HUMBER Business Week kicks off today, with a packed schedule lined up for delegates.
With a number of events fully booked before the curtain-raising Bondholders Breakfast Meeting, the event, described by organisers as the "World's Largest Festival of Business – at least until someone tells us different", is set to be the biggest and best to date.
Last year, more than 7,000 delegates descended on venues across East Yorkshire to attend events designed to inspire, educate and celebrate all that is good about the region's businesses.
Kath Lavery, chairman of Biz Week, said: "We are really excited about the official start of this year's Humber Business Week and, judging by how well some of the fringe events have gone so far and also how many bookings we have been receiving, we are hoping for this year to be the best yet.
"The line-up of events has such great variety and we really feel there is something for everyone, no matter what sector of business people are interested in."
Due to high demand, extra events have been added to the programme, which includes speakers such as Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson and star of Channel 4 series Bank of Dave, David Fishwick.
The week also includes a range of events, from Bags of Rags, a social enterprise business aimed at getting young people into employment, to The Mind Factor, a golf psychology talk on how to improve your golf game.
Now in its ninth year, Biz Week has, in the past, attracted thousands of people to attend hundreds of inspiring events across the region, making it the largest multi-venue festival of business in the world.
John Gilbert, managing director of eskimosoup and communication partner for Biz Week, said: "Biz Week is an impressive platform for businesses to be able to inspire, showcase and educate.
"The 50 events that have gone on to create this year's festival of business really show what our region has to offer and reflects the vibrant businesses and organisations we have working within the Humber."
Humber Biz Week has grown considerably since its launch in 2004.
Originally incorporating just Hull, the buzz quickly permeated to the East Riding.
Visit www.bizweek2013.co.uk for further details of all events and to book or pick up a brochure distributed at hotels, businesses and community centres throughout the region by D3 Office Supplies and sponsored by Envisage Print.
