The business expo is the biggest networking event locally and provides companies a place to do business. The event includes an exhibition hall, a seminar theatre, networking café, a connections wall and many other features that will provide you with support, inspiration or advice for starting or growing a business. The expo is an annual event and attracts hundreds of visitors. For many businesses, it is the ultimate event to be seen networking at in this region!

We recommend that you register in advance as it allows the organisers to estimate how many visitors are planning or would like to attend the exhibition. It’s also good practice to register before the expo so that you can receive event updates and emails to allow you to effectively plan your day at the business show. Even if you’re not sure whether you’ll be able to attend the event, we recommend that you still pre-register – you can always tell us nearer the time if you’re not able to attend the event after all.

You can register for tickets online via our website. Entry to the event is free, however we ask that you pre-register for the event. When you pre-register you will receive updates on the event, so you can keep up to date with everything we have planned, plus you'll be entered into our prize draws!

The business expo is FREE to attend as a visitor. This is made possible through the commitment of the exhibitors who have paid to have an exhibition stand at the event to promote their business. Most, or all, of the seminars, keynote speakers and workshops are also free to attend, as well as the speed networking and connections wall. Businesses who want to showcase their services and be part of the exhibition as an exhibitor will need to pay a fee for their exhibition space/stand.

There is no strict agenda for the business expo – you are free to turn up when you like and leave the event when you’re ready. We have put on a number of speakers, seminars and speed networking sessions and you can find the times of these events on our website. Depending on what you want to achieve from your visit to the expo, please plan your own agenda before arrival. We recommend that you plan in advance which seminars, exhibitor stands and keynote speakers you want to visit before attending the event to ensure you don’t miss any opportunities.

As an attendee to the business expo it is important that you take advantage of all the networking events we’ve organised at the exhibition. Make your visit to the event a success by walking around the exhibition hall, visiting the connections wall and perhaps paying a visit to the networking café. A lot of visitors have the chance to network with other visitors simply by buying a coffee or by starting conversations with other delegates in the networking zones.

Firstly, we recommend that you bring plenty of business cards with you to the exhibition. Never underestimate how many people attend these events and how many business cards you may want to hand out to new connections. You can also bring flyers with you as a visitor, to display at the connections wall (but remember to not actively distribute these in the exhibition hall as this is seen as canvasing). We also recommend that you a pen and note pad to write down ideas that you have when at the event.

As a visitor you are not permitted to sell directly to the exhibitors who have paid to have a stand at the event. However, we do provide visitors with plenty of opportunities to network and promote their products and services at the event. Be sure to stop by the connections wall, networking café, designated networking zones and of course the speed networking to ensure you take advantage of all of the free networking opportunities available to you as a visitor. Take interest in the companies who have paid to exhibit and if you feel like there is synergy between yourself as a visitor and an exhibitor, ask for their contact details and follow up with them after the exhibition.

The best way to network and promote your business locally is to exhibit at the business expo! Being an exhibitor helps to give your business a boost of promotion both at the event in front of hundreds of businesses and online before the event in our expo promotion and social media activity. Lots of businesses exhibit with us because they know it works. To find out more about exhibiting at the business expo, please go to our exhibiting or book a stand page.

If you didn’t have the opportunity to register in advance, don't worry. You can still come to the exhibition for FREE. Simply turn up on the day of the event and our events team will register you when you arrive at the registration area by the main entrance, so please allow between 5-10 minutes to register on the day of the event.