plans across the UK regions - including major investments in the West Midlands.

Delegates also heard the inspirational story of England 's most capped blind footballer Darren Harris.