The first ever Expo Midlands event at Cranmore Park proved to a be a huge success, with hundreds of delegates attending and a follow-up event already in the calendar.
More than 60 exhibitors and 500 delegates descended on Cranmore Park for the free event on June 17th, which was headlined by two familiar faces, including one local man who has made it big in the media world.
The event itself has been launched with the intention of becoming a regular fixture in the business calendar, and is intended to give delegates the opportunity to hear from an array of industry experts, as well as networking with like-minded individuals from around the region and forging new professional relationships.
To mark the inaugural event, a stellar line-up was on-hand, including West Midlands native Jon Bentley, who most people will recognise from Channel 5's The Gadget Show, but who has forged a 30-year career in television, including stints behind the camera as a producer of Top Gear.
Jon delivered an entertaining session talking about what motivates him and also passing on some of the tricks of the trade, including what he has learned about business over the years.
Jon also drew an analogy between business decisions and gadgets, pointing to technology that has been both successful and unsuccessful over the years and comparing this to business tactics that have proven both fruitless and lucrative - as well as the gadgets that have made his professional life easier.
He was joined by another famous face in the form of Dispatches presenter and journalist Liz McKean - who delivered an engaging seminar focusing on how every business can benefit from effective media and PR.
Entitled ‘Becoming the Story, a Survival Guide’, it concentrated on maximising every possible marketing opportunity, and contained anecdotes from Liz's own career and tips on what has proven a winning formula.
As well the distinguished duo, many other speakers were on hand to address the delegates, with a host of seminars focusing on topics such as how to get the most out of social media, ways to improve customer service, how to influence consumer behaviour, and the best email marketing techniques.
The roll call of organisations present at the event included big names such as Morclean, Warwick University, EDL Lighting and Solihull Chamber, who all contributed to a "fabulous event", according to Marc Gordon from organisers Exposure Events.
"We are delighted to bring our successful Expo to Cranmore Park, with a tremendous array of speakers from across the UK as well as a few home-grown stars. The Expo is an excellent way to develop your business and make new contacts," he added.
Such was the success of the first event at Cranmore Park that a second one is already in the pipeline for next year.
