Humber Business Week set to unveil refreshed platform for network event
MORE ONLINE EVENTS EXPECTED TO FEATURE
ANEW vision for Humber Business Week is to be revealed later this month as organisers aim to deliver a “refreshed” platform in 2021.
A staple of the region’s business calendar for 15 years, it was one of many events to fall victim to the pandemic in 2020.
Now it aims to return with a programme that is “relevant, inclusive and supportive” to local businesses.
Chair Kath Lavery said: “It was certainly very disappointing to see Humber Business Week not take place in 2020, but that happened because we were perhaps somewhat focussed on trying to deliver what we’d always done before, which was a week based around physical events and networking, and that was impossible.
“Everybody involved is determined to return in some form this year with an event which is very much refreshed and reflective of where we are as a society at present, ensuring we can provide great value and support to our business community.
“The steering group has been very positive in using what has happened to reflect upon how Humber Business Week needs to change to ensure it continues to deliver on the values of inspiring the business community, supporting innovation and helping people make valuable connections.
“Most importantly, we need to be there to guide and support businesses throughout the region. That means we are committed to staging an event which will overcome difficulties to go ahead in some form this year.
“Business goes on. Business has had to find a way to go on for the past nine months, and we want to be reflective of that and support the many great companies we have on both banks of the Humber.”
A virtual launch takes place later this month and it is expected that the event will follow suit.
“We naturally expect the week to have a majority of remote, digital events, which offer many benefits from being more easily accessible to potentially attracting more high-profile speakers,” she said. November’s decarbonisation and energy-focused Waterline Summit from Marketing Humber saw Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey join live and now BEIS head, Secretary of State Kwasi Kwarteng, pre-record.
“If we can deliver some physical events, we will do so too, we have to be flexible,” she said.
The steering group has welcomed some new members, including the entrepreneur behind the Top 30 Under 30 programme, Simon Jones. He will speak at the launch on Wednesday, January 27.
“I’m absolutely delighted to have been given a chance to have an input into where Humber Business Week heads in the future and I think this is an exciting opportunity,” he said.
“It was disappointing to see the week not go ahead last year and we are all in agreement that we can’t let that happen again.
“We have talked about it being an evolution, not a revolution, as our goal is to be a leading local business group which provides real value to all companies across this region, from the biggest businesses to one-man bands.
“The key is remaining relevant, inclusive and accessible at all times. We want to ensure that every business in the Humber region is supported and given the best chance to grow and prosper, and Business Week has worked with many of the region’s leading organisations for many years to do that.
“Last year didn’t mark the end of Humber Business Week, but this year certainly marks an exciting and new beginning, all of which will be explained at our launch later this month.”
It will be staged from Monday, June 7, with the University of Hull back as a partner.
Online registrations for the launch event are being taken.