More than 1500 people are expected to descend on one of the the region’s largest business-to-business event, which takes place in Ipswich today (Wednesday, May 16).
Anglia Business Exhibition, at The Best Western Hotel Ipswich, Copdock, kicks off with a special networking breakfast, where an audience of 150 businesses will hear from keynote speaker Wendy Smith, a former British Paralympian, who will officially open the event at 10am.
“We are really looking forward to the event. Twelve months of planning and lots of hard work goes into this annual event,” said Roger Barcham, chairman of organisers Ipswich & Suffolk Small Business Association (ISSBA).
“We have a fantastic, diverse range of businesses attending this year from large corporate organisations to business start-ups. That’s what we love about this event, it is so inclusive, everyone is welcome.”
He thanked exhibiton partners and main sponsors, Suffolk County Council and Ipswich Borough Council, for their continued support.
He also thanked the event’s other sponsors for “recognising the importance of the exhibition”. They include Your Telemarketing, TM Services, Gipping Press, Woodward Markwell Insurance Brokers, Gotelee, BDO, Hintlesham Hall, Engie, New Anglia Growth Hub, Premier Print and Suffolk Food Hall.
“With their continued support, ABE 2017 promises to be a great success. This stability of funding has also allowed us to invest in the event allowing us to showcase this great exhibition,” he said.
“On behalf of the ISSBA committee and our membership, I would like to express our sincere thanks to everybody who has contributed to making Anglia Business Exhibition (ABE) 18 the great B2B Exhibition it is today. I would also like to thank the team at The Ipswich Hotel for their professionalism and help with this event.
“It is great to be supporting a fellow business who is investing heavily in its business and also promoting Suffolk as a great place to visit and do business.”
This year ISSBA is supporting I Roll Up My Sleeves, a social enterprise set up in Suffolk and managed by founder Glenn Hoddy and partner Amy Graham. Its mission is to inspire local businesses to engage more with local community projects in an alternative way to how they normally would, whilst supporting them in growing their business.
Mr Hoddy said: “This is ethical business networking. There are, of course, the very clear community based benefits that have been built into the design of the events. A range of local organisations and charities benefit from services, support, advice, customers and media exposure through the ‘I Roll Up My Sleeves’ events.
“What is perhaps more subtle are the potential personal benefits for the individuals attending the events and the subsequent benefits for their businesses. The events also seem to tap into the types of things that have been shown to benefit health, wellbeing and motivation.
“We look forward to welcoming businesses to our stand where they can find out more about ethical business networking.”
Mr Barcham said it was “day of great networking and doing business with each other”.
“I am sure that all who attend will take away with them some great new business contacts. And for exhibitors, I wish them a successful day of promoting their businesses and services.”
Anglian Business Exhibition, which includes 100 exhibitors, runs from 10am to 5pm. Entry and parking is free. Catering and refreshments are available.
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