Event Details
The Return of the Dorset Business Festival
After an incredible first year, Dorset Chamber is delighted to announce the Dorset Business Festival will return in 2024. Last year’s inaugural Festival saw 800 businesses take part in five major events during a very busy week, including the return of the acclaimed Dorset Business Awards.
The 2024 Dorset Business Festival theme will be “business as a force for good” and will celebrate the importance of business in playing a positive and impactful role in society beyond purely generating profits.
The Festival will begin with the launch of the Dorset Business Awards on 23 April at the Dorset Museum and Art Gallery. This free-to-attend event will be an opportunity to find out about the categories, the judges and criteria, and how to enter. Attendees will also be able to network, get tips on writing an entry and meet our Festival Partners. The awards will open for entries on 1 May and close on 13 June.
The Festival will open with a busy networking breakfast with over 100 people with a speaker at Rick Stein restaurant in Poole on Monday 30 September.
The 2 October will see the Dorset Business Festival Expo take place at the Hilton Bournemouth, a B2B Expo with over 70 exhibitors. Businesses can book a stand and the Expo is free to attend as a visitor. Last year’s Expo saw a footfall of an incredible 350 businesses. Stands for this event will sell out very quickly so early booking is advised.
The Dorset Business Festival Conference takes place on 9 October, embracing the theme “Business as a force for good”. Hosted by Declan Curry, we will hear from a high-profile keynote speaker and hold four panel discussions over the day on key issues underpinning our theme.
The conference will also provide a high-level networking opportunity.
The grand finale of the Festival will be the Dorset Business Awards on 10 October where we will celebrate the achievements of our 30 finalists across ten categories and announce our winners. This is the main business event of the year in Dorset and not to be missed.
Follow us on social media and in our newsletters to be part of the 2024 Dorset Business Festival.
Book your free place here