Business Week network event

Business Gateway Edinburgh and the Lothians has unveiled plans for its annual week-long celebration of business support for start-ups and growth businesses, which is part of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2017.

Business Week is expected to attract more than 2,000 visitors when it runs from 13-17 November, and feature workshops, training and networking events throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians, including How to Start a Social Enterprise, Doing Business in China and Trademarking.

The event will also include a Business Week conference at the main Council chamber in City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh on Thursday, 16 November, focusing on showcasing regional businesses and the rise of entrepreneurship and social enterprises, which will be opened by Deputy Lord Provost, Joan Griffiths.

Keynote speaker at the conference will be Josiah Lockhart, outgoing CEO at Gorgie City Farm and incoming CEO at Firstport, who successfully led a crowdfunding campaign to raise over £100,000 in less than six weeks, turning the Farm into a sustainable business. Additional speakers will include Lynn Mann founder of Super Nature; Fiona Ogg, founder of Lead a Bright Future; Bill Lees, director of JBT Foodtech; and Karen Knowles, the great, great grand-daughter of the founder of Bon Accord.

Susan Harkins, head of Business Gateway Edinburgh, said: “The variety of workshops, which are great for finding out more about the help and support that is available through Business Gateway, include Facebook for Business and Marketing for Growth, both great for starts-ups and growth businesses and networking.”