The 10th Business Showcase South West is from 9.30am until 3.30pm on Wednesday 23rd October 2019 at Ashton Gate Stadium. It is a large FREE exhibition and networking opportunity, offering a day-long series of FREE, powerful business activities.

Easy Travel / 100s of Parking Spaces

We provide a FREE car park for delegates.

There is a fleet of FREE First Buses serving the event from the Official Showcase car park and key locations in the city. Our car park is 2.5 mins ride away in our shuttles. Read our 4-page Travel & Parking Guide for the last October event HERE.

Warm Welcome From Our Team

We have a trusted team of Showcase Hosts who greet our exhibitors during the set-up periods and our delegates on arrival. 

We pride ourselves on our supportive approach and smiles!

Great Exhibitors

The Showcase is first and foremost a business exhibition where delegates can meet businesses from across the region.

There are over 250 exhibition spaces.

Pictured (right) is the Blackstar Solutions Stand - winner of the Best Expo Stand Award, October 2017

Speed Networking Meetings

These free but TICKETED sessions take place in the furthest end of the Dolman Hall at The Stadium in The Speed Networking Zone Sponsored By EVO Networking. There are three professionally hosted sessions during the day and they are a proven, excellent way to make dozens of new business contacts, face-to-face. Places are limited so book your tickets today here.

Keynote Speakers

Since day one, we've engaged some of the very best business speakers and leaders: from Bev James and Baroness Brady, to Levi Roots and Wing Commander Green - the world's fastest man.

For 23rd October, the Keynotes take place in the Production People Theatre again which is now located in far end of the South Stand Concourse of The Stadium.

Most are NOT ticketed and seating is on a strictly first-come/first-served basis. Read on below to find out more.

11.15am - 12.00pm - Mark Wright

Production People Theatre (Main Stage)

Mark Wright is an influential entrepreneur and self-taught digital marketing specialist, renowned for his success in winning BBC’s The Apprentice. 

In securing the winners title, Mark went on to find and develop one of the UK’s fastest growing digital marketing agencies, Climb Online, in partnership with Lord Sugar. 

As the most successful business to have been founded by an Apprentice winner to date, Climb Online boasts three UK office locations, a customer base of 400 plus and a second-year turnover in excess of £4 million as of January 2017. Boasting a sincere drive for success, Mark now plans to transform Climb Online into a global business – with South Africa, Australia and Dubai firmly in sight. 

PLACES ARE ON A FIRST COME - FIRST SERVED BASIS

12.00pm - 12.30pm - The VA Awards

Production People Theatre (Main Stage)

12.30pm - 1.00pm - Michelle Michael MBE

Production People Theatre (Main Stage)

Michelle Michael MBE is a highly experienced business woman who is currently involved with 15 companies at director level. She is a qualified commercial lawyer and perhaps, most notably, has been a director of the Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare since 2008 when it was acquired by her family.

 Currently an executive member of the board of Visit Somerset, Michelle was also a member of the management committee of The British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and attractions and was regularly involved in lobbying Parliament to improve trading conditions for tourism businesses across the UK.

Michelle is also responsible for overseeing recruitment retention and troubleshooting for branch managers and recruiters at the award-winning care provider Abacare. She is also a Legal Director for AAA Training Solutions and AAA Recruitment, Executive Director of Visit Somerset, Trustee of Weston Hospicecare and Trustee of The Priory Learning Trust and her family charity the Axetis Michael Charitable Trust.

 Michelle will be taking part in a ‘fireside chat’ with Jamie Breese from the Business Showcase South West and sharing advice and insights – from overcoming adversity and challenges in business, to operating a business such as the Grand Pier.

 There will be a Q and A.

1.00pm - 2.00pm - The Extreme Leaders

Production People Theatre (Main Stage)

A group of world-class leaders will be taking to the main stage at the South West of England’s biggest business event next month. Joined together by a passion for leadership and exploring, the four speakers are part of The Extreme Leaders organisation and together represent sporting, business, military excellence and true resilience.

• Alan Chambers MBE – Explorer, Former Royal Marine and Leadership Author

• Wayne Hoyle – Former UK Special Forces, Secondee to US Navy Seal Team VI, and Explorer

• Lewis Moody MBE – Former Captain of England Rugby, Rugby World Cup Winner, Explorer and Founder of The Lewis Moody Foundation (fighting brain tumours)

• Dr. Neil Counihan – Business Leader, Entrepreneur, Motivational Speaker and Explorer

The group will be taking part in a 45-minute moderated ‘fireside chat’ with Mark Hatcliffe, the event host and a former Director of Barclays. The panellists will be covering a multitude of leadership areas and sharing their passion for the future challenges that include an attempt at succeeding in the footsteps of Shackleton’s ill-fated, but most iconic last expedition to Antartica.

The places at this special session are on a first come/first served basis on the day.

Workshops

10.00am - 11.00am - Workshop 1 by Google

Production People Theatre (Main Stage)

Social Media Strategy - from Google

BSSW is very excited to be partnering for a fifth time with The Digital Garage from Google - a digital skills training platform to assist you in growing your business, career and confidence, online.

Victoria Mooney, a Google digital expert, is coming to teach you what is needed to gain a competitive advantage in the ever-changing digital landscape, so come prepared to learn and ask questions too.

Learn how to build a plan to engage an audience or find new customers online through social media strategy and best practise.

Discover exactly where your small business needs to be seen and heard on the web in this short course designed for aspiring social media marketers. In just an hour, you'll get a run down of the best social media platforms to use in 2018, plus your trainer will explain how to create a social media strategy that delivers the right goals for your business. We'll cover the importance of defining a set of marketing guidelines too, so you can always stay on brand and on message. 

This is a FREE but *ticketed* event.

For 23rd October, the Workshops take place in the Production People Theatre which is now located in the far-end of The South Stand Concourse of The Stadium.

2.00pm - 3.00pm - Workshop 2 by Google

Production People Theatre (Main Stage)

This is a FREE but *ticketed* event.

For 23rd October, the Workshops take place in the Production People Theatre which is now located in the far-end of The South Stand Concourse of The Stadium.

Seminars

Seminar Schedule - info and booking links

Seminars are one of the core aspects of the Showcase experience. Held in The Reach Solutions The Seminar Zone in the far end of the Dolman Hall, they are free, informative and must be booked beforehand. Click on each of the images below for info/to book your FREE place.

Breakfast Networking - Book Here

The breakfast event is a separate, pay-for event, that starts early (7.30am) on the day of the Business Showcase on 23rd October. It's a superb way to begin your experience and held in the Sports Bar at the new Ashton Gate Stadium.

Click here to book your place today for 23rd October 2019.

Click here for newspaper review of our Breakfast Networking Sessions.

FREE Professional Headshot

Register as Delegate →

Exhibit in October →